Kalki Koechlin on her Indo-Pak film 'Azmaish': Hope it releases in India and Pakistan, if not, there's always the internet

Kalki Koechlin had crossed the border last year to shoot for an Indo-Pak collaboration, 'Azmaish', directed by Pakistani filmmaker Sabiha Sumar. The film is ready and the actress is determined to go all out to promote it now, bracing herself for some adverse reactions given the on-going tensions between the two neighbouring countries post the Uri attack last September and the ban on Pakistani talent by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA).

Kalki says, "I did an 'Ask me anything' session on the social media recently and was pleasantly surprised that most people were not bashing the other country or looking at it as the enemy. Rather they were quizzing me on how a film like this could help us. That made me realise that most people want to understand and heal."
She adds that "mixing arts with politics is dangerous and it's important that art and culture remain the voice of the minority." Talking about her trip she admits that "she was surprised to see that Pakistan is still a largely agricultural society with feudal landlords owning and running entire villages. When Sumar came to Mumbai, Kalki took her around the city in local trains and on Holi they visited some slums before travelling to Haryana."
"The film will release in Germany first as it is co-produced by a German channel. I hope it releases in both India and Pakistan. If not there's always the internet," she signs off.