LAHORE - Indian poet and film director Gulzar returned to India via Wahga border here on Wednesday.
According to the reports, Gulzar, who was on one-week trip, shortened his visit on the advice of the Indian High Commission. However, the Indian High Commissioner has cited Gulzar’s return due to personal reasons.
Gulzar was on one-week visit to Pakistan and was scheduled to reach Karachi on Wednesday to participate in Literary Festival.
The literary legend  was in Lahore for recording a Qawwali for his new film ‘Dedh Ishqia’ but the recording was also cancelled. Famous Pakistani Qawwals Mehar Ali Khan and Sher Ali Khan were scheduled to sing the Qawwali.
Gulzar also visited his birth place, Dina, before leaving to India.
AFP ADDS: The move follows weeks of tension between the two countries sparked by the killings of soldiers along the border in Kashmir.
Syed Ahmed Shah, one of the organisers of the Karachi Literature Festival, confirmed Gulzar had pulled out - just two days before the start of the event.
"We can't say about the reasons and circumstances that led to his return home without attending the festival," Shah told AFP. Indian officials denied Pakistani media reports that they had advised the poet, who won an Oscar for the lyrics to rags-to-riches hit "Slumdog Millionaire" theme "Jai Ho", to return to India. Vishal Bhardwaj, an Indian director travelling with Gulzar, said there was "nothing political" about the withdrawal.
The 76-year-old was simply "emotionally overwhelmed and stressed" after visiting his birthplace, in Pakistan, for the first time in 70 years, Bhardwaj insisted. But a Pakistani film director who met Gulzar during his visit, told AFP on condition of anonymity that he left the country "because of some security concerns".