Not just a guy flick: In JPNA, women rule the roost with a will of their own

You'd think a guy flick like Jawani Phir Nahi Aani (JPNA) would have little room for female characters. But after watching JPNA, one has to admit it's the women (who play the various wives and love interests of the main protagonists) who drive the plot.

Don't believe me? In JPNA you have a gang of married men, played by Hamza Ali Abbasi, Vasay Chaudhry and Ahmed Ali Butt, escape the tyranny of their wives for a bachelor-style getaway in Bangkok. The lone single man in the mix, Sherry, played by Humayun Saeed, has arranged this little vacation before he too ties the knot.

So far so good -- but this makes you wonder why these guys were unhappy in the first place. What makes them crave independence so much? That's where the story gets interesting; each guy is married to a beautiful woman who always has an ace up her sleeve. Let’s meet them; decide for yourself who's the most striking character of the lot.

Mehwish Hayat

She can be as wild as a 'Billi' but can excel in romance and comedy as she has shown on TV time and again. If trailers are to be believed, it seems that in JPNA, Mehwish Hayat hangs out with the 'wolfpack' in Bangkok, tames its leader (Humayun Saeed) and then visits Pakistan to fight for him after he decides to get married to 'someone else'.

"You have no idea how much fun we had in Thailand," says Mehwish of playing the role. "I was the center of attention because I was the only girl amongst the actors. Humayun Saeed (the producer), Vasay Chaudhry (the writer) and the rest of the guys kept me laughing with their antics. Pack-up usually means the end for the cast but it didn't for us since we even continued cracking jokes afterwards."

This rapport shows onscreen as well. Mehwish's chemistry with Humayun seems perfect for a lead couple and although the two have been acting on TV for quite some time, working in a film powers their performance. And yes, she gets to dress up as a cowgirl and don a bathing suit as well – watch out for the complete sequence when you watch the film!

Sohai Ali

Remember we discussed ‘someone else’ above? That’s Sohai Ali Abro, who gets to dance on 'Fair & Lovely Ka Jalwa' – it’s a song, not a commercial mind you!

She's the one who steals the leading man’s heart when he returns to Pakistan from his guy-cation. The actress proved her dancing skills in Wrong Number and she rocks the screen again in JPNA. She plays a SMS-oriented girl in the movie and you will GTKH (in her language that means ‘Get To Know Her’) this Eid. GTD? (Get The Drift!)

Sarwat Gillani

Ever seen a pregnant Pathan woman driving a jeep on the silver screen? Me neither. Sarwat Gillani gets to do the unthinkable in JPNA as she dictates her married life with an iron fist (she's married to Vasay Chaudhry’s character in the film). It may be her debut flick but since she is from a Pathan family, she gets the diction and anger right!

"I must thank my family for that because I am part-Pathan," Sarwat says when asked what she brought to her role. "The way I have spoken in the film, the way I have shown my anger onscreen is something my grandmother used to do in real-life. I have tried to be her, if you can believe that... I'm sure you will like my performance!"

Ayesha Khan

Ayesha Khan plays Kubra, Hamza Ali Abbasi’s character's wife and to sum up their relationship, let’s quote some dialogue from the trailer – Agar main khwab main bhi kisi larki ko dekh loon to Kubra Cobra ban kar mere saamne aajati hai (if I look at a girl in my dreams, this Kubra stands in front of me like a Cobra). Hence another doomed marriage!

Uzma Khan

She played the wife of Shaan’s character in Waar but all her scenes with dialogues were cut out. Thankfully this time around, Uzma Khan gets to speak up in JPNA, where her character is married to Ahmed Ali Butt’s. Her husband hasn’t matured like his friends and Uzma (as Lubna, jis se Pyar nahi lagna) has become the man of the house in order to continue with the marriage. One hopes that viewers finally get to hear her own voice because a) in commercials her voice is dubbed and b) she does have a unique voice. "I didn't know people would get to hear me in my second film," Uzma says about her character. "My role is that of a working woman who depends on her husband but doesn't have time for her family."

Bushra Ansari

And then there is Bushra Ansari as the rich woman from America. Her character is a step up from Saima Chaudhry from the Baraat series and she gets to do everything Saima Chaudhry would have loved to do. For fans of Baraat, she might be the biggest reason to watch the film; after all this is the first time she will be appearing on the silver screen alongside so many beautiful women – and of course, men.