They kept us with love, says Gulzar about his Pakistan-stay

Rumours could never be more upsetting than the present one in prominent lyricist Gulzar’s life. Gulzar, who recently visited Pakistan for a recording schedule, is very offended with the rumours that he along with Vishal Bhardwaj were asked to leave the country. According to media reports, the Indian High Commission directed the 83-year-old writer to return to India.

Gulzar and Bhardwaj were present in Lahore to record aqawwalifor the upcoming Bollywood filmDedh Ishqiya. The lyricist was also supposed to attend the Karachi Literature Festival, but they cut their trip short. "I had gone (to Lahore) with Vishal, he had a recording there. My baba Ahmed Nasim Qasmi was there and he died sometime back. I had not gone there after his death. So, I visited his grave and offered my prayers," said the 83-year-old in an interview.

Gulzar, was very nostalgic to visit his native place as he was born in Dina town in the Jhelum district, which is now in Pakistan, "I visited my birthplace after 70 years." Gulzar had gone through a major emotional tumult that led him to come back to India.

He clarified his sudden comeback to India, "After having gone to baba's graveyard, I was emotionally stressed and I started feeling uncomfortable. Vishal saw that I was uncomfortable and he said it would not be right for me to continue with the journey. He postponed the recording and brought me back because I was not mentally ready to get hospitalised there.”

He also stated, "Here you people are proudly saying that we were asked to leave. They kept us with love, they are our friends, artists, poets musicians. They got our visa done in two days. The Indian High Commission would have told us if there was something like that. If you create such rumours, it is very bad.”Dedh Ishqiya, which is a sequel toIshqiya, is being produced by Vishal Bhardwaj, directed by Abhishek Chaubey, starring Arshad Warsi, Naseeruddin Shah and Madhuri Dixit.