The general's daughter

Zain Zia, daughter of former Pakistanruler General Zia-ul-Haq, was a state guest when she first came to India morethan two decades ago. This time around, her visit is low key. "When I first camehere, I didn''t understand what was happening. Though I do remember meetingIndira Gandhi. She was very sweet," recalls Zain (32).What''s broughtthe former Pakistani ruler''s daughter to India is, surprisingly, the musicrelease of a Hindi film — Doobara, which stars a Pakistani actor. "Abbuwould have been very happy to see relations between the two countriesimproving," she says.Zain''s Bollywood connection runs deep. It wasduring Shatrughan Sinha''s visit to Pakistan a couple of decades ago that shefirst met him. "He is an elder brother to me." While in the city, Zain plans topray at Haji Ali before going to Ajmer and Delhi.Childhood for Zainwas a mix of bittersweet memories. While she struggled to correct her speech andhearing problems, Zain was a most pampered child. "Abbu and Ammi loved me tobits, so I''d get everything I wanted," she says, with an impish smile. Ask herabout stories of her wearing a full ceremonial army uniform as a kid, and thesmile broadens. "I was very fascinated. I used to wear the whole uniform; I evencarried a stick like Abbu."Though she''s missing Abbu, Zain findscomfort in the fact that Indians are so much like people back home. "Nothing''sdifferent."karishma.upadhyay@timesgroup.com