Khalil ur Rehman Qamar is a seasoned Pakistani writer known for his excellent scriptwriting and fiery statements. His popular projects include Mere Paas Tum Ho, Boota from Toba Tek Singh, Sadqay Tumhare, Landa Bazar, Bunty I Love You, Mera Naam Yousaf Hai, Main Mar Gai Shaukat Ali, Mohabbat Tum Se Nafrat Hai, Zara Yaad Kar, Pyare Afzal, and Sunn Mere Dil. His recent drama Main Manto Nahi Hoon has also gained widespread praise. Khalil ur Rehman Qamar’s upcoming drama is for Danish Taimoor on Green Entertainment.
Recently, Khalil ur Rehman Qamar appeared on Irshad Bhatti’s podcast, where he spoke about being offered the script writing for Heeramandi from India.
Talking about it, Khalil ur Rehman Qamar said, “It became a taboo in Pakistan; we never wrote about it. Manto wrote about Heeramandi and you disowned him. Let me share a fact about Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s series Heeramandi, it was initially planned as a film. I was offered to write its script when it was a film, and its name was Mandi, not Heeramandi. I am disclosing this for the first time here. I received 40-minute-long calls from India. Initially, I refused because of my patriotism. Then I asked them to give a Pakistani writer the same respect on arrival that we give to your artists. I demanded them to bring their electronic media or press on the airport because when their B-class actor comes out, our press comes to lick their boots. We should learn self respect. We even gave respect to a cheap man like Javed Akhtar; he has always been a shallow man—we knew him. I said I would write for free if I was given respect. Then I was again called in 2015 and offered to which I said, ‘I wouldn’t even step into India during Modi’s government. The maker even said that if I will not write it, there would be no Heeramandi film. When I saw the teaser of the series, I smiled because he kept his promise—he didn’t make a film on it.” Watch here:
