It's time dad got recognition: JP Dutta

The Bollywood director shares a few startling facts about his father director-writer, OP Dutta and his contribution to the film industry.

This year at the 7th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Dubai, director-writer OP Dutta will be honoured with a lifetime achievement award.

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At the age of 82, Dutta continues to be supremely active in his son's (J.P. Dutta) cinema - he has penned the Urdu dialogues of JP.'s latest period film Umrao Jaan starring Aishwarya Rai in the title role. The film will be screened at the IIFA.

"It's about time my dad got some recognition. Do you know he's been an active part of the film industry for more than 50 years? He has directed eight-nine films and written dialogues for all my films, including Umrao Jaan, J.P. told IANS.

"Still when he heard he was being honoured at IIFA do you know what dad's reaction was? 'Why should I be honoured? I have given nothing to the industry. The industry has given so much to me'.

"Lately, I have discovered some startling facts about my father. No one knows he directed the first Indo-Pakistan film. It was called Anokhee and it was shot in 1956 in Karachi with India's Sheila Ramani and a cast of Pakistani actors. Even I tried to do something to bring the two countries together in Border and Refugee many years ago."

"You know when dad and Javed saab get together they talk about such amazing incidents and events in our cinema. I feel so small in front of them. Even at his age you have to see how lucid dad's writing is in Umrao Jaan."