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Irrfan Khan will star in the movie adaptation of Mohsin Hamid's Moth Smoke

Irrfan Khan will star in the movie adaptation of Mohsin Hamid's Moth Smoke

The film is being directed by Asif Kapadia, who won an Oscar for the Amy Winehouse documentary, 'Amy'
Updated 18 May, 2017

Pakistani novellist Mohsin Hamid's debut novel Moth Smoke is going to be adapted into a film, reports Variety.

The film will be helmed by Asif Kapadia, who directed the critically acclaimed, Oscar-winning documentary Amy on the life of Amy Winehouse.

Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan will play the protagonist Darashikoh Shehzad, who's a down-on-luck man grappling with a financial crisis when his rich best friend Aurangzeb moves back to Lahore. In the film, Shehzad begins an affair with Aurangzeb's wife.

The rest of the cast will be decided in the coming months.

“I have been eagerly waiting for something on which I could work with Asif again [after The Warrior (2001)], and ‘Moth Smoke’ excites both of us,” said Irrfan. “We believe it can be set in contemporary times.”

It is unclear where the film will be shot at present.

“Given the ongoing political tension between India and Pakistan, it is not immediately clear where the film will be shot. It is too early to decide on location. We will consider both Pakistan and India for the shoot,” producer Dina Dattani said.

This is Mohsin Hamid's second novel to be adapted into a film after The Reluctant Fundamentalist, which was directed by Mira Nair and starred Riz Ahmed as the main character.

Irrfan, Asif Kapadia and Dina Dattani acquired the rights to the novel. Kapadia will also co-write the film. Dattani will introduce the film to buyers in Cannes.

Comments

zafar May 18, 2017 05:18pm
Indians and Bollywood are gonna dominate the world in the coming decades.
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FM May 18, 2017 05:58pm
Absolutely loved the book
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Princess_of_DHUMP May 18, 2017 06:16pm
Irfan Khan would be perfect in that role. it would be unfair though if the movie is shot anywhere out of Lahore. That's where the whole story was based. Look at what happened to Noor! It would have been a hit had it been shot in karachi where the story belongs to
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UJ May 18, 2017 10:20pm
Mohsin Hamid is an amazing writer!
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Cavlino May 19, 2017 07:50am
I think this story of Darashikoh Shehzad and Aurangzeb was previously adapted in a TV long play Daira. Adnan Siddiqui played Aurangzeb and his wife was played by Ayeshah Alam. Parallels were implied with Emperor Shah Jahan's sons, the down on luck Darashikoh and the wily Aurangzeb who became the emperor
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Majid May 19, 2017 08:52am
Irrfan Khan may be a versatile actor but he is definitely not suited for this role. Daru is charming, young and sharp.
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Yogi May 19, 2017 09:11am
Irrfan Khan is an awesome guy!!!
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Khwarizmi May 19, 2017 09:16am
@zafar I don't know if they will dominate the world but they sure are visible due to their large oversea population. But everything is not good and they have a bad reputation in some countries. Fun fact: Pakistan is the second most popular destination in the world for Indians with almost 2 millions Indians living and working here.
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Aamer May 19, 2017 11:29am
Why cant they sign a Pakistani actor. Mohsin Hamid should have recomended actors. Writer can do that.
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Aamer May 19, 2017 11:30am
@zafar How can you say that? Indian actors have been working in Hollywood since 60's but they never dominated. Pryanka, Deepika, Ashwaria Rai and many others failed in Hollywood.
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hani May 20, 2017 09:24am
loved the book, don't know if picturizing it could make this book even better in any way...
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Mona May 21, 2017 12:18pm
@Aamer Not true. Om puri is remembered and lauded for his work in Hollywood. On his death, Oscar even held a eulogy for him and his contribution. Anupam Kher, Nandita Sen, Irfan Khan have all have Hollywood super hit movies under their kitty and won awards. Priyanka who won People's choice award twice for her series Qauntico, which is releasing its third season. Deepika's xander cage was hit movie. Your assessment is way off mark.
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