Noted filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and Pakistani actress Meera will meet Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf next week to obtain his sanction for the theatrical release of ‘Nazar', the first joint Indo-Pak film production venture, in the neighbouring country.

‘'We will visit Pakistan on May 16 to meet President Musharraf and other Pakistani officials to secure a theatrical release of ‘Nazar' in that country,'' told Mahesh Bhatt.

Given the recent upsurge in people-to-people relations between India and Pakistan, evidenced by the starting of the bus service between Srinagar and Mushaffarabad last month, both Bhatt and Meera expressed the hope that ‘Nazar', which stars the Pakistani actress, would be able to make its way to the theatres in the neighbouring country.

‘'It is our ardent desire that ‘Nazar' be released in Pakistani theatres as it is our tribute to Indo-Pak friendship. To this end, we will make all possible efforts including meeting President Musharraf. I will be disappointed if at the end of it all we are not able to succeed in our endeavour,''Meera told during a promotional trip for the film, scheduled for release all over India on May 20.

A source of optimism for Bhatt is the official sanction for the theatrical release in Pakistan of the colourised version of K Asif's ‘Mughal-e-Azam'.

The Pakistan Government yesterday agreed ''in principle'' to screen the colourised and improved version of K Asif's 'Mughal-e-Azam' in that country, breaching a longstanding ban on Pakistani theatres showing Indian films, Mr Suryavanshi of the Sterling Investement Corporation told.

''A letter has been sent from President House to them. We have thanked them and have in principle agreed that it should be screened,'' Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said yesterday, though he added that a final decision still had to be taken.

The film will become the first Indian movie to be legally screened in Pakistani cinemas once it gets approval from the censor board.

President Pervez Musharraf gave his support to the sceening of the 1960 classic, after receiving a request from Akbar Asif, London-based businessman and son of late filmmaker K Asif.