by Subhash K Jha

Though the token one-day release of "Mughal-E-Azam" in Lahore has dampened Akbar Khan's spirit slightly, he said history was being made with the lavish, star-studded premiere of his "Taj Mahal - An Eternal Love Story" in Pakistan.

His film is being screened in Lahore Wednesday and Karachi Thursday.

"It feels like history," enthuses Akbar Khan.

"I'm here in Lahore with my entire family. My brothers Feroz and Sanjay Khan are here. My nephew Fardeen is here. So are Mahesh Bhatt, Pehlaj Nihalani and Manisha Koirala. Rekha joins us tomorrow. Pakistan's minister of culture will attend. Ambika Soni will arrive carrying a letter from the prime minister.

We're trying to get President Musharraf to attend the premere at the Plaza theatre tomorrow in Lahore. It's a very posh theatre. They've removed King Kong to accommodate Taj Mahal. From one kind of an epic to another...," Akbar Jokes.

Then he sobers down as he discusses what he considers the duplicity of the people behind the release of Mughal-e-Azam in Pakistan. "They were supposed to release in Pakistan on 2 June. But when they heard about our release plans they decided to hurriedly prepone their release.

The film was shabbily released for one day at a down-market theatre named Gulistan just to make preponed history. Such a shame that the work of a man as great as K Asif should be reduced to a game of one-upmanship.

In any case their hasty release has backfired. The film has been poorly screened." Akbar cheers up as he talks about the release plans for Taj Mahal.

"We're releasing around twenty prints all across Pakistan. They don't have too many good theatres. So we've handpicked the theatres across the country.

I feel my film could begin a new chapter in cultural relations between the two countries. Both India and Pakistan could benefit immensely from co-productions. I sincerely hope Indian films will be released regularly in Pakistan now."