‘Neelofar’ is a few days away from worldwide release and is probably the most anticipated movie of the year. The trailers and music of the film have already created a stir, and of course, the ever dependable pairing of Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan is a seat filler through and through.
However, what separates ‘Neelofar’ from other films in its ilk is that it is perhaps a deeper exploration of love. Featuring Mahira Khan as the titular character, a visually impaired woman, provides a larger canvas through which to explore concepts like seeing beyond the superficial.
We caught up with writer-director of them film, Ammar Rasool, to dig into the finer details of this much-anticipated love story.
Neelofar’s Focus Is Not Just On the Surface
As is evidenced by the trailers, ‘Neelofar’ is not your typical romance. It’s not about the celebrations and the glitz that most romantic comedies from Pakistan feature. Ammar Rasool describes it as the meeting of two old souls that recognize each other.
“They understand the value of slowing down when everyone around them is in a rush.”
The film also focuses on the modern celebrity and media culture and how it hinders and hampers that process.
Will ‘Neelofar’ Be the First Romantic Blockbuster from the New Wave?
While hits like ‘Bin Roye’ and ‘Punjab Nahi Jaungi’ have emerged from the romantic genre in Pakistan, nothing has come close to the magic of ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’. Neelofar might stand a chance of bringing audiences to close that gap.
Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan have been an iconic pair since the ‘Humsafar’ days and they still haven’t been in a romantic film together. “Chann Pichay” from ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ is the closest we’ve gotten to a proper romantic scene between the two on big screen.
Ammar Rasool thinks it’s criminal that they haven’t been brought together in a romantic feature.
“I pray Neelofar ushers in a period of writers and filmmakers truly exploiting them as the icons that they are.”
Fawad Khan’s Character is a Literary Figure
Pakistan has been fortunate to have had some of the best poets and writers of the twentieth century. Fawad Khan’s character, Mansoor, draws from several legends like Faiz, Manto, Amjad Islam Amjad and Ashfaq Ahmed.
Set in Lahore, Neelofar’s literary references are a result of the DNA of the city. The architecture, art, and atmosphere of the city is ripe with romance.
Mahira Khan’s Training for Her Role
According to Ammar Rasool, Mahira Khan has drawn inspiration from real life observations of visually impaired people.
“Mahira was a fierce protector of this character. She worked meticulously on the mannerism and the eye line for every scene and every take.”
Mahira Khan apparently imbibed a lot from the indomitable spirit of the women that she observed. It has given a lot to her performance, and has allowed her to get into the skin of her character completely.
What Can We Expect from ‘Neelofar’?
Can ‘Neelofar’ emerge as a 100 Cr hit, or better yet, as an iconic milestone? Writer-Director Ammar Rasool hopes that the audience feels the love in the writing as well as its visuals, music, and the effervescent performances.
With a clearer concentration on story rather than thrills and masala, this could be a template to reach the audience at a deeper level.
‘Neelofar’ hits theaters worldwide this Friday, 28th November, 2025.
