Mahesh Bhatt bats for Indo-Pak cultural ties, girl child

, Sep 11: Filmmaker

has urged for the utilisation of cultural space as a means to foster ties between India and neighbour Pakistan.

"I have always crusaded for Indo-Pak peace through the cultural space. People used to criticize me when I first released films in Pakistan. But today you have got Pakistani soaps and shows doing successfully in India," Bhatt said. The filmmaker was present at a fashion show here late last evening where designers from Pakistan showed their creations in support of the orphan girl child.

The fashion show, is a precursor to the four-day long lifestyle exposition, 'Alishan Pakistan' organised by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in collaboration with FICCI, which begins here today. Meanwhile, Bhatt said the cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan, which he crusaded for years, will "eventually fulfill the dream of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi of the two countries walking hand-in-hand."

"Not necessarily films, but the fashion industry is also a good medium through which message could be delivered," Bhatt said. "Messaging is not necessarily through one route. Yes cinema has a mass audience. But like cinema, lifestyle and culture could be one of the ways to make slow inroads into the consciousness of the people," the filmmaker said, Calling for deeper commercial investment between India and Pakistan, Bhatt said that the investments in any form would ensure "harmonious ties and peace between the two countries."

"I think India and Pakistan are young countries and lifestyle is something which obsesses the young people. I think the exotic Pakistani fashion designs will fascinate the young Indians," he told PTI. "When you wear something from another space you are automatically more positively predisposed towards it," he added.

PTI