Star-studded premiere for 'Mughal-e-Azam' in Pakistan this weekend

New Delhi, June 23: It had a quiet release in Pakistan in April, when it pipped Akbar Khan's 'Taj Mahal' to become the first Indian film to hit theatres in the neighbouring country.

After premiering 'Mughal-e-Azam' at Lahore's Gulistan cinema on April 22, thus breaking a nearly five decade -long barrier to screening of Indian films in theatres in the neighbouring country, Akbar Asif, son of the legendary maker K Asif has made grand preparations for ushering the 60s classic into Pakistan in a big way tomorrow.

So while the April premiere of the film, starring the late Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Madhubala in the roles of Emperor Akbar, Prince Salim and his beloved Anarkali, was a low key affair, attended by select government officials and socialites, arrangements have been made for 'Mughal-e-Azam''s premiere at a star-studded function in Pakistan tomorrow.

Bollywood stars like Saif Ali Khan, Urmila Matondkar, Aftab Shivdasani, Dino Morea, Ayesha Takia, Neha Dhupia and Amrita Arora are likely to grace the event, Akbar Asif told UNI.

A charity dinner for the earthquake victims in Pakistan will also be held on the occasion, he said.

''The release of 'Mughal-e-Azam' in Pakistan is a fulfilment of my father's dream. It is to ensure the fruition of the the desire of my father, who wanted 'Mughal-e-Azam' to be the first film to release across the border, that I went in for a low key release in April.

However, it was my wish that an epic like 'Mughal-e-Azam' be released in Pakistan with fanfare,''Akbar Asif said.

Infact, London-based Akbar Asif had all along planned a grandiose release for 'Mughal-e-Azam' on June 2, including a hunt to find a new Anarkali through a major television hunt spreading over six months.

However, when it turned out later that Akbar Khan's 'Taj Mahal-An eternal Love Story' , which released in Pakistan on April 28, would eventually become the first Indian film to make it to Pakistani theatres, Akbar Asif dropped plans for a grandiose release as he wanted his film to be the first Indian cinematic venture to hit theatres in the neighbouring country.

The premiere of 'Mughal-e-Azam' comes even as recent amendments by the Pakistani Government to its 1980 Film Rules Act have cleared the way for Pakistani filmmakers to operate with Indian actors.

As per four amendments made to the 1980 Film Rules Act on June 5 by the Pakistan Ministry of Culture, the 'notorious' Paragraph 5, a major obstacle for Pakistani filmmakers wanting to hire Indian actors, has been deleted, thus paving way for Indian actors to cross the border to work in films in the neighbouring country. Lauding the move by the Pakistan Government, Mr Akbar Asif said,''I am happy that Pakistan Government has opened doors for Indian actors to work in films in the neighbouring country.'' ''The move will help carry forward the process of building of cultural bridges between India and Pakistan, which I had begun by securing the release of Mughal-e-Azam' in Pakistan as the first film to be theatrically released in the neighbouring country last month,''Akbar Asif said.

''For me , it also marks the fulfilment of my father's dream to bring the two countries closer in a deep bond of friendship,''he said.

The star-studded event has been organised by the famous Morani brothers, who have in the past organised several Bollywood concerts in foreign country including the recently-concluded Rockstars concerts.

X X X IIFA awards to be telecast on Star Plus on Sunday New Delhi, June 23 (UNI) A host of celebrities from the tinsel world will light up the small screen this Sunday.

Star Plus will on Sunday telecast the seventh edition of the prestigious IIFA awards, held in Dubai on June 16, channel sources said.

Held at the Dubai Airport Expo, the Dubai IIFA was attended by the who's who of the Indian and foreign film fraternity, acclaimed national and International celebrities and prominent government officials.

The event, which saw legends and popular super-stars from Indian cinema come on the the same platform as international cinematic icons, also featured some awe aspiring performances and appearances from some of the hottest stars of the Indian film industry.

The highlight of the Idea IIFA Awards will be a unique theme based act by Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee and Ayesha Kapoor, the cast of 'Black'. Another highlight of the show will be Hrithik Roshan displaying some of his overwhelming flexible moves on his most popular dance numbers, including the ones from his forthcoming sci-fi 'Krishh'.

Notable among other performances at the event that will appear on the screen are Fardeen Khan setting the stage on fire with the dance sequence from his forthcoming movie, 'Kurbani', a re-make of the Feroz Khan's 70s hit 'Qurbani', newcomer Akshay Kapoor and the gorgeous Dia Mirza jive to the numbers from their forthcoming movie 'Alag', model-turned actor Upen Patel perform to songs from his debut movie '36 China Town' and newcomers Sikander Kher and Neha Uberoi performing on the songs from 'Woodstock Villa', a blockbuster to be produced by Sanjay Dutt.

The IIFA awards ceremony also saw the recent singing sensation Himesh Reshamiya croon his famous numbers - 'Aashiq Banaya', 'Aap Ki Kashish', 'Tera Tera Tera Surror', 'Naam Hain Tera Tera' and 'I love you oh sayoni' among others.

'Preity Zinta' will be seen performing to some foot tapping numbers like 'Laila Oh Laila'...and 'Mehboob Mere' in an Arabic style while Saif Ali Khan will enthrall the audience by performing on the retro Rishi Kapoor hit numbers like 'Bachna Aye Haseeno Lo Mein Agaya' and 'Om Shanti Om', among others.

While a programme showing the stars descend at the Idea IIFA Awards - Red Carpet will be telecast tomorrow at 1930 hours the main event will be telecast on Sunday at 2000 Hours.

X X X Filmmaker Gurinder Chadda awarded OBE by British Queen New Delhi, June 23 (UNI) Renowned British Indian filmmaker Gurinder Chaddha, who has made a name for herself in cinema through her films like 'Bend It Like Beckham', 'Bride and Prejudice' and the recently-released 'Mistress of Spices', has been awarded one of the biggest honours of the British Government.

Gurinder Chadha is among the host of celebrities who were earlier this week honoured by the Britain's Queen Elizabeth on her birthday.

Chadha was awarded the officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) title from the world of film and music on Queen Elizabeth's 80th birthday.

The honours list also includes other British Asians such as Jayantha Muttukumaru, legal adviser and legal services director for Department of Transport in Kent; Satnam Singh Gill, principal Working Men's College London and Sabyasachi Bhaumik, consultant psychiatrist, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.

The award puts Gurinder Chaddha in the league of actors Meera Syal, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Saeed Jaffrey who have earlier recieved an OBE from the Queen.

UNI