Tall claims: ‘After Meera, Pakistan produced no film heroine’

LAHORE: 

There’s no such thing as bad publicity, they always say. Not long ago, model Rachel Khan shot to fame after news of cricketer Umar Akmal allegedly ‘harassing’ her came to the fore. Now that the furore has died down, Rachel is set to make her film debut and step into the mainstream.

Talking to The Express Tribune, the model-turned-actor said Pakistan did not produce any film heroines after Meera. “I am confident that I will one day achieve what she has achieved,” Rachel said.

Filming for Kabeer is already complete and the movie is currently in post-production. An RN Films production, the movie stars Ali Khan, Shamil Khan and other newcomers. Singer Asrar has sung two songs for its soundtrack that has majorly been prepared in India. “It is every model’s dream to become a film star,” she said. Rachel revealed that work on the film was under way for a year and most of the shooting has been carried out in the picturesque north of the country. “I had an offer from India as well but I chose Kabeer because it has a wonderful script.”

Rachel said there is a shortage of new actors in the industry. “In the past, there were directors known for introducing new heroines in the industry. Unfortunately, that is no more the case,” she said.

The actor was of the view that politics and art should be kept separate and that Indian films should be allowed in Pakistani cinemas. “We do love our country but we should not forget the ground realities of our industry.”