By Manissha Despaande, Bollywood Trade News Network

The spat between Yash Chopra and filmmaker Akbar Khan at the F.I.C.C.I. Frames Convention, over the former's reluctance to acknowledge TAJ MAHAL as the first Indian film to be cleared for a Pakistan release, is unlikely to be over yet. In a new development, Akbar Khan has accused Yash Chopra for being callously indifferent to the Pakistani delegation and using the F.I.C.C.I. platform to promote the interests of his banner and his film, VEER ZAARA.

"I thought it was a global convention for the entertainment industry but as the Chairperson of the Federation, Mr. Yash Chopra chose to make it a platform for the propagation of his banner and his film VEER ZAARA," Khan said in a disparaging note. According to him, Chopra initially chose not to acknowledge the presence of the Pakistani delegation in his opening speech. Recalls Khan, 'It was a bit surprising since Mr. Chopra had welcomed the Pakistani delegation with a lot of vigor last year, purportedly to see that his film VEER ZAARA got the requisite clearance to Pakistan. I found his attitude disgraceful. I wish and hope that his film does get permission for screening in Pakistan but that doesn't mean he should loose his sense of responsibility as the Chairperson," he said.

Khan further added that Chopra was reminded by the C.E.O. of the Modi Group and Mr. Mitra, on two occasions during lunch hour that he had neither acknowledged the presence of the Pakistani delegation nor made an announcement about TAJ MAHAL being cleared for screening in Pakistan. "However he deliberately chose to mention it in a very humiliating manner through his note which reeked of betrayal He couldn't stomach the fact that his film VEER ZAARA had been unable to make it across the border," Khan fumed.

He also took a gibe at Chopra by mentioning the latter's film, NEAL 'N' NIKKI, and how a marketing strategy could work for poor content. "He is a smart marketing person no doubt. He ensured that a film like NEAL 'N' NIKKI, which was as good as poorly made sex flick, made it everywhere by blocking all the theatres in advance. It is an indication that even a film with a content that is highly mediocre can find a place with a proper release strategy," he said. He was talking about the film with reference to the wrong release strategy of TAJ MAHAL in India, which affected its prospects.

According to him, it was aptness his film, TAJ MAHAL, to the cause of Indo-Pak relations that led the Pakistan Cultural Affairs Ministry, to give it a prompt clearance for a Pakistan release. "The monument of Taj Mahal is an intrinsic part of the country's history. It is a world heritage property and it was only befitting that they chose my film instead of a run-of-the mill romantic film. Also, it was the earnest letter that I dashed off to the Pakistan Cultural Affairs Ministry that made the difference," he said.

Yash Chopra was unavailable for comment.