Pakistani stars Mahira Khan and Sajal Aly are gearing up to shine in the classic film remakes of ‘Pakeezah’ and ‘Umrao Jaan Ada’ respectively.
The Raees actress is reportedly embarking on a journey to embody Indian actress Meena Kumari in the Pakistani remake of Pakeezah.
Mahira Khan in Pakeezah
Pakeezah is a 1972 smash hit and the remake is reportedly being produced by Hamid Hussain under his UAE production house.
A source revealed, “Mahira is onboard, but she is one of many stars we are aiming for in the remake of this epic. There are some more famous artists that are in talks to be roped in the film.”
Pakeezah is one of the most popular projects under Kumari’s belt. Reportedly, it was once the most expensive film to make and took 14 years of planning and dedication.
Kumari was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress and won a special award at the Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards. The movie also received nominations for Best Film and Best Director (Amrohi) and won N B Kulkarni a trophy for Best Art Direction at Filmfare.
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Sajal Aly in Umrao Jaan Ada
Furthermore, reports hint that other prominent actors are being approached for the remake alongside Khan. On the other hand, Sajal Aly is also ready to make her entry for the popular Urdu novel adaptation of Umrao Jaan Ada.
“I can’t reveal much at this point but yes, we are working on an Umrao Jaan Ada adaptation with Sajal in the lead role,” shared producer Hamid Hussain. Aly’s Umrao Jaan is an eight-part series instead of a film. “It’s going to be an eight-part series and not a film. We are working on a two female lead cast for this series and Sajal is one of them.” He added.
Hussain continued to add that the narrative for the remake will be something that no one has imagined and that it has been inspired by the original novel.
“Since it’s not a three-hour film but a series, we have more leeway to work better on the characters and build the story in a more refined manner.”
Adding on why Aly is the perfect choice to essay Umrao Jaan, Hussain said, “It’s an old-school romantic drama, and Sajal has that perfect look. She was the apt choice to nail the regality and elegance required for someone to be cast in Umrao Jaan.”
The classic novel has been adapted for film multiple times, both in Pakistan and India. What are your thoughts on the upcoming projects?
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