Reham Khan's first production titled 'Janan' to release next year

                    KARACHI: Reham Khan is all set to step into the glamourous world of entertainment, and will be co-producing a romantic comedy Janan which is expected to release next year.

Janan has been written by Osman Khalid Butt and has been co-produced by model-turned-actress Hareem Farooq. It will be directed by Azhar Jafferi who had also directed Hareem’s debut film Siyah in 2013.

In an interview with The Express Tribune, Hareem talked about how Reham ended up as one of the producers of Janan. “Reham has always been fond of promoting art, and she wanted to play a role in promoting the local entertainment industry. We shared the script of the movie with her and she liked it so we decided to collaborate on the project.”

Earlier last week, an excited Reham had taken to Twitter announcing she will be producing two Pakistani flicks this year.

Talking about the plot of the movie, Hareem said, “Janan is a story of a Pakhtun girl who returns from Britain after her education. The story comically defies the stereotypes about Pakhtun families.”

Hareem denied rumours that the film was in Pashto, and clarified that the movie would be in Urdu, even if it does revolve around a Pakhtun family.

She explained, “I have always wanted to promote a softer image of the country, and I chose the story of a Pakhtun family because they are usually the most misunderstood and ridiculed ethnicity.

Earlier, rumors of Reham directing the film had also surfaced but Hareem informed The Express Tribune that Janan would be directed by Azfar Jafferi, who had also directed Hareem’s acting debut, Siyah, in 2013.

Hareem confirmed that Armeena Khan would be playing the female lead, but added that the rest of the cast has not been finalised.

Janan will be Hareem Farooq’s debut production venture. Since the release of her film she has appeared in several television dramas. She was also a part of Anwar Maqsood’s Pawnay 14 August and is currently starring opposite Fahad Mustafa in the TV drama Dusri Biwi.

Sidra Batool set for film debut

LAHORE: Sidra Batool will join the growing list of actors to transition from the small screen to the silver screen with the film, Halla Gulla, reported Roznama Express.

In an interview with the publication the actor described the film as a ‘comedy-musical’ and also revealed that she has performed in a romantic song by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

“Due to the deteriorating law & order situation people are enjoying light-hearted comedies,” she said.

Halla Gulla which has been directed by Kamran Khan will see Sidra starring opposite Asim Mahmood. “My role in the movie is also very interesting but I personally enjoyed sharing screen space with legends like Javed Sheikh and Ismail Tara,” stated Sidra.

Commenting on her first-time experience working in a feature film, she said that the whole cast was like a big ‘family’ and that everyone worked really hard to make their characters more believable.

On whether she would have agreed to perform an item song in the movie, she replied, “I would have not said no if I was offered.”

With the movie expected to release later this year, Sidra was unable to contain her excitement and anticipation for the release of the film saying, “I can’t wait to watch myself on the big screen.”

She is hopeful that Halla Gull would become part of the new wave of Pakistani cinema and shatter all the previous record on the box office.

The Mr Perfect of Pakistani cinema

KARACHI: 

A closer look at Javed Sheikh’s career in film reveals how his recent filmography is a mirror image of how he started off as an actor. In 1983, he debuted with a serious role in Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, following it with his comic stint in the film Shaadi Magar Aadhi. 30 years later and quite similarly, he made a smooth transition from his role of a vindictive don in Main Hoon Shahid Afridi (MHSA) to his humorous portrayal of a jobless man in Na Maloom Afraad (NMA). Not one to adhere to the formulaic approach to acting, Sheikh may have finally cracked the code of achieving acclaim as an actor.

“There is a reason why I’m able to slide into every frame perfectly —  my diverse body of work,” he says. He acknowledges that in order to attain longevity in his career, he avoided being typecasted and kept pushing the envelope as an actor by experimenting with his choice of roles. Citing his performances in films, such as Jo Darr Gaya Woh Marr Gaya, MHSA and NMA, he explains how versatility is key to success. “I played the villain in the 1995-film Jo Darr Gaya Woh Marr Gaya, which won me the ‘Best Actor’ award, while I played a stuttering man in NMA,” he states.

Having made his film debut when the local movie scene had begun dwindling, Sheikh stood by the industry during its darkest hours, even producing two big-budget films, Yeh Dil Aap Ka Huwa and Khulay Aasman Ke Niche, during the time. After toiling hard for several years, his dedication has finally borne fruit, as he is set to be seen in four major Pakistani films, Wrong No, Halla Gulla, Karachi Se Lahore and Bin Roye, all expected to release later this year.

Of his character in Wrong No, Sheikh shares he will play the role of a qasai, who is Danish Taimoor’s father. “It’s unlike anything I have done before. It’s one of the most fun characters I’ve played so far.” Apart from this, Sheikh has also proven his mettle across the border and has shared screen space with stars, such as Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar. He will now be seen starring alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in Imtiaz Ali’s film Tamasha. “It is an honour for me when such a celebrated Bollywood director calls me and says he wants me to star in his film,” notes Sheikh, who will play Kapoor’s father in the film.

Despite having mostly worked in Bollywood films between 2005 and 2010, Sheikh says he missed the thrill of acting in Pakistani films. He was surprised to see how swiftly the Pakistani film industry took flight. “When I started working in Bollywood films, I used to look at their production techniques and quality and wonder whether our industry would ever see the same level of expertise,” he notes. “But now, all of a sudden, our filmmaking standards have improved and I am glad that even the equipment used to make them is at par with that used for Bollywood films.”

I can’t wait to see both my films rule the box office: Humayun Saeed

KARACHI: Few individuals rule the airwaves for decades. Fewer still significantly alter the course of Pakistani showbiz. Hardly anyone can manage to remain humble at the same time. Humayun Saeed did all three.

After a brief hiatus, Humayun Saeed is all set to return to the big screen with not just one but two upscale movies and a drama serial. The much awaited Mahira and Humayun starrer Bin Roye is slated to release on Eid ul Fitr and Humayun Saeed’s home production, Jawani Phir Nahi Aani will be released on Eid ul Azha.

Official poster of Bin Roye

“I am waiting eagerly for the release of both movies. Both of them are very different from each other and have been made by experienced film makers. I can’t wait to see them rule the box office,” Humayun Saeed told The Express Tribune.

Talking about Bin Roye, Humayun Saeed said that the film is a serious romantic drama. “It takes you back to the era of Nadeem and Shabnam when family stories ruled the big screen. The story is told from Mahira’s perspective and my role adapts accordingly.”

The film also stars Zeba Bakhtiyar, Javed Sheikh, Junaid Khan and Armeena Khan in her debut role.

Humayun explained that the storyline is similar to that of a serial, and he expects it to hit the audiences on several emotional levels. “It is a complete family story and is sure to resonate with the emotions of the masses.”

Screengrab from Bin Roye Trailer

Bin Roye is the brainchild of the team that brought the blockbuster drama serial Humsafar to screen. Produced by Momina Duraid, the film is based on the novel Bin Roye Aansoo by Farhat Ishtiaq, who had also written the novel on which Humsafar was based.

Denying the similarity of Bin Roye’s story with Humsafar, Humayun said that the story is completely different. “There is no resemblance between Bin Roye and Humsafar. The story of Bin Roye is much more mature.”

Humayun Saeed refused to reveal any information regarding the plot, saying that he’d rather keep it a surprise for who haven’t read the book, but, going by the novel, Bin Roye appears to be the story of a younger sister being forced into a marriage with her brother-in-law after his wife, her elder sister, passes away.

The film will later be turned into a drama serial, which will be aired on television in December. Humayun confirmed that the drama will also share the same name and cast, with only minor changes to fit the story for television audiences.

Humayun Saeed’s second flick, Jawani Phir Nahi Aani is also slated to release later this year. The movie unlike Bin Roye is a comedy drama penned by Vasay Chaudary.

JPNA boasts a star studded cast including Hamza Ali Abbasi, Vasay Chaudary, Ahmad Ali Butt, Sohai Ali Abro, Mehwish Hayat, Ayesha Khan, Humayun Saeed, Javed Sheikh and Omar Sharif.

Official poster of Jawani Phir Nahi Ani

Talking about JPNA, Humayun Saeed told The Express Tribune that the movie is a family oriented comedy masala movie, a genre which has not yet been fully explored in Pakistan.

Responding to the criticism raised towards the movie promoting western values, Humayun said it’s a hardcore Pakistani movie. “Trailers are often misleading. They are released only to create word-of-mouth publicity, and we have successfuly accomplished that.” Humayun said.

You can view the much-talked-about trailer here:

He added, “When people watch the movie, they will know how Pakistani it is. The jokes, the story, everything has been inspired by the life of Pakistani families,”

Commenting on whether the film bears any resemblance with Bollywood films, Humayun said, “The genre of JPNA is different. It is nothing likeZindagi Na Milay Gi Dobara. If I had made a movie like Zindagi Na Milay Gi Dobara, no one would have called it a Bollywood copy. It’s just the glamour that makes people believe that its ‘Bollywoodish’.”

Mehwish Hayat as seen in Yeh Jawani Phir Nahi Ani

He added, “People try to compare everything we do with Bollywood. When I released Mein Houn Shahid Afridi (MHSA), people believed that it would be a Pakistani version of Chak de India, but their opinions changed after they watched the film,”

Humayun Saeed with Mahnoor Baloch in MHSA

Revealing details about the music of the film, Humayun mentioned that the film has six songs in total, including a title song done by Ahmad Ali Butt, three songs done by Shaani, one by Sahir Ali Bagga and another one by Shuja Haider.

Humayun did not seem concerned about competition, and seemed confident that his movies would make a mark at the box office. “I am confident they will do well,” he said.

Humayun also revealed the team plans to carry promotional campaigns in colleges and universities in the coming weeks.

Humayun Saeed at Lux Style Awards

Humayun Saeed is also starring with Shaan and Adnan Siddiqi in Hasan Raza’s action packed Yalghaar, which was initially scheduled to release in December but has now been delayed until next year.

“I used to do one film in a year. It’s the first time I am doing two of them, both being very different. So, we decided to delay Yalghaar for the next year,” Humayun explained.

Talking about his expected project, Malik a story about business tycoon Malik Riaz, Humayun said that the idea has been dropped for now, and might be re-started under a different name. Urwa Hocane was also due to star in the movie.

Urwa Hocane in Yeh Shadi Nahi Ho Sakti

Humayun Saeed also reminisced about his time in the Pakistani entertainment industry. “Twenty years in the industry has been a fulfilling experience. From acting in television dramas to producing them and then stepping into film making, I have explored as many options I could in the industry.”

Humayun also talked about his future plans after Bin Roye and JPNA. The actor revealed that he was focusing on making movies in the recent years but has gone back to working on television and will be seen in two serials scheduled to release around December. “One of them is Nadeem Baig’s Dillagi and the other is Khaleel ur Rehman Qamar’s Mere Pas Tum Ho,” Humayun revealed.

From ramp to the reel

LAHORE: Having already earned her spurs in the fashion industry, Rabia Butt is on a streak of good luck. As she gears up for her film debut in Farooq Mengal’s Hijrat, she shares what it has been like to transition from the ramp to the reel. She said nothing she has taken up so far has been as exciting as appearing in a film, reported Roznama Express.

“I have enjoyed a considerable amount of success as part of the fashion industry and multiple music videos, but once I began acting in movies, I started feeling differently about myself,” she said. On how she was agreed to do the film, she shared, “When the director told me about the part, I had a detailed discussion with him about the character and the film. Once I was convinced about the part, I signed the project.”

Describing her affiliation with both fashion and film as a win-win situation, she stated, “Being part of the film industry gives you an opportunity to showcase your creative side.” Butt considers herself blessed to have worked with some of the most successful and famous fashion designers, make-up artists and photographers.

With her prior experience in acting limited to music videos, Butt stated that she started enjoying the job once, “[she] got the opportunity to display [her] skills in front of the camera.” She further said, “Gradually, I started to understand the difference between modelling and acting.”

She said a lot attention has been paid to the music of the film, which she feels has a very “strong script.” “All this was a new experience for me and I am hopeful that it would open more opportunities for me,” remarked Butt. Hijrat has been shot in multiple locations, including Pakistan and Turkey.

'3 Bahadur' smartphone video game launched

KARACHI: A smartphone video game for Pakistan’s first full-length animated film 3 Bahadur was launched at an event held at Dolmen Mall, Clifton. This follows the release of the official 3 Bahadur music video featuring popular singer Shiraz Uppal.

Oscar award winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy introduced the 3 Bahadurmovie and elaborated upon the concept behind the game, which has been developed by software house Pi Labs in collaboration with Artboard, a firm specializing in digital game and app design.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy introducing 3 Bahadur and its official game

Pakistan’s first thematic smartphone video game for a movie, the 3 Bahadur smartphone video game provides a single player experience, in which players take on the role of one of the three protagonists to defeat the thugs of Roshan Basti. Throughout the five levels of the game, players will encounter different thugs and battle it out in exciting missions in hopes of restoring peace to the colony.

A screenshot from 3 Bahadur official game

The Android version of the game is currently available on Google Play and the iOS version is expected in a few weeks.

The event was attended by celebrities, film enthusiasts, media personalities and esteemed members of the press including TV personalities Adnan Siddiqui, Alyy Khan, Sanam Baloch, Nadia Hussain and Farhan Ali Agha; musicians Faakhir and Omran Shafique.

Celebrities attend the launch of 3 Bahadur official game

Attendees of the event were able to experience the game first-hand and took part in interactive activities such as a drawing competition and a lucky draw, the main prize for which was a tablet computer pre-installed with the 3 Bahadur video game.

Art competition for kids

“All of us are getting more and more familiarized with 3 Bahadur’s young heroes, Saadi, Kamil and Amna, as well as the menacing overlord Mangu and his band of fumbling thugs. Now, for the first time ever in Pakistan, we are creating a game to be released with the movie. This game will allow children to interact with their favorite characters on their tablets and cellphones!” said Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, who is also the creative director of the animated movie.

3 Bahadur is due to release on May 22 in cinemas across Pakistan.