Dawn Images

Emmad Irfani and Maya Ali’s film Aasmaan Bolay Ga (ABG) has been cooking for quite a while now. The Cheekh actor told Images that his film debut with Shoaib Mansoor might release as soon as at the end of this year.

The movie was announced in 2020 and great things were expected from the Bol, Khuda Ke Liye and Alpha Bravo Charlie filmmaker. The actors have refrained from saying much about the film until now.

Irfani talked about his character, the filming location, music and the cast. He also revealed the expected release date. “We’re looking [to release the film] at the end of this year. We’re working on the date, I hope [it’s] December or January.”

The Jalan actor discussed his character and why it meant so much to him to play it. “It all started with a phone call some two or two and a half years ago and it sounded too good to be true. The character is a Pakistan Air Force F-16 pilot, one of my childhood dreams was to fly an F-16. I think a lot of my desires have been fulfilled in this film,” he said.

Speaking about the title, Irfani quoted a saying in Urdu implying that the title has more to it. “Aasmaan Bolay Ga, Khuda ke liye bol warna aasmaan bolay ga [For God’s sake, speak or else the sky will speak]. His legacy has become the completion of this saying.”

On his professional relationship with Ali, he said, “[Maya and I] have known each other for a while, working together — our track was mostly shot in Turkey — it was good, I think we worked hard, I hope we worked hard.” He added that only a part of the film that has been shot in Turkey, the rest was shot in Pakistan and a few other places.

The actor revealed a significant part of the cast as well. “The central characters, the female lead and male leads are Maya Ali and myself. Other than that, there are some very important characters [such as] Noman Ali Khan Sitara-e-Jurat, who’s being played by Asim Kakakhel, and Hassan Siddiqui Tamgha-i-Jurat, that’s being played by Qasim Ben Tariq and Noreen Gulwani is playing a very important role and Adnan Jaffar [as well]. These are very important characters that complete this puzzle.”

Though it is known that Faisal Kapadia will sing the soundtrack for the film. “[He] is singing the main song. Other than that, this movie is dedicated to Junaid Jamshed so we’re revisiting the nostalgia of Vital Signs also,” added Irfani.

The 7 Din Mohabbat In actor will move on to other projects after this one is done. “I’ve been working on this film only for the last two, two and a half years. And it is a habit of mine to finish what I’ve started and then move on to the next thing so till I have this, I will not be involved in anything else.”