On the occasion of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev on November 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Kartarpur Corridor — connecting the Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan to Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district on the Indian side — this Friday.

While the issue is currently being much-talked about, actress Poonam Kaur is euphoric about the opportunity to visit Guru Nanak’s birthplace. “I have got an official invite from the Pakistan government to the Kartarpur Corridor, and am in the process of getting my visa formalities done. This time, I will be taking my mother along with me,” she reveals, adding, “It is an emotional moment and means a lot to the Sikh fraternity. If the authorities grant me permission, I would love to meet Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan as well.”




Apparently, Poonam already holds the distinction of being the first Sikh girl (post Partition in 1947) to capture moments from Gurudwara Darbar Sahib when she visited last year. Not surprisingly, her video went viral.

“That’s how the Pakistan government learnt about me, and officially invited me to the Kartarpur Corridor,” beams Poonam, who also featured in the recently released song on Kartarpur.

Given that Indo-Pak relations are so delicate, is she apprehensive of a backlash? “I am going to the Gurudwara only as a Yatri (pilgrim) and to be part of the historic 550th celebrations of Guru Nanak, so there’s a very emotional angle to this trip,” says Poonam, adding, “If the intentions are right, then the outcome will also be right and positive. Last year, I was given the peace brand ambassador by the Pakistan government, but I did not go because of the Pulwama attack. But my trip to Kartarpur Corridor is all about love, humanity and peace. Even if people target me, I am already used to such things.”

Having gone through an emotional turmoil over the last couple of years, the actress reveals that she has been finding solace through her spiritual sojourn.
“I have stopped taking up acting assignments; I want to get married and embrace motherhood,” expresses Poonam.