NEW DELHI, Dec 16: Renowned Pakistani singer Attaullah Khan, who visited India for the first time, says after this new liberal Indo-Pak visa regime there will be more cultural exchange between the two countries.
“I know that all my albums have been very popular in India and I always wanted to perform here. It could never happen before due to complex visa process. I am happy that with this new visa regime artists like me will not suffer in future,” Khan told.
The new visa agreement between India and Pakistan has been operationalized by home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Pakistan interior minister Rehman Mallik on Friday.
Khan, 61, said that this time also his India tour got delayed because he was waiting for visa since couple of months.
“I was waiting for visa for last 3 months and had to cancel many shows due to this delay. I had asked for 8 cities visa but got only single city visa. Now I have applied again to get multiple city visa and hope to get it soon.” he said.
Attaullah had released over 1000 music albums. He became famous in India after his song like ‘Acha Sila Diya Tune’ was used in the Bollywood movie ‘Bewafa Sanam’.
He gives credit to the artistes of both the nations for this new warmth in bilateral relations.
“All the artists of both the nations deserve credit for this warmth in mutual relations. Mehdi Hasan, Farida Khanum or I have enjoyed immense love and respect here while legends like Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar are equally popular across the border.
“Politicians of both the countries must realize that they should not block the avenues like trade, cultural exchange and sports. I am happy that things are going in right direction. Our Cricket team is also coming here,” he said.
He is also looking forward to a career in Bollywood and so is his singer-audio engineer son Mohammad Saanwal Esakhelvi.
“I regret that it took so long but now I am all geared up to sing for Bollywood,” he said.
His son Saanwal, who idolizes Mohammad Rafi, has released his debut album ‘Tere Khayal Mein’ in June.
“I hope that new artists like me will keep coming to India and vice verca. We have so much in common, hence man to man contact must be encouraged,” he said. (PTI)
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