LAHORE: Veteran film actor Om Puri has said politicians of both Pakistan and India should create a comfort level for their people to enhance contact between them.

Mr Puri was talking to the media at Wagah Border on his arrival from India on Tuesday.

“I had a great wish to visit Pakistan and according to a famous proverb ‘Jinay Lahore Nahi wakhyia o jamya hi nahi’ (One who hasn’t visited Lahore hasn’t born yet) so I have come here to reborn,” said Mr Puri, expressing great warmth about Lahore and Lahorites. Underlining the importance of the play he has come to stage in Lahore, he said it had been originally written by Javed Siddiqui. “I have got translated it into Punjabi”.

The play, he said, had been staged in India for some 13 times and four shows would be held in Lahore.

About the story of the play, Mr Puri said it was about a Muslim boy and a Hindu girl who kept their friendship intact by writing letters to each other for 35 years.

To the question that what efforts could be made to enhance people-to-people contact between the two countries, Mr Puri said: “We are not separate from each other; our language, culture and norms are same”.

About theatre scene in Pakistan, he said good quality plays were being staged here, adding that Pakistani TV serials were extremely popular in India.

Divya Dutta, fashion model and film actress, who also accompanied Mr Puri, said that to cross the border was itself a lovely experience.

“I have been to Karachi earlier, but visiting Lahore for the first time and I am excited to see Lahore,” Ms Dutta said.