After Pakistani singers, popular actors from across the border --Fawad Khan, Humaima Malik and Imran Abbas -- are all set to make their big bang debut in Bollywood in two months.
Leading the pack is Pakistani heartthrob Fawad, a well-known TV and film star back home.
He will make his Bollywood debut opposite Sonam Kapoor with 'Khoobsurat' but the actor has already made his way into the hearts of the Indian audience with his romantic TV show 'Zindagi Gulzar Hain', ahead of the Disney-UTV film's release.
The actor, who starred in acclaimed Pakistani film 'Khuda Ke Liye', has reportedly signed his second Bollywood project with Yash Raj Films in which he will be paired opposite Kareena Kapoor.
Humaima, a popular model-actress, who has proved her acting mettle back home in 'Bol' and TV shows, will romance Emraan Hashmi in 'Raja Natwarlal'.
Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt's 'Creature 3D' will mark the Bollywood debut of Pakistani model-turned-actor Imran Abbas Naqvi. The thriller also stars Bipasha Basu as the female lead.
These three Bollywood debutants will hope to replicate the success of Pakistani singer-actor Ali Zafar, who has done five films with big banners.
Zafar began his acting career with Bollywood film 'Tere Bin Laden', which was sleeper hit at the box office. He went on to star in Yash Raj Films' 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan', 'London Paris New York', 'Chashme Baddoor' and 'Total Siyapaa'.
Besides acting, Zafar also playbacks for himself in movies and his career is going from strength to strength. He will be next seen in YRF's upcoming 'Kill Dil', which stars Parineeti Chopra, Ranveer Singh and Govinda.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, known for introducing new talent from Pakistan including the likes of Atif Aslam, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Meera, feels the reach of India cinema and its global popularity is the reason behind the entry of actors from across the border.
"I think Indian cinema is a force to reckon with. I started this movement some 11 years ago. I began this with the core philosophy to create an atmosphere of peace. I am happy that people have taken a cue from that and are welcoming new talent from Pakistan. The perception about people from Pakistan is changing," Bhatt told PTI.
