Indiafm
Pooja Bhatt has had the honour of being the first mainstream Hindi film producer in the history of Indian cinema to have the world premiere of her films in Pakistan. The prestigious Limca Book of Records has noted that first PAAP and now ROG have had their world premieres at the Kara Film Festival in Pakistan. Both the films were produced under the banner of Fish Eye Network P. Ltd. [Pooja's banner] in association with Shreya Creations P. Ltd.
However, not many are aware that the agitated Pakistani censor officials had actually demanded that the screening of ROG be stopped. It so happened that while the screening of ROG was underway at the Kara Film Fest, the censor officials suddenly turned up at the venue and demanded that the screening of all Indian films be brought to an end as it was against the law of the land.
Instead of yielding to the pressures, the organizers of Kara Film Fest decided to confront the officials. “Arrest us if you please, but the Festival will continue as we have planned. The Indian films are a part of this Festival; we shall not at any cost stop screening them,” the organizers echoed.
The quiet strength and dignity with which they conducted themselves made the authorities back down. However, they continued to hover around the venue everyday hoping that their presence would force the organizers to give in to their demands. But that did not happen!
Says Mahesh Bhatt, “When the world will look back through the mist of time at the changing face of the Indo-Pak friendship, they will have to acknowledge the role played by these young men and women at the Kara Film Festival. And as far as Pooja and I are concerned, we couldn't be more satisfied with the one brick we've laid on the road to everlasting peace.”
ROG releases worldwide on January 7, 2005.
