Thursday, March 3 2005 20:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Well-known filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt today (March 3, 2005) said "some factions" in Pakistan were behind the controversy over the reported penalising of the Pakistani actress Meera for her kissing scene in the movie 'Nazar'.

"Pakistani establishment has already denied that they have taken any such action against Meera. This is the work of some factions there who for their vested interest were threatening her from acting in India" he told reporters in New Delhi on the sidelines of a press conference on Indo-Pak peace march.

Asserting that the ongoing peace process between the two countries should not be allowed to be hijacked by such forces, Bhatt said, "The whole Pakistani society cannot be blamed for this isolated incident. Such forces, who do not want peace, exist here also."

"There was no substance in the whole issue and even the Government of Pakistan has clarified that she will be protected," said Bhatt who is one of the producers of the Indo-Pak celluloid venture.

Bhatt said people in the entertainment industry in India would continue to work with their counterparts from other side of the border to further the peace process.

On whether the actress has asked him to remove the scene, Bhatt said, "It is not a smooching scene and neither the movie is a erotic one. It's just a peck on the lip and she was gracious enough to say that it was the upto the director to decide on the matter.