Aishwarya Rai overwhelmed by love from her Pakistani fans

India and Pakistan have always been at odds with each other. For one, the two countries have fought three wars with each other and are almost on the brink of war every once in a decade. However, artists from both sides of the border have always been met with love and appreciation when they interact with the masses. The latest superstar to be awestruck by affection received from across the border was none other than Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

For her upcoming movie Sarabjit, Ash had to shoot at the Wagah border. There, she saw various Pakistanis from across the border cheering, shouting and responding with as much fanfare as the Indians. The actress was also met with a huge response from her fans from Pakistan when they saw her.

“We are standing there and the shoot is going on, gates are open, you can see Pakistan and you notice that the people are the same and the love for each other are the same,” she said.

She also replied in the affirmative when asked about whether she was aware of her fan following in Pakistan or not.
“I have experienced it in person when we were shooting at Wagah. It was a surreal experience,” she said. “I had finished meeting all the families of the BSF (Border Security Force) here [in India] an hour before the program was to begin. That day we have to wrap and come back to another shoot so I couldn’t stay on to watch it, which I wanted to at some point.”

Aishwarya Rai also talked about how there was no difference among the people of India and the people of Pakistan, the two people from the two nations who are often labeled as ‘enemy states’.
“Everybody is shouting across, acknowledging, screaming, giving their love and I am thinking this is so surreal. These are meant to be ‘enemy states’, these are meant to be countries that don’t get along with each other but we are one. And there is the same love and excitement,” she exclaimed.

“We look alike and we talk alike. We are the same, we have been the same there’s just one line in between,” she also said.

Aishwarya Rai also spoke during the interview regarding the Indian Border Security Force and said that they also had love for their Pakistani counterparts from across the border.
“When I was meeting the BSF, they said our brothers from across the border want to meet you so would you like to cross it and meet this personnel and take a picture. You just smile that they have called each other brothers and yet at unfortunate times, they have to literally wield weapons on each other,” she said.