Pakistani actors to shine with Indian veterans off shores

BAG Films Ltd will be producing content for overseas markets with its first international show which is due to be telecast early next year on ARY Digital Dubai. The show titled Yeh Vaada Raha, the story of two lovers Sadia and Salman who are torn apart by hatred, would be telecast in Pakistan, U.A.E, U.S.A and U.K. Well known Pakistani actress Maria Wasti plays the role of the Sadia while Salman is being played by Raj Verma. Another Pakistani actor in a supporting role is Imran Abbas who will share the screen space with Indian veterans namely Pankaj Dheer, Shahbaz Khan and Nishigandha Wad. Maria Wasti whose grand parents lived in Mumbai before the partition says, "I have been doing television for a long time now and have done serials like Dhadkan with Indian actors like akshi Tanwar and Kanwaljeet. This time the only difference being that I am on a new terrain. It is also great to be working with an Indian production since it has a huge appeal amongst the Indian and Pakistani audience as well as their respective diaspora. Moreover, the Indian version is more evolved in terms of professionalism and technical finesse. So, it's a great moment for me despite the fact that my association with television has been there for a long time now. I am looking forward to the release of this show which I hope would be liked by the audience." Echoing Maria's sentiments is the newcomer Imran Abbas who plays the character of Umar Shareef in the show. "I am in India for the first time and it is a great feeling working here. Back in Pakistan people love to watch Indian soaps and their popularity is growing by the day." On asking about his experience of working in India the actor says, "I am pretty impressed by the professionalism displayed on the sets here. Although it is same in Pakistan too but there is a difference in levels. Here we have call times at 7 in the morning and everybody makes sure that he/she arrives on time, whereas I have never shot before 10 am in Pakistan." Abhinav Shukla, Assistant Vice President- Business Development and Operations, B.A.G films says, "It is a great opportunity for us to reach newer audience through this project. Moreover it is jubilation time for us since we are the first ones to be making a serial for a foreign channel. In its first stage we envisage around 100 episodes of the show which would go on increasing depending on the audience's mood." No doubt, this alliance marks a new phase in the television software production and also symbolizes the clout Indian media has exercised across cultures. We hope the trend snowballs into a phenomenon in the coming years.