Bollywood’s Gulzar in Pakistan to inquire after Nadeem Qasmi

By Shoaib Ahmed

LAHORE: I have come to Pakistan to inquire about the health of Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, my guru, said Gulzar, on Tuesday while talking to newsmen at a dinner hosted in his honour at Gymkhana by Khalil Rana, a film producer. Mr Gulzar is a renowned Indian filmmaker, poet, lyricist and writer. He told journalists that he belonged to Dina near Jhehlum. Mr Gulzar will go back to India on Wednesday.

Mr Rana told Daily Times that he would invite Gulzar to Pakistan again to jointly produce a teleplay.

Mr Gulzar thanked the Pakistan High Commission that gave him a visa at a day’s notice. He wished to stay longer in Pakistan, adding that the moment he came to know about Mr Qasmi being ill he came to Pakistan to inquire about his health.

At the dinner many Lollywood celebrities expressed their views. Reema called Gulzar a film genius and said such visits would improve relations between India and Pakistan.

Humayun Saeed, who specially came from Karachi, said that he could not believe that he had seen Gulzar. Riazur Rehman Sagir, a film songwriter, called Gulzar a writer of great stature. Other prominent personalities included Khalil Rana, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Amjad Islam Amjad, Munoo Bhaie, Khawaja Pervaiz and Shehzad Rafique.

Immaculate in his legendary white kurta pyjama and white shoes, Gulzar is one of those sensitive writer-directors who displayed a psychologically adroit examination of human sensibilities in his works.

Gulzar, also known as Sampooran Singh, was born in Dina on 18th August 1936. After Partition he went to Delhi and started working as a poet. He began his film career in 1961 as an assistant to Bimal Roy.

Gulzar started writing songs for films, with the song ‘Mora Gora Ang Layee Le’ from the film Bandini being his first big break. His first film was Kabuli Wala. He was given an award by the National Council for Education Research and Training in 1989 for a book for children.

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