Pakistan's famous cross-dressing TV host Begum Nawazish Ali has offered to look for a suitable Pakistani bride for Bollywood actor John Abraham [Images], who has reportedly split with long-time girlfriend and actor Bipasha Basu [Images].

"Why did John and Bipasha split is Begum the culprit?" ran the previews on Aaj TV, which airs the 'Late Night Begum Nawazish Ali Show' every Saturday. Begum Nawazish aka Ali Saleem flew to Mumbai to meet John whose Goal the first film to be simultaneously released in India and Pakistan -- has been a smash hit across the border.

There was no escape for John from the Begum's flirtatious ways in the hour-long show. Dressed in a heavily embellished mauve sari, the Begum kept referring to Bipasha as John's 'physiotherapist', but the actor smiled through it all very sportingly.

When John, who was asked about his plans to marry, said "not anytime soon", the Begum offered to look for a suitable Pakistani girl. She also jokingly offered to speak to John's mother about herself. "Woh (Bipasha) toh abhi bachchi hai (Bipasha is a kid)," she guffawed. "Physiotherapist to hamari baatein nahin sun rahi" (I hope the physiotherapist is not eavesdropping).

Speaking about Goal, John, who was christened Farhan by his mother who is of Iranian descent, said the film is about "unity". The movie is based on the exploits of expatriates from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan who come together to form a football team in London [Images].

Text: PTI | Photograph: Asif Hassan/Getty Images