After ‘Talvar’, Meghna Gulzar to make a film on 1971 Indo-Pakistan war

‘Talvar’, a thriller based upon the true story of Noida double murder case (the alleged honour killing of Arushi Talwar) was well-received by the audience and critics. Director Meghna Gulzar now plans to make her next flick on a Kashmiri woman who is married to an officer from the Pakistani Army. The story is set on the backdrop on 1971 Indo-Pakistan war.

The story is based on Harinder Sikka’s ‘Calling Sehmat’, where a Kashmiri woman, married to a Pakistani army officer, supplies important information to the Indian intelligence. Her courage, smartness almost single-handedly ruin Pakistan’s plan of destruction, saving lives of countless Indian soldiers.

The film will be produced by Junglee Pictures. Standing at a time where the relationship between two neighbouring countries are on a downfall, Meghna believes the story to be impactful. Though she herself has not lived the times of war, she has heard plenty of it from her parents and grandparents, and it moved her no less. However, what drew her to the story was not a pro-India story but an ordinary woman’s extraordinary courageous tale.

“The human element makes it timeless. From my father’s friends in Pakistan I understand that the lines are on paper and brought up politically but at the end of the day, we’re similar in our clothes, cuisine, and culture,” Meghna says.

The story is supposed to go on floors in mid-2017.

Ranjini Maitra

Journalist. Writer. Reader. Enthu cutlet. Mood-swing machine. Day dreamer. Sandwiched between ‘live life fully’ and ‘lose some weight’. Mantra of life: Love and love more.