The photo shows Hollywood stars Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger arriving at Lahore Airport in Walton on Douglas DC-3 Dakota (AP-ABB) for shooting of film 'Bhowani Junction' released in 1956.
Shooting of 'Bhowani Junction' in Lahore was done in 1955 so most likely this photo was taken in 1955. AP-ABB seems to be wearing first PIA livery that was introduced on airline's Super Constellations in 1954.
In March/April 1955, AP-ABB was one of Orient Airways aircraft that were transferred to PIA after the merger of two airlines.
Following photo shows AP-ABB in a later PIA livery.
In 1962, AP-ABB was sold to Royal Nepal Airlines and registered in Nepal as 9N-AAH. However it had a very short career with Royal Nepal Airlines. On August 1, 1962, 9N-AAH crashed into a mountain in Nepal while operating Royal Nepal Airlines flight from Kathmandu to New Delhi.
Abbas
