Meenu Gaur, whose Pakistani film 'Zinda Bhaag' is the country's official Oscars entry after five decades, says every director from Pakistan congratulated her after the announcement and there was no awkwardness of her being an Indian.
Gaur is born and brought up in Kolkata and shifted base to London and then Pakistan after tying knot with former BBC journalist Mazhar Zaidi, who is the producer of the film.
'Zinda Bhaag' starring Indian veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has been co-directed by Farjad Nabi.
"I think the news came as a boost for Pakistani cinema. Definitely there was a lot of international recognition but it also made Pakistani's sit up and take notice of it. So there is an excitement but no awkwardness that I am from India. Every filmmaker called and congratulated me after the announcement," Gaur told PTI in an interview on the sidelines of IFFI.
'Zinda Bhaag' is the first Pakistani film in over 50 years to be submitted for Oscars consideration in the foreign language category. Pakistan has previously sent only two films to the Oscars - Akhtar J Kardar's 'Jago Hua Savera' in 1959 and Khawaja Khurshid Anwar's 'Ghunghat' in 1963.
The director, who has earlier made documentaries based in Pakistan, said that the Oscars nod will help in reviving the Pakistani film industry, which collapsed two years ago.
