Humayun Saeed to star in new film Malik

With the revival of Pakistani cinema, the industry can see a plethora of films releasing in the coming years. After Operation 021 and Na Maloom Afraad, our cinema brings us yet another remarkable film to look forward to — Malik.

Na Maloom Afraad famed Urwa Hocane told Dawn that the film, in which she is playing the role of Malik's wife, is based on the life of business tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain, the owner and founder of Bahria Town. The film features Humayun Saeed as Malik and multifaceted Pakistani artist, Yousuf Bashir Qureshi, as Malik's aide.

"It is in fact Malik Riaz's biopic and I'm playing the role of his wife," Hocane said.

Humayun Saeed as Malik Riaz

This was however denied by a spokeswoman from Bahria Town, saying no such movie was being made on the life of Malik Riaz Hussain.

Malik Riaz has been the subject of much debate on account of his rise from a modest background to becoming one of the biggest magnates in Pakistan. The three-minute trailer shows his struggles and brings to attention the question of the stark economic inequality in the country.

Humayun Saeed’s powerful delivery of dialogues in the trailer makes the film look promising and we hope it can set the bar high for the industry.

No release date has yet been announced.

The heroic anti-hero

 

Every actor wants to be known as someone who can win hearts, bash the bad guys and come out as triumphant whenever needed.

There are however some exceptions who prefer to be on the wrong side of the law more often; Shamoon Abbasi is one of them. His entry to show business was inevitable; his late father Zubair Abbasi was an award winning writer, his aunt Seema Ghazal is one of the most popular writers of the current generation whereas his first cousin Syed Ali Raza (Usama) has directed the feature film Main Hoon Shahid Afridi and TV’s most expensive serial Bashar Momin. Shamoon himself has been around since the 90s and with his masculine looks, killer physique and acting talents, he is every director’s first choice to play a villain in films. Why does he want to play villain is one question everyone wants an answer to, especially against our perennial hero Shaan!

“(Laughs) Shaan is a very good friend and an actor whom I respect. Hamari Jodi is lye ban gayi since we work in an industry which is limited unlike Hollywood and Bollywood. Just like Pacino-De Niro or Amitabh-Dharmendra, we are Shaan-Shamoon for our industry and if people like us working opposite each other, I don’t mind at all. After Waar and 021, we will now work opposite each other in Gidh where we will clash as antagonist/protagonist and I am sure that people will like the movie for it is based on Shaan’s character as a real-life superstar. Those who feel that we are working opposite each other a lot will not complain once they watch Gidh.”

The mention of his upcoming venture Gidh excites Shamoon. “Gidh features people who should be in films and had the people who were part of it initially not disappointed me with their unprofessionalism, the film would have been complete by now. It is not just my entry into films as a director, it is a film based on real life issues. It shows the disadvantages of a scenario where news and showbiz is mixed together and how it results in a celebrity’s fall from grace. I have used Gidh as a metaphor for the media who waits for your demise to attack you. The role Shaan is playing the in the movie is that of a superstar, something that is tailor made for him. I have also roped in Sara Loren (formerly Mona Lizza) and Sabika Imam (Queen fame) while I would also be in the movie with few others.”

Can a movie against the powerful media industry sustain in Pakistan? “I don’t know why it can’t – Gidh is not about news channels but about entertainment media. It is a film for the people of Pakistan who need masala in a movie; they invest their money in films and want something that touches their heart and soul. Basically I believe that the media is creating anxiety amongst the viewers and giving out information that isn’t required. That’s the reason why I decided to go against the norm and come up with a movie that deals with real life issues. And yes, there will be masala in the movie as well as songs by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Ali Azmat and Kamran Akhtar (Jannat 2 fame) and we have produced the music keeping in mind that they not only have repeat value but is also played everywhere possible. The teaser is loaded with visual effects and once you get to watch the movie, you’ll understand what we have tried to depict.

Will Gidh be an Urdu Film, unlike his previous ventures that were in English?

“Of course it will be an Urdu film; it’s for cinegoers who love to watch Urdu flicks. I don’t want to take back Urdu from the people for the very reason that I want to make a film in English. You can’t make a nihari lover eat sardines overnight and that’s why we need to educate them systematically.  We will try to minimize the use of English in the movie and since the flick will have an international release, we will have subtitles in Arabic and other languages.”

In a country where actors make film debuts when they are young, Shamoon ventured into films quite late – that too through Faisal Bukhari’s Bhai Log in 2010. “I was of the impression that it will be a game changer, with fresh execution but sadly, the way the women were shot in the movie was unthinkable. The elegance was there in the shots featuring the Bhai Log but not in the other shots that brought the film back to its Lollywood roots. People appreciated my acting in the movie and I was happy to have done well, although I had to take a break from films after that to avoid being typecast.”

For all his roles on TV and films, Shamoon is remembered for his portrayal of an Indian Super-Agent Ramal, in Waar. “I wasn’t the first choice of actor to play the cold assassin since there was Noman Ejaz before me. He left the movie as he believed that it wouldn’t see the light of day, and in I walked. When Bilal (Lashari) saw me enter the room for negotiations, he had a smile on his face since he knew that I was the one he was looking for. He was impressed by my variations and ability to don different getups and that’s why I became the villain in Waar.”

If Ramal was such a powerful villain and all, why was his death scene so unimaginably bland? (Laughs) “The first ending that was devised for Waar would have been an epic as it was supposed to be shot in Istanbul, Turkey after Ramal had escaped from the Convention Center. But due to time constraints and other issues, we had to conclude the shooting in Islamabad and that’s why the climax might seem a little dodgy. I did ask the director what Ramal was doing at the top of the building when he could have escaped and even asked them to include a helicopter as a getaway for the super villain but that didn’t materialize. With the original end, I feel Waar would have done even better!”

Director Jami’s 021 was one project Shamoon had high hopes from since it was billed as Pakistan’s first spy thriller. But a controversy (or controversies) resulted in Shamoon’s role being clipped to a cameo from formerly being the main villain. “When I was approached by Summer Nicks (the original director) for the role of Jilani, it was a very important role – he was the anti-hero. Since Summer had to leave, the producers had to delete all the work that was done by him. Us qurbani main main bhi shamil hogaya because Summer was driving my role. After his departure, Jami had to redirect the project. My problem is that if in the good will of the film, you are deleting my scenes, cutting Aamina’s role and not including Ayyaz Sammon, that’s understandable. But when they added unknown goras in the storyline, they killed it completely.”

“The makers had issues with me as well since they thought that I wasn’t sharing the teasers on social media and I clearly told them that I wouldn’t be part of the promotion. Yes, they called me for the posters, the BTS and the meetings but I said no because why would I share anything if I was not in the movie. They haven’t done injustice just to me but also to Shaan and Aamina Sheikh who are sprinkled all over the movie, despite being the lead. I am not angry that they cut away my scenes in the movie; I am sad that the editing killed the human relation between the characters and that’s what damaged the flick. It is about time that the kings understand that they now have to share the Kingdom. Film kay naam par documentaries banana band kardein. Films are for entertainment purposes.”

Shamoon doesn’t stop there. “I ask them where are the scenes in which I do explosions; where I am part of a convoy that goes into Afghanistan; where is the scene that was moulded on Fast and The Furious where I drove a high speed car with six-feet cameras each on both sides? Why did they edit that life-risking scene for which I refused to use a stuntman? Where is that romantic scene with Tara who just comes in and goes in the final version, although she had a substantial role in the original script? Even after all that, I still don’t have a grudge against them because I want to watch films being made in Pakistan.”

The conversation shifts from films to television, where Shamoon tends to transform from cold assassin to warm and humane. “I believe an actor shouldn’t be image conscious because when you become aware of your image that is the end of creativity. Image is for actors with egos and since I have none, I try to be different. I have learnt from the late Amrish Puri as well as talented artists like Anupam Kher, Kader Khan and Shakti Kapoor. One day they are doing comedy and the next instant they are villainous which gives you an insight how talented they are.”

“After playing a deadly assassin in Waar, I wanted to do something different in 021, like talk more in a humane way and interact with other characters,” he continues. “But since my scenes were edited, my role didn’t strike much different in the latter. As for my off-screen persona, I am a people’s actor; I can’t transform into a film star overnight. In Pakistan, people think that a film actor can’t go out to buy bread but I still love to go and sit at a roadside dhaaba for tea. I have to meet people in the area I live, I have to eat out and meet friends. I may be a film actor but I am also a human being who likes it best when people come to me and say nice things.”

In conversation with Shaan Shahid

Shaan Shahid. Mona Al-Marzooqi/ The National

You’ve made 576 films. How is that possible?

I’ve been working since I was 16. I’m 42 now. If you dissect a film, we shoot scenes about three hours a day so I started working in hours. I could give three hours to three films each day. Sometimes two hours a day to four films. In 2004, we released 45 films. There was a boom then and everyone wanted to work really hard.

Where is Pakistani filmmaking headed?

Pakistani filmmakers are struggling because they don’t have any support from our leaders. There are no banks nor companies that support us. We’ve been doing films and entertaining people on our own for the past 50 years. And that needs to change. They tell their kids to be doctors, not filmmakers. If we don’t have international support, we won’t have the budget to make films.

What can Pakistani films bring to the global world of filmmaking?

We can do for the world’s filmmakers what China is doing for America. We can cut your cost. I think Pakistan is the richest country as far as scripts are concerned. Every filmmaker needs a script. Every blockbuster is a Marvel film. That means you don’t have a script. You have comic books that you’re making films out of. We have got numerous Titanics in Pakistan. What about all the mothers in Pakistan who gave out their sons to the wrong cause? Isn’t that a script? Those stories need to be told. After 20 years of war in ­Pakistan, we have so much to say. Bring your cameras. Bring your filmmakers and start shooting in Pakistan.

If Hollywood or Bollywood came calling and asked you to play a villain, would you do it?

I refused India once. When I read the role, I knew that they needed a new terrorist face and I said no. In Pakistan, I live in people’s hearts. That’s a huge responsibility. I cannot let them down. I can’t do that to people who love me. We don’t need a villain. We can all be heroes. Our speech is our films. That’s our tool.

Why are you in films and not politics?

I’ve had offers from every political party, but I don’t want to work for the government. They all think I want to run for president. I don’t. But I do have a dream. For the people of Pakistan to be respected. This is my reason for coming [to the expo]. I could have brought my films and my scripts, but I didn’t. I brought my voice. Films change ideologies. Bullets don’t. Bullets just kill.

 

Rightful battle?: Bilal Lashari’s Maula Jatt ready to roll

Lashari had earlier described his interpretation of the film series as much darker and grittier than the original films. PHOTOS: FILE

KARACHI: 

Not so long ago, it was announced that the iconic Maula Jatt film will be remade by not one but two producers. But the film’s remakes, which are being produced by Bilal Lashari and Faisal Rafi of Crew Motion Pictures, have triggered a creative firestorm. After the originalMaula Jatt franchise’s producer, Sarwar Bhatti, said that the two can’t proceed with the projects as they haven’t bought the film’s rights, Lashari tells The Express Tribune that his film is ready to roll.

“We are legally covered for the film, which will soon enter the production phase,” says Lashari. The Waar director shares that he wasn’t aware of the allegations being levelled against him by Bhatti. Commenting on the authenticity of his project, he states, “Nasir Adeeb, the writer of the original Maula Jatt film, its prequel Wehshi Jatt and sequel Maula Jatt in London, has rights to the Maula Jatt franchise.” Adding, “Adeeb is a part of our team and has also written the dialogues of our remake of the film.”

Lashari earlier described his interpretation of the film series as much darker and grittier than the original films. He had mentioned that his film will be a “stylised take on Pakistan’s original film genre.” Maula Jatt tells the story of a feud between Maula Jatt (Sultan Rahi) and Noori Natt (Mustafa Qureshi), set against the backdrop of Gujranwala. The Maula Jatt character has dominated Pakistani pop culture for many years.

Where the debate over copyrights of Maula Jatt may have revealed loopholes, it’s important to note that Wehshi Jatt itself was inspired by Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi’s short story titledGandasa. Since Qasmi passed away in 2006, it will take another 42 years for his intellectual property to be openly available for public use.

Bhatti had previously expressed his resentment at the news of the remakes, stating that both the producers will be at fault legally if they proceed with their respective projects. “I met Lashari and have told him that he is not making the film legally. I informed him that whoever has invested in his project will suffer because he has not bought the rights to Maula Jatt from me. I also met Rafi and, unfortunately, nothing materialised,” Bhatti had said in an earlier conversation with The Express Tribune.

Maula Jatt was considered a resounding success of Pakistani cinema during the 1980s and spawned a number of sequels to become Pakistani cinema’s first unofficial film franchise. It had a successful running at the box office for several years in Punjab, with a cinema in Lahore screening the film for almost six years. The original Maula Jatt is currently being remastered in England for a release in Blu-ray and 3D technology.

The star behind the Moon

Haider’s film turned out to be a surprise package for Pakistani cinema, managing to garner immense critical and commercial acclaim. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

KARACHI: Actor Mohsin Abbas Haider seems to be on a streak of good luck. His brief stint as a rapper-singer in the show Mazaak Raat riveted the audiences’ attention towards him, but it’s with Na Maloom Afraad that he has established a standing in the industry.

Five years ago, Haider used to think that he could achieve fame and success overnight, but was given a reality check when he shifted to Karachi from Faislabad.

“I went to Napa to learn singing and thought that becoming a star will be an overnight process. That’s when I realised I was terribly wrong,” Haider tells The Express Tribune.

Today, his debut film Na Maloom Afraad has turned out to be a surprise package for Pakistani cinema, managing to garner both critical and commercial acclaim. However, his journey to the big screen does not just include TV as a milestone, as he spent considerable time in radio, something that is reflective in his ability to sing.

For now, Haider has no plans of making the drastic decision of quitting TV, as he feels that the cinema industry is still in its nascent phase. “I think I’ll continue with TV and will not just focus on films because, currently, our film industry is in the crawling stage,” he comments. “With one or two films releasing in a year, we can’t term this as the industry’s revival,” he adds.

Haider’s relationship with Na Maloom Afraad director Nabeel Qureshi goes a long way back. The duo has known each other since its early days in the industry and used to spend time together, brainstorming creative ideas. His chemistry with Qureshi is evident in his performance in the film.

Haider has often been panned by critics for over-acting, but he remains undeterred. “I never bother thinking about opinions others have about me. Many people a draw parallel between my stints in TV and film, ignoring the fact that what I do on TV and what I did in the film are two different things altogether,” remarks the actor.

Haider has closely followed and learnt from the works of actors, such as Amitabh Bachchan, Naseeruddin Shah, Talat Hussain, Salman Shahid and Waheed Murad. He is open to the idea of working in Bollywood, given that the script is substantial.

“I’d love to broaden my horizons. But it’s better to work here in a first-rate Pakistani film rather than opting for a B or C-category Bollywood project,” he states.

Citing the example of Fawad Khan and Imran Abbas starring in Bollywood films Khoobsuratand Creature 3D, he says that the former did a film that suited his style of acting, while the latter chose a “lame film for a debut” because of his indecisiveness.

Extreme makeovers for Mission 5

Asadul Haq, Nabila, Ali Murtaza and Shaan strike a pose for the camera. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

KARACHI: 

Shaan’s upcoming film Mission 5 has evoked the eagerness of his fans. But this time, it’s not just because Shaan will star in the film, but also become he will be writing its screenplay. Produced by Shaan’s Riaz Shahid Films and Shiny Toy Guns, the film will feature the cast in striking avatars, helmed by veteran stylist Nabila.

“The Pakistani film industry is going through a revival and Asadul Haq (owner of Shiny Toy Guns), being a pioneer in this industry, has facilitated this comeback,” Nabila tells The Express Tribune. “We at Nabilas are proud to be closely associated with it and hope to make it grow stronger,” she adds.

Nabila will be giving “extreme makeovers” to the cast next month, something that she hasn’t done before for a film. The looks of the film will be revealed just before it hits the floor. “Someone once told me, if you want to do something different, ask your close friends first. They have known you all your life, so they can help you with your fears and dreams without batting an eyelash,” says Haq. Adding, “Having Nabila on my first feature is part of the same scenario. I have known her all my life and always looked up to her for her aesthetics and style sense.”

Tentatively titled Mission 5, the film is an action thriller intertwined with a love story and is said to have a production budget much higher than any Pakistani film released to date. Bafta-winning Director of Photography Nicholas D Knowland of Jinnah fame will lend his services for the project. And Hollywood actor Farhan Tahir, who starred in Iron Man and Star Trek, will feature as the main antagonist in the film.

As a production house, Shiny Toy Guns aims at being fully integrated, providing something for those who wish to be a part of the entertainment industry. Haq earlier shared the multitude of ways in which aspirants can seek assistance from the company. “It’s not about just directing. It’s about helping you finance, produce, post and, hopefully, distribute your project if needed,” he comments. “My ultimate aim is to take this forward in a way that it helps in exposing individuals to the productive side of the business.”

Setting the stage for quality cinema

Trained theatre actors, such as Paras Masroor, Gohar Rasheed and Hamza Ali Abbasi have transitioned into the world of film and television, proving their acting mettle. PHOTOS: FILE

KARACHI: 

Of the many things to laud about the new wave of Pakistani films, one of the most potent is the acting talent it has brought to the fore. But the emergence of adept actors cannot just be credited to the progress in film. Theatre, which has been a dominant performing art in the country, has also been responsible for the birth of great artistes. The Express Tribune talks to filmmakers and actors to explore the role of theatre in polishing the skill set of actors who have ventured into film and television.

“The reason we are seeing more brilliant and exceptional performances on the silver screen is due to the fact that we have more and more professionally trained theatre actors involved in film,” says Mazhar Zaidi, the producer of critically-acclaimed Pakistani film Zinda Bhaag.

Hamza Ali Abbasi, Gohar Rasheed

In an interview with the Guardian, British acting virtuoso Sir Ian McKellen portended a dark future for thespians, saying there will be no more great artistes, as actors today don’t hone their skills in repertory theatre like their predecessors.

This doesn’t seem to hold true for Pakistan because “those who love to act will always want to do theatre,” as former crime show host and theatre-film actor Paras Masroor says. “Although the financial incentive in theatre is lesser [than film and television], the satisfaction it offers is greater,” he states.

Over the past few years, several trained theatre actors, such as Masroor, Gohar Rasheed and Hamza Ali Abbasi have transitioned into the world of film and television, proving their acting mettle over a short period of time.

Khalid Ahmed, a renowned theatre and television actor and faculty member at the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa), feels the transition from theatre to mediums, such as film or television, is bound to be smooth for a trained actor. “Acting is always taught with reference to theatre and not with regard to film or television. So, when an actor goes from theatre to film or television, he will always be at an advantage,” he said.

Contrarily, Zaidi feels that actors of theatre origin have an edge in terms of communicating effectively with directors. “I’ve noticed that communicating with actors [who have a background in theatre] is much easier as they are on the same level as the director,” he comments. “They are able to grasp the vision of the director as they have more experience and a wider skill set as compared to other actors,” he adds.

Masroor, who formerly hosted crime show Shabbir Tou Dekhe Ga and made a cameo appearance in Pakistani comedy film Na Maloom Afraad, says quality actors hailing from theatre can’t be ignored. “You have actors on television who are cardboard heroes. They are just good looking and lack versatility,” he comments.

“There are actors who look good and know how to dance in India as well, but despite that, artistes the likes of Naseeruddin Shah and Nawazuddin Siddiqui [who initiated their careers as theatre actors] have made a name for themselves,” said Masroor, who is set to appear in the upcoming film Mah-e-Meer.

“Nawazuddin is a brilliant example of how far training in theatre acting can take you. He is now considered among the top crop of Bollywood actors alongside the Khans,” states Masroor. He is hopeful this change in perspective will permeate the Pakistani film industry as well, providing theatre actors with the chance to prove their standing and give first-rate performances on the screen.

‘Mai Manto’ will release by the end of this year: Sarmad Khoosat

News of ‘Mai Manto’ being in its final stage had been doing rounds in the entertainment section of newspaper and websites since the beginning of this year. And looks like there was some authenticity in those news snippets because the director himself has announced that the much awaited movie will see a release by Decemeber.

Another news which is rife about ‘Mai Manto’ is that a drama will also be aired based on the movie. Director Khoosat who is being very tight lipped about his project told HIP that he doesn’t want to go in to details.

However, upon speaking to Saba Qamar, who will be playing the role of Melody Queen Madam Noor Jahan in the movie, it was revealed that the drama will only be made after gauging audience’s response about the movie.

“Manto was a very bold man and his speech and writings were full of prostitutes and cuss words. We want to see if audiences can digest such content. If there is an acceptance for the movie, only then the drama based on it will be aired.”

Speaking further about her role, Qamar elaborates that Manto used to write about Noor Jehan a lot, both bad and good and the legendary singer/actress was a big fan of him because of the element of truth in his writings. Although she found it a daunting task to portray Noor Jehan, Qamar says that she takes immense pride in the role allotted to her.

‘Mein Manto will make you forget Humsafar’

Referring to Khoosat, Qamar says that all the credit for her acting should go to the director only. She also says that Khoosat is working so hard on his role as Manto that at times, she feels like her close friend (Khoosat) has actually turned into Manto.

“Jis tarah us ne mujhe Noor Jahan ki rooh mei dhal diya hai, ussi tarah mujhe Sarmad mei Manto nazar aata hai.”

The killer beauty Qamar lastly says that Mai Manto will be a master piece and Humsafar doesn’t stand a chance in front of it.

“Sarmad ne jo masterpiece bana diya hai na, mai bet kerti hun ke log isko dekh ker Humsafar ko bhool jainge.”

The director of famous drama ‘Humsafar’ Khoosat, who is also playing the character of Manto in this movie, has been inspired with the literary genius since reading his work in 9^th standard. However, owing to the near death of reading culture in our country, Khoosat thinks (and correctly so) the new generation doesn’t know much about Manto. This is exactly what his movie aims – to educate today’s youth about Manto’s life, the hardships he faced during the last five years of his life and the writing masterpieces he created during that period.

Written by Shahid Nadeem, the movie’s cast includes Mahira Khan, Saba Qamar, Imran Abbas, Sania Saeed, Hina Khawaja, Savera Nadeem, Nadia Afgan, Nimra Bucha and Adnan Tipu in prominent roles apart from Khoosat himself.

Namaloom Afraad beats Operation 021 at box office

Tip to movie makers: Focus on entertaining the audience.

Namaloom Afraad is having a good run at the box office as its collection outruns Operation 021’s in terms of box office collection as of today. According to NMA’s director Nabeel Qureshi the movie has earned Rs50.5 (5.5 crore) million since its release on October 6, while Operation 021’s representative tells us it has earned approximately Rs40.75 million (4.75 crore). Namaloom Afraad is clearly the winner here.

Qureshi was asked the reason for NMA’s success and he replied,

“I didn’t ask the audience to solve an MCQ or a Math question. I just gave them a film which entertained them fully and maybe this was NMA’s USP. IT is pure entertainment. Pakistani movies usually lack this quotient; the recent releases have been intelligent, intense but they lack entertainment.”

Complexes and Multiplexes across Pakistan have also started allotting more screens to NMA instead of 021 because people are more interested in watching the entertainer. There was a rumor doing rounds that Operation 021 was being replaced by NMA but it was proven wrong when we spoke to a representative of Karachi’s Atrium cinema, “We haven’t been replacing Operation 021 with Namaloom Afraad, we’re just planning more shows for NMA due to the demand.”

Entertainment saved the day for NMA and overly convoluted plot may have held Operation 021 back.

The ‘opening day’ battle

As both directors Nabeel Qureshi and Jami congratulate each other on a job well done the question that remained that which of the holiday releases really did better at the box office during the Eid holidays. There is little in the way of ‘official figures’ when it comes to television ratings and box office figures and us entertainment reporters often struggle to piece together numbers from various sources and hope that they we haven’t been bamboozled.

While 021 failed to attract audiences in Karachi’s cinemas downtown like Bambino and Capri the film was welcomed in multiplexes in Punjab. Conversely, Namaloom Afraad’s unique brand of humor and borrowed from television cast was received particularly warmly in Karachi.

The big budget Bollywood competition Bang Bang (Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif) performed well at the box office since its release on October 2^nd but reportedly the two Pakistani films Namaloom Afraad and Operation 021 fought back valiantly to grab the first and second spot in terms of box office collection. In all, it was a great week for cinemas in Pakistan as they collected over Rs50 million/5 crore which is an all-time high for any Eid season in Pakistan.

Considering the audiences’ enthusiasm for local movies, generally positive reviews for both movies and advance bookings in cinemas Eid season was highly profitable for the exhibitors.

Bang Bang collected approximately Rs7.6 million on first day of Eid while Namaloom Afraad and Operation 021 earned Rs 4.5 and Rs5.5 million respectively on their opening day, according to The Express Tribune.

According to a source at Team 021, Namaloom Afraad had an opening of around Rs7.2 million while 021 earned approximately Rs9.5 million.

If we consider figures from various available sources we come to the conclusion that the first day belonged to Bang Bang, the second day of Eid saw a downfall in collection for Bang Bang whereas an uphill journey for Operation 021 and Namaloom Afraad.

Jami and Summer Nicks directorial venture did witness its set of hurdles. The crowd in two of the oldest cinemas, Capri and Bambino, reportedly didn’t appreciate the English script in Operation 021 and ‘threw bottles’ midway. This incident happened during the 12pm show at Bambino. Later, 021’s director and producers held a press conference to demand an inquiry into the matter as they thought the cinema-owners and distributors were responsible for the incident.

Namaloom Afraad had a good run as it was as Pakistani as a movie could get. Fahad Mustafa’s successful run on ARY digital’s game show Jeeto Pakistan might also have played an important role in gathering a tumultuous audience.  And Javed Sheikh’s presence added substance to the already well thought out movie.

Maula Jatt re releasing in digital technology

Check out: 10 memorable roles of Sultan Rahi

Based on a true story with its plot revolving around an eponymous hero who gets into a blood feud with the local gundaNuri Nath, ‘Maula Jatt’ is undoubtedly one of the top movies of its generation.

Directed by Younis Malik, produced by Sarwar Bhatti and featuring Lollywood’s superstar Sultan Rahi in the lead role along with Aasia and Mustafa Qureshi as the villain Noori natt, Maula Jatt is a classic indeed; a movie which forever changed the Pakistani film culture.

And owing to the overwhelming critical and popular acclaim it has been receiving to date, the makers of the epic movie have decided to convert it into digital technology. The preparations of re releasing this movie on the silver screen are on its peak. Furthermore, the movie’s digital trailer is underway and will be out real soon.

As reported by Roznama Dunya, sources have revealed that the movie’s post production will be executed overseas which will cost around 40 to 50 million rupees.

The producer Bhatti also seems to be uber excited about this project and plans to showcase the movie in all cinema houses comprising digital technology as soon as the movie turns digital.

Mahira Khan To Work With Adeel Hussain And Sheheryar Munnawar In Asim Raza Movie

 

Mahira khan After returning to the TV screen with Sadqay Tumhare, the much-admired Mahira Khan is now ready to grace the silver screen with two upcoming films.

In a recent interview with INSTEP, the stunning actor talked about her upcoming feature film, Bin Roye, which has a stellar cast including Humayun Saeed, Zeba Bakhtiar, Javed Sheikh and Ameena Rana Khan.

The other project, a film by Asim Raza about two friends, stars Adeel Hussain and Sheheryar Munnawar in the lead. Currently untitled, this film is still in its initial stage.

Speaking about the film Bin Roye Mahira said, “It’s a full blown feature film. I love commercial cinema. I like watching a Ram Leela. I like my dance and song. And I have danced in Bin Roye.”

She further added, “I’ve given Bin Roye everything and I’m hoping that people enjoy something different coming from Pakistani cinema.”

The film is also being turned into a drama series, but the actor is not thrilled by the idea.

“It’s a business idea that they want to try out, though personally as an actor it’s not something I enjoy. I’ve given this film my blood, sweat and tears. We often joke that this film is a Titanic, a Mughal e Azam; we’ve been making it forever.”

Bin Roye is expected to hit the cinema screens on January 9, 2015