Gulzar returns home from Pak over health woes

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi: Veteran lyricist Gulzar, who was on a private trip to Pakistan has cut his trip short and returned to India on Wednesday owing to health issues. Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj who had accompanied the veteran to the neighbouring country, while talking to a news channel said, "After that he visited his birth place Dina in Pakistan after 70 years. He was emotionally overwhelmed and stressed and felt uncomfortable after reaching his hotel in Lahore. So we cancelled his recording and decided to escort him back to India and discontinued his journey further. There is nothing political about it. We plan to visit Pakistan again for recording as soon as Gulzar Saab feels better." Initially, it was reported that the Indian High Commission in Pakistan had sent Gulzar back home as the officials feared his safety. Gulzar, who had travelled to Lahore yesterday, was due to attend the recording of a `qawwali` for an Indian film titled ‘Dedh Ishqiya’. The song was to be sung by Meher Ali and Sher Ali. He had earlier visited his native village of Kalra near Deena, 250 km from Lahore, to rekindle his childhood memories. The poet-lyricist was scheduled to spend time with members of Lahore`s literary fraternity, including poet Amjad Islam Amjad, before leaving for Karachi. (With PTI inputs)