The Sky Is Pink Filmmaker Shonali Bose: “Can’t Reach My Baby Zaira Wasim In Jammu Right Now”

The Sky Is Pink filmmaker Shonali Bose has taken to Instagram to express her concerns over the current situation in Jammu & Kashmir. She penned down her thoughts and shared her views on the communication blackout in the valley through a long caption on Instagram. She also shared a picture with actor Zaira Wasim, who recently made headlines for quitting Bollywood. In a heartfelt note, she also conveyed her concerns for not being able to reach Zaira Wasim. Shonali’s upcoming film The Sky Is Pink stars Zaira along with Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar and she says even though Zaira has quit the film industry, her heart is very much with The Sky is Pink actor.

Shonali Bose’s heartfelt note on Instagram reads, “#NotmyIndia. It has been two weeks since the unprecedented communication blockade of Jammu and Kashmir. My heart is heavy as the sky is dark over India’s democracy right now. My heart has always ached for the terrible human rights violations in the Valley - right from the times of the Congress government in the 90’s. The disappearances and killing of innocent youth is not new. Nor is the opening of fire on demonstrations. But this government has crossed every line with it’s draconian measures. I want to ask every Indian - every Bengali, Maharashtrian, Gujarati, Tamilian et al - how would you feel if your State was split overnight and converted into a Union Territory? Leave Article 370 aside for a moment and answer that honestly. For me the shock and anger at this unconstitutional act is laced with sorrow at how our own people must be feeling in this part of our country. Feelings we can only imagine - as there is still a blackout! On a personal level I have never known anyone before in the State. But now I have a child there. Zaira Wasim - the heart and soul of The Sky is Pink. I have known her and her family over one year - spent marvelous times with them in both Srinagar and Jammu as part of the making of my film. I was with them in Jammu just a day before this happened. Zaira was very worried that something terrible was afoot because of the sudden influx of massive troops. I reassured her not dreaming something so draconian and unprecedented could be carried out. And since then I’m besides myself with worry at not being able to reach her. To give her strength at this difficult time. To wish them Eid Mubarak. I’m sure they couldn’t celebrate it. Even though Zai has quit the film industry, her heart is very much with The Sky is Pink and all of us. She was so happy and excited that our world premier was in TIFF. We parted with the promise to stay in touch every day. Echoing a promise she and her brother make to each other in the film in a brilliantly acted and moving scene. But I can’t reach my baby right now. #NotmyIndia #TheSkyisPink.”

The Sky Is Pink is slated to release worldwide on October 11, 2019. Priyanka Chopra essays the lead role along with actor Farhan Akhtar. The Sky Is Pink also starring Zaira Wasim and Rohit Saraf, is produced by RSVP and Roy Kapur Films, in association with Ivanhoe Pictures and Purple Pebble Pictures. It is a love story of a couple - Aditi and Niren Chaudhary - spanning 25 years, told through the lens of their spunky teenage daughter - Aisha Chaudhary, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness.