by Subhash K Jha

"It was a night I'll never forget," says Akbar Khan about the Wednesday-night premiere of his film Taj Mahal at Lahore. "It was attended by five hundred dignitaries. Plus a whole lot of other enthusiasts. The theatre was completely jampacked."

Akbar admits he was apprehensive about the reception after the lukewarm reception accorded to Mughal-e-Azam by Lahorians. "But I now realize what bad marketing can do to a film. My own Taj Mahal was a victim of bad marketing in India.

But the overwhelming response I got yesterday night at Lahore encouraged me to re-release my film in India. And now I'm in Karachi for the premierewhere my cast and family have been received as state dignitaries."

Encouraged by the response Akbar Khan has decided to shoot his next historical Changez Khan in Pakistan.

"I'm definitely going to shoot large prtions of Changez Khan in the Peshawar region of Pakistan. And I'll cast some actors from Pakistan. I see the cultural ties between the two countries happening faster than we thought."

Incidentally Rekha who was supposed to arrive for the premiere in Lahore didn't show up. "Rekha couldn't come. But the beautiful Manisha Koirala is here. And her lovely presence is enough to make up for any absence," retorts Akbar Khan.