Bollywood can influence Pakistan: Karachi-based designer

A leading Karachi-based designer has expressed confidence in Bollywood's capability to influence fashion and people in Pakistan.

"We watch Indian films, we idolise the actors. In our marriage functions, we play your songs, we copy your dance moves. Starting from food, the clothes... everything in India, when Bollywood can make Hollywood wear saris, how can we in Pakistan remain behind," said Yousuf Bashir Qureshi in a telephonic interview to IANS.

Talking about the elements of fashion that he would like to take back home from India, Qureshi said: "There is a lot of fashion in Rajasthan itself. Rajasthan is a very fashionable state, always has been, always inspired me, it's my ancestral land... in totality, I am extremely inspired."

Asked about the fashion differences, comparisons and influences in the two neighbouring countries, Qureshi, whose creations have been donned by international stars like Madonna, Angelina Jolie and Sheryl Crow, says there is no comparison.

"When I go back from India, obviously my designs will have an impact of the local Indian designers here, of the local fashion here. We are humans, anything that is given to us with love, it influences us," Qureshi said.

Ready to participate in designers' exhibitions here in India if invited, Qureshi says he hopes that "the Indian designers should come to Pakistan and vice versa and we should learn from each other and collaborate as much as we can".