/> Nandita Das has quietly completed a Pakistani film.

"It's a very emotional story of a father and son who cross over from Pakistan to India and get caught while the mother is left behind. It's the story of a mother's endless wait for her son and husband who are caught between the prejudices and redtapism in our country."

What appealed to Nandita was the universality of the story. "What happens to this family in Pakistan can easily happen to any family in India. Our circumstances are so inter-changeable."

The film is directed by a young Pakistan woman called Mehrin Jabbar whom Nandita describes as "Sensitive bright and talented.I love working with women directors. Whether it was Deepa Mehta in Fire and 1947 Earth or Chitra Parekar in Maati Meye we formed a lasting bond."

In the meanwhile Santosh Sivan's Before The Rains which features Nandita with Rahul Bose is being released theatrically in New York on May 9.

Says Nandita, "That's exciting. I had a great time shooting with Santosh. He's such a gem. He's as excited as a child about his work.I had been with the film to the Toronto Film Festival last year. I saw how people reacted. Before The Rains will be a whopper."