Aishwarya in Pakistan with ‘Jazbaa’!

KARACHI: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Shabana Azmi and Irfan Khan-starrer “Jazbaa” will see a wide release in Pakistan this Friday.
Jang and Geo Group, one of Pakistan’s largest media conglomerates, has acquired the film. It doesn’t have anything to warrant any kind of argument, resistance or protest against it.
It is a dramatic thriller and there is no controversial content whatsoever in there that would have been influenced by the political relationship between the two countries. It is a pure and simple business decision for distributors in Pakistan and producers in India, sources of filmmakers said.
“It can’t get bigger than that,” says an Indian source. “It is a huge strategic tie-up that we have hit upon. We are seeing one of the largest ever Bollywood releases in Pakistan.”
With over 50 screens already reserved for the Sanjay Gupta starrer, this Friday is expected to be huge for Jazbaa.
“Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has a huge fan following in Pakistan and with Jazbaa bringing her back in action, it was quite rudimentary to have her arrival announced in style. As for Irfan, he is a global star today. When other countries are accepting him with open arms, there was no reason why Pakistan won’t do the same,” a trade observer adds. Meanwhile, the Middle East too has raised such a huge demand for the film.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is the main protagonist. She will essay the role of a lawyer. Irfan Khan has been cast in a role of a suspended cop while Shabana Azmi will be playing the role of a mother who is also a professor.