There're many instances of Pakistani films getting the post-production work done in Mumbai-based studios and even hiring technicians from India for their films. But Bollywood film-makers have rarely shot their films in Pakistan. Years ago, Raj Kapoor's dream project HENNA, directed by Randhir Kapoor and starring Pakistani actress Zeba Bakhtiar, was shot in Pakistan.

Now, yet another Hindi film has been filmed in Pakistan. The film in question is Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt's AWARAPAN, directed by Mohit Suri. Although the film has been shot in Hong Kong, Macau, Jaipur-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer [in India], a substantial portion of the film has also been shot in Pakistan.

“Yes, we filmed the climax of AWARAPAN in Pakistan,” Mukesh Bhatt confirms. Was procuring the permissions difficult? “It wasn't. The story shifts to Pakistan in the concluding reels and we wanted to be as authentic as possible.” Will AWARAPAN inspire Bollywood film-makers to shoot their films in Pakistan, is to be seen.