KARACHI: An understatement: the trailer launch for an upcoming film 7 Din Mohabbat In at a local multiplex on Monday evening was a star-studded affair.

Naturally, and as it often happens, the red carpet affair lasted for a little longer than usual. Sheheryar Munawar came a little before Mahira Khan, the two stars of the film, and immediately hogged the media limelight.

Mahira lit up the atmosphere as soon as she stepped into the arena. Javed Sheikh was his usual, unassuming self. Before the press meet, the trailer for the film was shown, twice. It was greeted with loud cheers from the crowd.

Then all those associated with the film were requested to sit in front of the audience, with their backs to the screen where the trailer was run.

The director of 7 Din Mohabbat In Farjad Nabi (who has co-directed the movie with Meenu Gaur) was the first one to respond to the host’s questions.

He said it has been a roller coaster journey. The cast posed its trust in them (film-makers). When Sheheryar and Mahira first read their parts, they made the characters come alive.

Mahira was spontaneous while Sheheryar put his “blood and sweat” into the film. The director also thanked Dawn Films for supporting him all along.

The writer of 7 Din Fasih Bari said the story describes life in an ordinary neighbourhood (aam mohalla). Quoting Mumtaz Mufti he argued writers write stories for themselves but tell them to others.

Sheheryar, who plays the central character of Tipu in the film, said the biggest challenge he faced in the project was being amongst performers such as Javed Sheikh and Mahira Khan. And the biggest fear that he had was whether he’d be able to hold his own. (To be honest, he looked super confident in the trailer.)

Mahira said her experience working in the film was very different from what she had previously done (her role in Verna, for example). She always wanted to do a comedy. There are many funny scenes in the film, and in that context she mentioned her co-actor Hina Dilpazeer who she finds extremely funny and an “epic scene” with Javed Sheikh.

Replying to a question whether one can fall in love in seven days, Javed Sheikh responded there are many people in society who can fall in love in seven minutes (leave alone seven days).

He called the film “very interesting”. He told the host that when he was first approached for the part of a jinn in the film, it reminded him of a Pakistani film Gul Bakawali in which there’s a jinn who speaks in a loud tone. But when he met Farjad to discuss the venture, he was told that his character was of a “good-looking jinn” (a phrase that’s also uttered by his character in the trailer).

He pointed out he also enjoyed the film because he has no fewer than 12 get-ups in it.

Describing her role in the story, Amna Ilyas said at some point in their lives women want to kill men; she’s like that in the film. She’s a headstrong character.

Aamir Qureshi said he plays the antagonist in the film, adding that he had two auditions for his part, one in Pakistan and the other in London.

Adnan Shah described his role in the film using the Punjabi word ‘chawal’.

Danish said he plays Tipu’s friend in 7 Din and found all his co-actors very down to earth.

Rimal praised the choreographer for doing a good job with her in the film.

7 Din Mohabbat In, produced by Dawn Films and IMGC Global, will be released on Eidul Fitr.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2018