Indo-Pak gap can be bridged with films and music: Zafar

Mumbai: Pakistani singer-actor Ali Zafar, who is making his Bollywood debut with `Tere Bin Laden`, feels films and music can bridge the gap between the two hostile countries, India and Pakistan.

"I think films and music are one of the greatest tools of bringing in peace and harmony between India and Pakistan. As both countries share a common passion -- films and music this can bridge the difference between the two," Zafar told reporters here. Produced by Aarti Shetty and Pooja Shetty Deora, the film is directed by Abhishek Sharma. The music of the film is composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. `Tere Bin Laden` is a tongue-in-cheek comedy, set for a worldwide release on July 16. "Differences between the two countries will surely be resolved one day as people from the film fraternity are doing their best to bring both the countries together on board. As an actor and singer, I would try my best to work in this direction," Zafar said. The 30-year old actor plays the role of a news reporter from Pakistan, who is desperate to migrate to the US in pursuit of his dream. "The hero fails to get there because of visa problems so he decides to produce a fake video of Osama Bin Laden to attract attention but lands in trouble," he said. Zafar, who is known as the `Prince of Pop` in Pakistan, said, "Pop music, both in India and Pakistan, has been put into some corner. As many companies have shut down after recession what`s the point of making music, if no one is going to hear it." "One needs to be inspired to write music and with the turmoil in the country there wasn`t any inspiration around so we do not see much of pop music now," he said. The actor further said, "In the last four-five years, there has been no breakthrough star from our music industry. There are hardly any album sales. So many news channels have emerged that music has taken a backseat. It`s been a fiasco." Zafar, who idolises Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi, said, "Earlier only a voice was strong enough to carry the song and create that magic...you did not need to use too many instruments. Today this is not the case but I still believe strongly in melody. However, the film has not been cleared for release by the Pakistani censor board over fears of terrorist attacks as it has Al Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden as a central character. PTI