This is a multifaceted issue and knee jerk reactions are not very helpful.
I agree with the actress to the extent that if it is not a collaborative project between Indian and Pakistani artists then it gets reduced to a superficial one. How much authenticity is possible without accounts from actual Pakistanis, especially Lahoris. In the total absence of visas, will any Indian team member be able to visit the location to get an idea of anything at all? It will be a highly fictionalized account, with absurd creative liberties that Bhansali is infamous for. Perhaps because he knows that he needs very real facts for his style of movie making, he has chosen such a subject.
Some righteous Indians were very upset when Slumdog Millionaire was released. They criticized it as 'poverty p**n', stereotyping and a gora's view of India, devoid of any ground level knowledge.
On the other hand, how would this Pakistani actress feel if the movie was being made by US based Pakistani artists with no connection to Pakistan except their origin. Worse, if this was a gora project? Would she be as critical with her choice of words? I suspect her angst also has to do with the subject. She probably feels that of all the subjects within Pakistan, Bhansali chose a red light area.
Moreover, what does she mean by 'our heritage'? Is art anyone's heritage at all? In a region that shares so much, can anyone, especially an artist lay claim to something being theirs? Should a Japanese not make a movie on a Korean subject? Should a Polish film maker not make a film about Germany? A better question is, has this not already been happening all this while?
Personally I abhor Bhansali's movies. They have little to do with reality and exaggerate historical stereotypes, with nauseating amount of drama and some political correctness thrown in. More than appropriation, Pakistani artists should be worried about a highly touristified misadventure, a cringe inducing drama where every single line of screenplay is uttered as if Moses is receiving the ten commandments from god. Yes, the entire set will look like a five star heritage hotel, costumes will weigh 30 kilos each and actors will speak what Indians think Lahoris speak. I am not looking forward to it.
PS: I would love it if a Pakistani film maker decides to make Mahabharat. People wanting to explore your culture and history is a compliment, but it should be done without commentary on sensitive topics because unfortunately that privilege is reserved only for 'sons and daughters of the soil'
A- A she is a Lahori that's why the reaction(people in old cities have a certain attitude and pride in thier cities- a Parisian, Instanmbul) add in that Lahore is to Punjab as Kolkata is to a Bangal and Delhi is to a Hindustani
and a foreigner who cannot speak punjabi decides to make a film on such an important city without experiencing the city, it's alleyways, it's language, it's vibe and culture
He 150% cannot come close to representing the city - so an authentic product cannot be expected and in the end as a man who traces his lineage to the city for last 300 odd years
I'll feel personally hurt and offended if he purposely misrepresents a city that he already knows nothing about
Tbh Bollywood already has a history of severely misrepresenting Pak in general cause there was movie I watched in early 2010s where they named part of the city as terrorist bs- but knowing the city I knew how ridiculous it was as that area was party centeral where rich kids go for clubbing
B- I mean can these actors even get the Lahori accent, do they even realize even in Lahore we have different accents in different parts of the city?
But what they do with Pakistanis is they give us a old Hindustani urdu nastalikhi accent
Well by god it's hard to find people talking in that accent in everyday life...
C- I don't think it's red-light district thing (for some here they might feel a certain way but her argument isn't that) cause 1- at this point Heera mandi is renowned throughout the region (used as slurs too) and we are comfortable with that
Cause there's no other choice but to be comfortable with that?
also we have made tons of dramas on this shady inner city life of Lahore highlighting the sociol ills in the society of that area
this really really dark a** drama comes to mind- I'll recommend it if you want to watch dark stuff ( old drama that's why the crappy graphics)
(Can Sanju ever pull of this level of authenticity in his film- even if he wanted to he can't)
D- I don't mind Bollywood guys making films about our people
But I want locals to participate and guide him on
I also want characters actors from the city involved
Can you imagine a Bollywood actor knowing how a man from gawallmandi speaks, his slang or the slang word of a hira mandi
A local actor or actress like herself can easily fit and help
My issue is your "perception" and "stereotypes" guiding you throughout the film without any true local input