Veteran Indian film actor Naseeruddin Shah has said that the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan should not be given much publicity, as "extra publicity only leaves things as news items".

He said that it was good to see that Indians and Pakistanis were maintaining people-to-people contact.

"Realising the need for people-to-people contact after 50 years reflects the mentalities that exist in India and Pakistan. It is a blessing that people from both countries are in contact with each other. At least people have realised that Pakistanis do not hate Indians and Indians do not hate Pakistanis.

Indians interested in working in Pakistan for peace building measures must come here without publicity," The News quoted Shah as saying.

The Indian film-and-play actor is currently in Lahore to perform in ‘Ismat Apa Kay Naam'.

He said that Lahore was a better and less crowded city than Delhi. "Lahore looks like New Delhi, but without the madness. Delhi has a hostile air about it. It is an unfriendly city.

I have spent time in Delhi as a student. I have been to Lahore, but only for two days. This city is relatively less crowded and calm compared with Delhi," the Daily Times quoted him as saying in an interview.

Hailing the performance of his Pakistani counterparts, Shah said: "I have only seen a few Pakistani films. However, I have seen many old TV serials and have been struck by the quality of acting and writing.

My favourite Pakistani TV programme was the comic show 50-50. Ismail Tara and Majid Jehangir did a superb job. I also like the acting of Pakistani film actor Nadeem."

Replying to a question if the art films era was over, he said: "The art film era was over way back in the 70s, but still there are several young people in the Indian film industry who have a different mindset and are fed up with Bombay's nach gana theatre and are trying to make different kind of films."