I wouldn't cast Humayun unless he suited a role, says Nadeem Baig
The hotly anticipated Humayun Saeed-Mehwish Hayat starrer Punjab Nahi Jaungi is in cinemas this weekend, and initial reviews have already given the film a thumbs-up.
Coming after a slew of disappointing films that released this summer, PNJ is definitely a pick-me-up. But just how did this film come together in an entertainment industry that has seen as many misses as hits?
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We spoke to PNJ's director Nadeem Baig to find out.
Images: Your first film Jawani Phir Nahi Aani (JPNA) is one of the most successful Pakistani films ever. How did that happen?
Nadeem Baig: Yes, it has fetched close to Rs50 crores, including international theatres.
Like most of my contemporaries, I was a director working in television and was directing mostly comedies like Family Front, Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat and even Begum Nawazish Ali. But I have directed some serious TV serials like Pyarey Afzal, ManJali and then Dillagi.
I was working at Geo TV when I was asked to direct one of the Tarang films, Abhi Tou Mein Jawan Hoon. I thought that comedies might be my forte and asked Vasay Chaudhary to work with me on its script and screenplay. Humayun Saeed was one of the producers of the film and when this film premiered at Atrium Cinema, he was so taken by the audience's response to the film that right after the film he told me that we're doing a comedy film and JPNA happened.