Bollywood tests the West

Negar Khan’s deportation due to lack of papers has brought other foreign artistes under the scanner, writes Sukhdeep Kaur

Until recently, the script ran the other way round. The promise of big bucks and international fame had always been an overwhelming allurement for Indian actors to taste foreign shores. But all that seems to be changing now. While Indian actors are no more seen as waiting for someone to descend from Hollywood with a dream offer, it is foreign actors who are finding cash-rich Bollywood too tempting to resist. Artistes and models of this country are now complaining that non-resident Indians come to India on tourist visas and pick up plum projects.

Till Negar’s deportation, not many in the film fraternity and outside dwelled upon the increasing number of immigrants making a beeline for India and seeking commercial work in tinseltown. But Negar’s unceremonious banishment has shocked Bollywood. Khan, of Norwegian descent, was known for her raunchy dance videos. She was also a regular on Mumbai’s Page 3 circuit. Born in Iran, Negar grew up in Norway, studied in Australia and has been modelling since she was 12. She had acted in a Hindi movie, Shaadi Ka Ladoo, and had three more underway.

The Immigration officials found Khan guilty of being involved in commercial activities in Mumbai, which was prohibited under her visa conditions. Negar told FRO officials that her S1 visa from the Indian Embassy could serve as a work permit and she could not be deported as she was married to an Indian, model-turned-actor Sahil Khan. However, the officials, who knew that it was just a live-in relationship, not only went ahead with the deportation but also froze her bank accounts.

The story does not end here. Khan’s deportation is being seen as a part of a larger crackdown against foreigners working in India’s film and advertising industry without valid papers. Soon after Khan was deported, the officials checked the papers of singer Adnan Sami, actors Yana Gupta, Antonia Bernath and Bob Christopher if they possessed bona fide documents to work in the country. Their papers were in order.

Given Khan’s case and a sudden rise in the number of foreign nationals working in showbiz, the Special Branch authorities have begun monitoring the new foreign arrivals on small and big screens. They are keeping tabs on at least four other artistes of foreign origin who figure in item numbers in Hindi films and TV videos.

According to Immigration officials the modus operandi is to come to India, sign a film and shoot a song sequence abroad. This does not violate the visa rule as you are indulging in commercial activity abroad and not in India.

This is not the first case where a foreign actor has been subjected to this kind of treatment. South African actor Ilene Hamann, who starred in Pooja Bhatt’s Rog, was also questioned last year. She had come to Mumbai on a visa meant for journalists and had exceeded her work permit limit by a couple of days while shooting for the film. Mahesh Bhatt had accused the immigration officials of high handedness and had a tough time trying to rescue Ilene. Established artistes such as Adnan Sami and Yana Gupta, too, have been put to scrutiny. Adnan defends his position in Mumbai by arguing that he is basically from the city as his mother has always been based there and Pakistan has never been his home. He has stayed either in Toronto or Mumbai and has appealed to the Indian Government to grant him citizenship. Adnan has so far not encountered the Immigration officials, as he has a work permit. Yana Gupta, the undoubted Queen of item numbers, is actually a Czechoslovakian, born in Bruno. Her marriage to a Pune-based Indian photographer has granted her a minor Indian status. But she remains a foreigner nevertheless.

Katrina Kaif, the new face of Lakme, is also of foreign origin. She has been modelling regularly for major assignments and post the very-forgettable Boom, returns to silver screen in a yet-to-be released movie opposite beau Salman Khan.

In Subhash Ghai’s Kisna Antonia Bernath stars opposite Vivek Oberoi and Annabelle Wallis shares screen space with Amitabh Bachchan in Dil Jo Bhi Kahey, which is due for release next year. Jelena Jakovljevic, the Yugoslavian model, who danced in Dupatta beimaan re in Popcorn Khao Mast Ho Jao has got two more item songs and one movie lined up on offer proving the continued demand for white skin on the big screen.

The modality of administering justice should be seen as reasonable and in line with the crime committed. However, in Negar’s case the above rule seems to have been given a go-by. Many in the film industry argue that she was treated like a criminal. "The violation of laws of the land should not be tolerated but the manner in which Negar has been deported is absolutely indecorous," noted filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has said.

A harried filmmaker, whose forthcoming project with Khan in the leading role is yet to be finished, has accused the police of treating her with utter disrespect. "We were not even allowed to speak to her as her cellphone was confiscated," he said. The Special Branch in Mumbai has now initiated a detailed probe into the popular pin-up girl’s case and is checking if she had purchased any benami property in the city. Negar has rubbed the law the wrong way at least twice and it appears unlikely that she may ever return to the Indian shores to sizzle again.

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