Mahesh Bhatt set to have straight talk in Pakistan

Mahesh Bhatt will soon appear on Pakistani television with his own show called Straight Talk With Mahesh Bhatt. The show will be produced by Sevy Sli, who previously worked with Bhatt on the Indo-Pak film Nazar and will air on Hum TV channel. Sevy says, "The show will give Bhatt saab the opportunity of interviewing top Pakistani politicians and celebrities. This will be the first time an Indian personality will interview top Pakistani figures. It's not a normal chat show but in an interview format." Earlier, Bobby Darling had co-hosted in Karachi with Begum Nawazish.

The filmmaker will get an opportunity to interview Pak celebs from all walks of life -- from films to sports and politics -- including cricketers Imran Khan and Javed Miandad, Pakistan's president Asif Ali Zardari, Wasim Akram and Parvez Musharraf. Sevy adds, "We will have eight shows with eight celebs. We are also in talks with some Indian channels to air the shows here."

Straight Talk will be very controversial. He further assures, "You know Mahesh. He might take liberties and ask all sorts of questions. I will record the interviews and the channel will decide what they want to air. But yes, the interviews will be no-holds-barred. Bhatt saab was keen to work this show as he wants to strengthen Indo-Pak ties."

Bhatt adds, "Sevy is my buddy and we go a long way. He was the first man to bring Indian and Pakistani talent together in Nazar. I have always been a bit of journalist and enjoyed working on the TV show Haqueeqat based on human rights violations. I am looking forward to the talk show.

I want to bring the journey of the individuals in the context of historic personal reflections like asking Parvez Musharraf what made him open the doors of Indian films when the Lal Masjid crisis was going on and release the first Indian film Awaraapan in 2006, talk to Imran Khan as a cricketer and crusader for cancer, Nawaz Sharif for his regime when the dreaded Kargill war happened. I want to take viewers across through cinema, entertainment, layman and writer -- a common man's conversation."