The past year has seen tremendous work being done on the Pakistani silver screen, paving way for it to eventually come at par with its counterpart across the border. Interestingly enough, filmmakers have emerged as risk-takers delving into various genres, despite facing a myriad of challenges. Films like Ho Mann Jahaan and Yalghaar are part of yet another diverse line-up of films hitting theatres next year.
Karachi
The past year has seen tremendous work being done on the Pakistani silver 
screen, paving way for it to eventually come at par with its counterpart across the border. Interestingly enough, filmmakers have emerged as risk-takers delving into various genres, despite facing a myriad of challenges. Films like Ho Mann Jahaan and Yalghaar are part of yet another diverse line-up of films hitting theatres next year.
Sultana Siddiqui, Turkish Consul General Murat M. Onat and actor Shakeel at the pre-launch media event.
An addition to this list is Khalid Khan’s divine love story, Zeher-e-Ishq starring Danish Taimoor in the lead. Khalid is known for delivering masterpieces such as Sookhay Pathay, Anokha Bandhan and Bhar Day Jholi on the small screen, however, this will be his first foray into films.
“The film is inspired by Sufism and is based on the teachings of Maulana Rumi,” said the director at the pre-launch ceremony of the film, held in Karachi last week. “The shooting will commence from mid-December this year and is expected to finish by Eid-ul-Fitr, 2016”, he added.
While the director did not reveal much about the plot, he mentioned that part 
of the film will be shot in Turkey and will also feature some supporting actors from there. The writer Muhammad Asif, on the other hand, asserted that, “the movie will be remembered among films that have been part of the history of Pakistani cinema”.
Danish, who is being pitched as the lead actor, was missing in action. However, other prominent personalities from the television and film industry along with the film’s music director Waqar Ali, writer Muhammad Asif and members of the cast including Maira Khan, Shabbir Jan, Shakeel and Sana Fakhar, attended the event to lend their support to the film. Also attending the event was Turkish Consul General H.E. Murat M. Onart.
Instep caught up with one of the actresses, Maira Khan, who seemed to be eager about her new venture. “It’s a different concept altogether and I am proud to be a part of it,” she said. “I am playing the role of a girl from Thar; a very sensitive girl who falls in love with a guy. The character is soft and subtle. There is this song that’s shot on me titled around my name in the film, Chambeli, and it features me in a colourful traditional costume of the region. This is the longest song of the film which is sung by Sunidhi Chauhan and will be choreographed by Saroj Khan.”
The film’s soundtrack has been composed by Waqar Ali Khan, known for composing many a soundtrack for television serials. Sajjad Ali, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Palak Muchhal of Aashiqui 2 fame and Mohammad Irfan Ali of Ek Villain are some of the featured singers. With seven songs in the film and lyrics penned by Ali Moeen and Sabir Zafar, it was no surprise that the composer termed it as a musical saga.
Zeher-e-Ishq will be produced under the banner of Hum Films. Their last film, Bin Roye, starring Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed, met with immense success locally and is still said to be running at selected cinemas across UAE.
