Fresh off the success of Kabhi Mein Kabhi Tum, Emmad Irfani appreciates the love and says both nations are like brothers who need to find their way back to each other.
Growing up, watching Bollywood movies with our parents and family was a cherished tradition. Between iconic dialogues and melodic songs that would be hummed and sung on all occasions, big or small — be it Nazia Hassan’s Aap Jaisa Koi or Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s Teri Yaad — there would also be anecdotes and trivia proudly shared whenever a beloved actor would appear on the screen.
Everyone had their favorite stories, like how Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor were originally from Peshawar, Sunil Dutt was born in Jhelum, or Dev Anand’s love for Lahore. The examples were endless, but the emotion they conveyed was singular. It was pride and pure love that had not diminished despite the years.
That was the sentiment many of us grew up with but have found less and less in supply these days. The last time a Pakistani actor appeared in a Bollywood movie was before we started wearing masks. Let that sink in. Fawad Khan’s two appearances in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Kapoor & Sons, both coming in 2016, were the last time Pakistan and India could collaborate and produce something appreciated worldwide.
In the ensuing years, the gulf has been a hard pill to swallow for many who believe there’s more that bonds us together than the differences. We long for the good old times when the walls that both nations had erected came down so that Javed Sheikh could once again be dad to Ranbir Kapoor or Ali Zafar and Ranvir Singh could be best friends.
While there’s good news that there might be some thawing happening with Fawad Khan set to make his comeback to Bollywood after an eight-year hiatus with a new film titled Abir Gulaal, alongside Vaani Kapoor, you never know with the volatility that has come to mark Pakistan and India over the years.
So, when Pakistani actor Emmad Irfani, fresh off the success of his drama Kabhi Mein Kabhi Tum, spoke to India Today, it was the first real sign that things could return to normal again.
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The Love Is Real
Emmad echoed the feelings of millions of Pakistanis when he spoke of his childhood admiration of Indian celebrities and how there is so much adoration. He said, “Before going to school, my routine would be to watch movies like Silsila, Kabhi Kabhie, and Namak Halaal. I have always been a big fan of Kapil Dev. Back then, India had Kapil Dev, we had Imran Khan, and then similarly, there was Sunil Gavaskar and Javed Miandad.”
Speaking about Kabhi Mein Kabhi Tum, Irfani said that he was glad that Pakistanis had something to celebrate besides politics in the last three to four months through his drama. When asked about the applause across the border, Emmad’s response was genuine and heartfelt.
“I mean, for an entertainer, applause, encouragement, and love—is there anything greater than that for a performer? I always feel that Pakistan and India’s relationship is like that of Mustafa and Adil. They are probably both brothers. They grew up in the same house, and there is a blood relation, but they don’t see eye to eye. They have their reasons. I don’t know why. It’s just there. It’s just the story of these two brothers.”
We couldn’t have said it better.
We Need to Dial Back the Vitriol
There was a time when welcoming Indian cricket supporters to Pakistan and vice versa was a special occasion. It was like your relatives coming to visit; the excitement and the love used to be genuine from both sides. Who can forget the standing ovation at the end of the Chennai Test Match? The same love was reciprocated for the Indian cricket team when they would come over. During many tense cricket matches, certain sections of Pakistani supporters would even switch sides and cheer for their opponents. This was because people from both sides knew that what was happening on the ground was only an excuse for the two nations that shared so much to come together and celebrate.
That’s not to say that it’s all doom and gloom. There have been positive signs from both sides of the border. But we’ve forgotten that spirit somewhere down the line. First, it was the news that the Indian Blind Cricket Team was pulling out of the T20 World Cup to be hosted in Pakistan, and now, the fate of the Champions Trophy also hangs in the balance.
In such an atmosphere of despair, the only victims are people who’ve grown up loving and idolizing stars from both sides whose collaborations have only enriched countless lives.
Here’s hoping that these clouds will part soon.
