A harangue from Bollywood on human rights was the last thing Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and his daughter Mehbooba expected.
But their “informal” chat with the Hindi film industry at the Club in Andheri on Tuesday evening turned into a testy exchange when “bleeding heart” (his words) Anupam Kher raised the cause of Kashmiri Pandit refugees.
It all started quietly in a dimly-lit restaurant with Sayeed promising Bollywood a decked-up Dal Lake and a “burf se bhada” (snow-laden) Gulmarg. Director Yash Chopra handed the mike to lyricist Javed Akhtar. Just then, Kher, accompanied by Panun Kashmir's leader Ashok Pandit, intervened.
“Please move to another hall where we all can hear Mufti sahab clearly,” suggested Kher. Chairs were moved in hurriedly while reporters were asked to shift to the back row. Now was Kher's time to “speak from my heart.” Almost choked with emotion, the actor said: “Mufti sahab, before seeking Bollywood, spend some time in the camps of homeless Kashmiri Pandits. The recently appointed president of Brazil went to the slums where he had grown up.
Salve the wounds of those refugees before you invite us to shoot in Kashmir.” Laughter filled the room as Kher said: “My friend Satish Kaushik often jokes, we don't need to shoot in Kashmir because Kashmiris are shooting themselves.”
The levity didn't last. Vidhu Vinod Chopra, whose Mission Kashmir was shot in the shadow of terrorism, first praised Farooq Abdullah for a while and then talked of numerous “harassments.”
“Our unit had checked into a private hotel. Then an authority from J & K Tourism Ministry offered me to stay in a government owned hotel for free. I was shocked when they handed me a bill for Rs 12 lakh, which was more than what I would have paid in a better-maintained private hotel,” narrated Viddhu.
Mehbooba, stung by Bollywood's tough talk, retorted: “I can't stand Anupam. You want Kashmir to be first fine and then come to shoot. If everything is fine, why can't we prefer Hollywood to Bollywood. You are supposed to be creative, but you talk like businessmen. Come and share the burden, shoulder the efforts we are making to bring peace in Kashmir.”
Javed Akhtar received rapturous applause for hitting the hammer home: “You can't bring peace into Kashmir unless Kashmiri Pandits are resettled. The secular character of Kashmir is incomplete without the Pandits.”
By now Sayeed had enough. “Hum kashkol lekar nahin aye hain (We have not come with a begging bowl. Don't misunderstand us. We have come to seek your help in our healing efforts.”
Yash Chopra, who has shot many of his films in the valley, hoped one day he could ditch Switzerland for Kashmir.
And then the gathering dispersed
to drinks and a sumptuous dinner.