The Pakistani film industry has changed over the years, and so have the rules of the game. With the introduction of new actors accompanied by TV actors joining the film scene, the acting standards have surely been raised and only a few of Lollywood’s former stars have been able to cope. Two such actors are Sana Fakhar and Moamar Rana. The former was last seen in last year’s action flick “Azaadi” and the latter has been part of this year’s most profitable film “Wrong No. 2”. The two stars are mostly known by younger audiences of today for their all-time blockbuster film “Yeh Dil Apka Hua” (2002) which featured them in lead roles.
Both Sana and Momi are now geared up to set the screens on fire next year again, with their next film titled “Qulfi”. It is the directorial debut of ace cinematographer Saleem Daad who has served as DOP for films since the 90’s. He has films like “Mr. Charlie”, “Jawani Phir Nahi Aani”, “Mehrunisa V Lub U” and “Balu Mahi” to his credit. We got ahold of Saleem to talk about his directorial debut film and its cast.
“I wanted to cast the veteran actors, who have cinematic charisma, but I didn’t want to cash in on their same old looks or style from the Lollywood days. I wanted to present them in something entirely new and fresh. In Qulfi you will see both Moamar and Sana in very different roles and appearances.”
Besides the two Lollywood stars, film stars Shahroz Sabzwari, Saeeda Imtiaz, Wali Hamid Ali and Mariam Ansari in lead roles and Shamyl Khan will play the antagonist. In Saleem’s words, “We have tried to bring new and veteran actors together in a film. All these (six) actors are playing the lead, and no one character is dominating the rest”.
About the music of the film, Saleem told us that most of it will be composed by Wali Hamid Ali, who is also one of the main leads and has previously composed the music for Noor Bukhari’s “Ishq Positive”(2016). There will be one song by Adnan Dhool, and another one by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.
“I believe we have been stereotyping Rahat for just melancholic songs. We wanted to change this and for this reason we now will assign the sad song to Ustad Hamid Ali Khan while Rahat will lend his voice for a very different number.”
Qulfi is ready to go on floors this month according to Saleem. “We will start rolling from 27th of November in Karachi where we will shoot the majority of the film. Then there is one schedule in Islamabad and another one or two final spells of songs which we might shoot abroad.”
Saleem might be venturing into film direction but that by no means is going to stop him from doing what he is best known for, i-e, cinematography as after shooting the first spell of “Qulfi” he will be shooting Yasir Nawaz’s next film as DOP.
“Qulfi” is written and produced by Mashood Qadri who, under the banner of Kalakar Entertainment, has previously penned and produced the 2017’s release “Saawan” that was also sent for Academy awards as official submission from Pakistan. “Qulfi” too is produced under the same banner and producers are endeavoring to release the film on Eid-ul-Azha, 2020.
