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The Partition of the Subcontinent in 1947 was one of the most critical events in South Asian history, and although the events have been recounted by countless filmmakers, director and writer Danyal K Afzal is changing the script and telling the story from Fatima Jinnah’s perspective in his upcoming series.

We’ve been hearing about the show since 2022, and it has finally wrapped production. With a star-studded cast including Usman Mukhtar, Sarmad Khoosat, Kubra Khan, Manzar Sehbai, Samina Ahmed, and Amna Ilyas, it’s needless to say people are excited for the show’s release.

In an exclusive interview with Images, here’s what Afzal, and Mukhtar –– who portrays Allama Iqbal — revealed about the series.

Danyal K Afzal

Q. Now that you’ve wrapped production, are you eyeing a release date for the series?

We’re currently debating the release date internally. Three dates deeply resonate with us: July 31, the birth anniversary of Fatima Jinnah; July 9, the day of her passing; and, of course, December 25, Quaid-i-Azam’s birthday.

Before we lock in a date, our priority is to finalise the right distribution partner. This is a project that speaks directly to the soul of Pakistan, and we want to ensure it finds a home that resonates with the people of this country.

We’re very clear about one thing: we want to release it in Pakistan first! We’ve seen too many stories seek validation abroad before being rooted at home. This one, however, belongs to the people here. We believe in grounding its essence locally before welcoming any international applause.

This journey has taken over three years. Building a historical set in Pakistan is no easy feat. We shot across 92 colonial-era locations, many of which aren’t even open to the general public, let alone production teams. That logistical and creative challenge is part of what makes this series so special.

Now that production is wrapped, our full focus is on crafting the perfect edit and sound design. It won’t take as long as the shoot, but it’s a whole new ballgame, and we’re handling it with the same precision and care we brought to every frame.

Q. How important is it for you to get this story right, given that these are historical figures and not fictionalised characters?

Getting this story right is not just important to me; it is deeply personal. These figures are not fictional creations or distant myths. They were real people who shaped the very foundation of our country.

Fatima Jinnah, Allama Iqbal, Quaid-i-Azam — they lived, they fought, and they made sacrifices we still benefit from today! Yet somehow, their stories have either been sidelined or reduced to textbook summaries.

Our job was never to romanticise them but to humanise them. We approached this with immense responsibility. We spoke to historians, dug through original archives, studied speeches, and, more importantly, we paid attention to the emotional truths behind the headlines. If we want younger generations to connect with these figures, we must present them not just as heroes but as relatable human beings who made difficult decisions in incredibly complex times.

There is so much we still do not know about them, especially Fatima Jinnah. Most people in Pakistan are unaware of her early life, the influence of her elder siblings, and the powerful father-daughter-like bond she shared with Quaid-i-Azam.

There are also aspects of her personal life that history has conveniently brushed over, including the romantic interest some men had in her, which she sometimes acknowledged and sometimes chose to ignore. She was a full, multifaceted human being, not just a symbol.

Then there is Rattanbai Petit, Jinnah’s wife, who I believe should be remembered as one of the true founding figures of Pakistan. Her story has barely been explored, even though she played a significant role in the emotional and ideological journey of Jinnah.

We also wanted to highlight the broader context of that time. People, especially women, carried enormous responsibilities at a young age. Many started working in offices at just 15. A man or woman of 20 often had more fine lines on their face than people twice that age today, not due to age but because life demanded more from them. It is a powerful reminder that the people who shaped our history were grounded in reality, burdened with responsibility, and full of personal complexities we rarely hear about.

That is what we have tried to capture — the truth that lives between the lines of official history.

Usman Mukhtar

Q. You had some big shoes to fill. What was it like portraying Iqbal?

It was definitely intimidating. I mean, imagine being offered to play Allama Iqbal. This kind of opportunity doesn’t come by every day. It’s not just a role, it’s a huge responsibility.

Q. How important is it to tell stories from the lens of characters who are equally significant but haven’t often been highlighted or valued the way they should?

I’ve always enjoyed doing character roles, even back in my theatre days, so stepping into Iqbal’s shoes was both exciting and intimidating at the same time. And what made it challenging was the lack of material to really study his personality.

There isn’t a single audio recording of him, so I couldn’t rely on hearing how he actually spoke. What helped me a lot was watching videos of his grandsons, Muneeb Iqbal sahab and Yousaf Sallahuddin sahab. That gave me some insight into the family’s mannerisms and accent.

I knew Iqbal was from Sialkot and had a Punjabi accent, so I tried to build on. At the end of the day, I just hope people enjoy it and feel a sense of connection to the man behind the philosophy.

What we know so far

The series itself is about the life of Fatima Jinnah. The three seasons will feature three different times of her life. The first season will have two volumes and 10 episodes, starting in 1910 and will include her brother, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, winning the first Muslim seat in Bombay, World War 1, the Lucknow Pact, the relationship between Jinnah and his future wife, Ruttanbai Petit, and the strained relationship Fatima Jinnah had with her future sister-in-law.

Sundas Farhan will play Fatima Jinnah in the first season. The third season’s Fatima Jinnah will be played by Samiya Mumtaz, but the second iteration of the character is still being kept under wraps till her contract is signed, according to Afzal.