Thursday, February 24 2005 19:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Expressing strong suspicions that the news of Pakistani actress Meera being fined for a kissing scene in film 'Nazar' was floated by vested interests, noted filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt today (Feb 24, 2005) said he had written an e-mail to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf seeking an official statement on the matter.

"I refuse to buy the fact that this is an official statement of the Pakistan Government. I suspect that the news has originated from some malicious source," he told sources in Mumbai.

"My belief is based on the fact that no one would like to jeopardize the new turn in Pakistan-India relations and indulge in such a frivolous exercise even before the film is released", he said reacting to reports that popular Pakistan Ministry of Culture had imposed a heavy fine on Meera for performing a kissing scene in Bollywood film 'Nazar'.

"Reports of calling for a ban on actors and actresses working in India and that such kissing scene was a compromise on Indian culture and ethics appears more to be the work of some vested group. No one has the right to say about compromising on ethics till they have seen the film in the first place," he said.

"Moreover, it is the court that imposes a fine and not the Government, hence I still believe that the news might not be an official statement," he said.

"My question is directed at seeking an answer on the Pakistan Government's position on the issue. I am waiting for a reply," Bhatt said.

"This is the first Indo-Pak film that also dares to cement the relations between the two countries. Hence it would be tragic if anyone would want to spoil this relationship," the noted filmmaker added.