We have limited ourselves, says Bushra Ansari.

Veteran actor reflects on Pakistani cinema, creative freedom

KARACHI:Veteran actor Bushra Ansari has asked for more creative freedom in Pakistan's film industry. She said Pakistani cinema cannot compete with other countries if filmmakers can only work on a small number of topics and stories.

In a talk with Express Tribune, Ansari talked about the state of Pakistani cinema after she recently praised an Indian Punjabi film called 'Main Vaapas Aaunga', which is about the Partition of India. She said this comparison also made her think about how much creative freedom filmmakers have across the border.

"We can't compete with Indian Punjabi cinema because they have much more freedom. They can talk about many things. It's not just about what they wear; they have much more freedom," Ansari said.

She added that Pakistani artists and filmmakers face many limits, both about what can be shown on screen and what subjects can be discussed.

We face so many restrictions, and then we make fun of them ourselves. That is why we have made ourselves very limited, she said.

According to Ansari, filmmakers across the border can explore a wider range of topics, while Pakistani cinema often stays limited to a few themes.

They talk about one thing or another. They do not limit themselves the same way. We have limited ourselves so much that we can only talk about a few things, and then we end up making films like 'Jawani Phir Nahi Ani'. So there is a big difference between their freedom and our freedom, she said.

Ansari also pointed to filmmaker Sarmad Sultan Khoosat's Lali as an example of what Pakistani cinema can achieve when filmmakers take risks, but said that the film was not allowed to show in Pakistani cinemas.

The Punjabi-language film is about a young woman whose previous suitors have died before marriage, leading to rumors that she is cursed. Directed by Khoosat, the film looks at marriage, superstition, fear, and social expectations through the story of its main character.

Lali also got international attention after its premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, showing the potential for Pakistani stories to reach audiences beyond the country.

Ansari said Pakistani cinema needed more chances to tell such stories and compete in the international market.

She also felt hopeful about the growing presence of OTT platforms in Pakistan.

I am very happy that OTT platforms are also being made in Pakistan. I think others should also join in, so that we have a space where we can speak openly. There should be such a space, and we should be there, she said.

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