Exclusive: Director Wajahat Rauf On What To Expect From His Upcoming Film ‘Daghabaaz Dil’

Unabashedly fun and entertaining, Wajahat Rauf’s cinema is characterized by its mass appeal in abundance. He has a knack for creating crowd-pleasing films that cater to a wide audience demographic. While his films may not always be critically acclaimed, they undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the box office and the audience’s memory. Rauf’s next ‘Daghabaaz Dil’ is yet again an Eid Entertainer featuring Mehwish Hayat and Ali Rehman in lead roles. The recently released first look has got us curious, so we at Pakistani Cinema spoke to Rauf to know more about the film.

To begin with, how did ‘Daghabaaz Dil’ happen, we asked? Without giving away much, Rauf replied, “I wanted to do a rom-com and family comedy. My writer pitched a unique idea, and three months later, the film went on floor.”

For the unversed, Wajahat has previously worked with Hayat in feature film ‘Chhalawa’ and web series ‘Enaya’, and with Rehman in ‘Parde Mein Rehne Do’. When asked on what made him repeat his actors, he said, “I adore these two individuals. They’re not just exceptional actors; but also possess a profound understanding of cinema. It was a delightful experience collaborating with them again.”

Elaborating on the same, he added, “I articulate my vision in familiar language. Once they knew the world we intend to create, it was easy to get on the same page.”

During the last couple of years, there’s been quite a stir when multiple films simultaneously compete on festive occasions. Also, the threat of Hollywood films exhibiting at the same time looms over our local exhibitors. ‘Daghabaaz Dil’ is slated to release on Eid-ul-Fitr, 2024. “Well, I can’t comment on other films. Everyone has the right to exhibit their film when they feel its best. I have mostly directed mass entertainers so I feel Eid is the right time for the theatrical release of my films.”

Talking of cinema, music has always played a huge part in Pakistani films. Rauf gave us an inkling about the music album. “I have been lucky to have Shiraz Uppal on board for my first three films. He is simply a genius. I feel the same about Aashir Wajahat and Hassan Ali. They know exactly what I want and are great at what they do. All I can say is, keep an eye out for the shaadi song in the film amongst the other songs.”

‘Daghabaaz Dil’ features an ensemble cast that includes Saleem Sheikh, Babar Ali, Laila Wasti and Tazeen Hussain. Saleem and Babar in particular have successful Lollywood routes. It seems that we will witness the classic Lollywood flavor with this one. “It was always a dream to collaborate with seasoned film stars. Working with Babar Ali and Saleem Sheikh is truly a highlight. Of course, Momin Saqib, Laila, Tazeen, Michelle Mumtaz, Beo Raana Zafar and Ayesha Khan are incredibly talented and value to my film. They all are absolute gems.”

Concluding the conversation, we asked what the audience should expect from ‘Daghabaaz Dil’. “The expectations are the same, laughter, great music, and stellar performances all wrapped together in a family film. There’s also an x-factor that I can’t reveal right now. See you on Eid.”

Produced by HUM Network, ‘Daghabaaz Dil’ is written by Mohsin Ali & Wajahat Rauf. Check out the first look.