source: www.ndtv.com

Mumbai: If all goes well, Pakistan’s hottest export to India and Big Boss inmate, the very controversial Veena Malik will be seen at Mohali on Wednesday with Ashmit Patel by her side.

This match, which has been accompanied by deafening hype, especially now that the Indian Prime Minister’s invitation to his Pak counterpart has been accepted, might prove to be a sticky wicket for some.
Especially for Pakistani artists in Bollywood who live and work in the country but are either wary about their loyalty or prefer to take the safe, we-are-neutral path.
Veena who loves cricket and cricketers, is at the moment divided in her love for actor Ashmit Patel and the game. Veena is in India, to be part of two cricket shows on Indian television. She says, “Some people compare me to Mandira Bedi. But I am happy being who I am. I love cricket, though commenting on it is not something I thought I would do. But life is such. You never know where it takes you.”At the moment it is off to Mohali for Veena where she will be sharing seating space (so to speak) with her country’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani watching the two politically divided countries playing the World Cup semi-final.
Veena is absolutely sure about where her loyalties lie. “It’s very simple, really. My heart says I should support Pakistan at the match. It has given me my identity and all I have. India, on the other hand, has given me so much love and fabulous career opportunities.”
So how will the saucy temptress who has defiantly thrown off the burkha, cope with the main idhar-jaaon-yaa-udhar-jaaon dilemma?

“The Indian team is a favourite to win the Cup. But I am Pakistani. So I will paint the Pak flag on one cheek and the Indian flag on the other cheek. And may the best team win on Wednesday.”
Veena does have her favourites amongst the cricketers from both sides. “Yuvraj and Afridi both play from the heart and believe in playing fair cricket. I’m a huge fan of Sachin Tendulkar. But only when he isn’t playing against Pakistan.” She laughs loudly at that one.

Her other entertainer-colleague from Pakistan, the pop star Ali Zafar is not quite a cricket fiend. Though he was not available for comment and would not be in the country to watch the match on Wednesday, a source close to Ali said, “Ali isn’t into politics or cricket. Music is his life.

And now he’s into acting. He would like to keep his art free of politics and the politics of cricket. He does though enjoy watching the maestros of both the teams doing their thing on the field.”

For Adnan Sami, who has made Mumbai his home for 10 years now, the situation gets tricky. He has close ties with Pakistan and the Pakistan Prime Minister but has chosen to stay away from the match on Wednesday to avoid his loyalty being questioned.

Not that Adnan’s loyalty is under scrutiny. Says the musician, “I’m only remotely interested in cricket as a sport and find it ludicrous to give it a political connotation. Pakistani or Indian, we should treat the match on Wednesday as a game.” Adnan recently shot a music video with Harbhajan Singh.
“It was so much fun. I loved the give-and-take between music and cricket. Why have we stopped looking at cricket as a sport? Why has it become a matter of life and death to some? We need to regain the lost pleasure of just see the game for what it is about.
“A chance for the two countries to share the same field. Giving a political twist to a simple game is contrary to the fundamental spirit of sportsmanship. What I say about the match on Wednesday is — may the best man win,” he said.
When asked about his favourite cricketers, Adnan reveals, “If I adore Sachin as a great batsman, I also admire Shoaib as a great bowler. Can anyone who is an avid sports enthusiast and devoid of political leanings challenge the adulation of the two, regardless of country, class or creed?”
Adnan cites the example of renowned singer Lata Mangeshkar who loves cricket and draws no geo-political distinction. “Lataji loves cricket. And I worship Lataji. I want to personally escort her to Pakistan to show her how much people there love her”, says Adnan .

Popularity: 1% [?]