Set to release this Eidul Fitr, the team behind Momina Duraid’s production Bin Roye didn’t let a major setback — in the form of the film's original director leaving — prevent the film from wrapping up its shoot successfully.

Bin Roye is co-directed by Momina Duraid and Shehzad Kashmiri, the latter having stepped in after the film's original director bowed out.

Mahira Khan, freshly arrived from India after shooting scenes for Raees with Shah Rukh Khan, touched on this largely hush-hush development when she spoke at Bin Roye's pre-release press conference.

Mahira said the cast and crew were stunned by this turn of events, but added that the setback was adequately handled by the team, and they went on to continue shooting with no major losses.

Mahira added that Bin Roye had the the ingredients of a true drama — complete with a death, a wedding, a baby being born and more.

Yesterday's press meet saw Hum Television's Sultana Siddiqui, producer Momina Duraid, and actors Javed Sheikh, Humayun Saeed, Junaid Khan and others come out to celebrate Bin Roye. The event started later than the scheduled time, much like the release of the film.

Momina Duraid smiles for the camera — Photo by Zoya Anwer

Also read: Mahira Khan's Bin Roye trailer intrigues, leaves us wanting more

Based on the novel 'Bin Roye Ansoo' by Farhat Ishtiaq of Humsafar fame, Bin Roye's cast stars Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed, Armina Rana Khan, Javed Shiekh, Zeba Bakhtiyar and Azra Mansoor and includes cameos by Adeel Hussain, Faiza Hassan and Shireen Zahid.

Mahira Khan looked lovely in a silk sari by Elan.— Photo by Zoya Anwer

Speaking about the difference between Main Hon Shahid Afridi (MHSH) and Bin Roye, Humayun said that while the former was sports-centric and action-oriented, Bin Roye is pure romance.

“Everyone knows how shareef I am and in Bin Roye I am even more shareef,” he laughed.

Humayun Saeed at the press-meet.— Photo by Zoya Anwer

Seated on stage together, Humayun Saeed, Mahira Khan and Javed Sheikh traded stories of what went on behind the scenes at Bin Roye's shoot — Mahira confessing that the shoot was so tiring that she resorted to taking cat-naps in any corner of the set that was clear.

Read more: Bin Roye story more mature than Humsafar: Humayun Saeed

Shehzad Sheikh

Javed Sheikh who recently visited India for Tamasha, in which he’s playing the role of Ranbir Kapoor’s father, said that Indians were in awe of the Pakistani drama industry.

A BTS shot from the film.

“Indians, especially young girls are crazy about our dramas. While I was on a plane, one approached me and praised my work. She said Indians have stopped watching Indian channels and are hooked to Pakistani dramas on Zee Zindagi.”

Javed Sheikh arrives at the press conference.— Photo by Zoya Anwer

Comparing local production with Bollywood, Sheikh said:

“When my film Na Maloom Afraad came out, it outdid Hrithik-Katrina’s Bang Bang so I believe that our films can definitely do well.”

Javed Sheikh, Sultana Siddiqui, Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed.— Photo by Zoya Anwer

Sultana Siddiqui talked about the journey of Hum Television and said that the film did not belong to art or action genre, rather it was ''made with love''.

Sultana Siddiqui and Mahira Khan laugh at the press conference.— Photo by Zoya Anwer

The glimpse of songs in the earlier trailer caught eye of many and it turns out that two songs have been directed by none other than directors Sarmad Sultan Khoosat and Ho Mann Jahaan’s Asim Raza.