As India and Pakistan Governments make progress on peace talks, Indian filmmakers are showing renewed interest in the Pakistani film market.

An Indian distributor told ScreenDaily.com 'Once the Pakistani theatrical circuit opens for Hindi cinema the market across the border will be as big as the Delhi and Mumbai territories'.

Last week Geo TV - a private television channel in Pakistan began broadcasting Bollywood films, though they have officially been banned in the country - despite their huge popularity on the illegal video circuit.

Meanwhile, Indian Actress Kirron Kher's powerful performance as a woman caught between the forces of fundamentalism on either side of the Indo-Pakistan border in the film Khamosh Pani has been awarded at the Best Actress award at the recently concluded Karachi Film Festival in Pakistan.

Reacting to the award, Kirron said, "It is wonderful to know that the film has been appreciated in Pakistan. It is heartening to know that there are intellectuals who have the heart in the right place on both sides of the border."