Meera News
February 24th, 2005 by Andre Soares
OutlookIndia.com reports that Pakistan’s Ministry of Culture has imposed a "heavy fine" on Pakistani actress Meera. The reason for the Ministry of Culture’s stern ruling? Meera’s kisses her Indian co-star Ashmit Patel in Mahesh Bhatt’s new Bollywood production Nazar; the kissing scene was deemed against "Islamic ethics and moral values." The government, which is apparently afraid that Pakistanis will emulate Meera’s vile deed and start kissing one another, is considering a ban on Pakistani actors from acting in Indian films.
All appearances to the contrary, rumors that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has been taking lessons from the Pakistani government and that country’s religious censors seem to be unfounded.
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Via the BBC: "I would like to convey to the government of Pakistan through the media that I want protection from extremists here who have threatened my life," says Meera, 27, a Pakistani film star who has recently outraged radical Muslims in Pakistan because of a kissing scene in the Indian-made, supernatural thriller Nazar. Some film critics, however, have asserted that Meera’s statement is a publicity gimmick.
Bootlegged copies aside, Nazar (Sight) will probably not be released in Pakistan, for Indian films have been banned in that country since the 1965 India-Pakistan War.
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The Hindustan Times reports that Pakistani actress Meera finds herself in one more imbroglio, this time for having received a peace award from Pakistan Film Censor Board Chairman Ziauddin. Those who don’t think that Meera’s highly controversial appearance in the Indian film Nazar deserves a peace award have accused Ziauddin of favoritism.
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Via RadioSargam: Angry at having been snubbed by sections of the Pakistani film industry during Pakistan’s National Film Awards ceremony on April 30, controversial film star Meera has left her Karachi home for a new pied-à-terre in Dubai.
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