DUBAI, 16 June 2006 — The term “Bollywood” is a misnomer and should be treated as such, celebrated Indian actress and parliamentary member Shabana Azmi said at a business forum in Dubai yesterday.
“The word ‘Bollywood’ suggests that all Indian cinema is an imitation of Hollywood, which it isn’t,” Azmi said during the opening session of a summit devoted to India-Gulf ties. “The term has entered the dictionary, and we seem to be stuck with it,” Azmi added, pointing out that India produces twice the number of films as Hollywood each year.
Azmi, a highly regarded theater and film actress and renowned MP, was one of several high-level UAE and Indian dignitaries at the all-day business forum held at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“The UAE and India are destined for business success and the journey toward that success is helped along by reciprocal business and social agreements,” said Mohammed Ali Al-Hashimi, CEO of Zabeel Investments.
Al-Hashimi added that the people of both countries share a multi-faceted partnership that will continue to thrive in coming years and lead to more economic success for both nations.
“Dubai has been known as the land of rapid change and extraordinary development, but there are things that should never alter as they are firmly rooted in the social and economic texture of our nation,” he said. “Today’s meeting is about hope, and about a new beginning in our longstanding ties,” said Al-Hashimi.
