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Indian filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava to make a movie on social media star Qandeel Baloch

Indian filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava to make a movie on social media star Qandeel Baloch

"It was a heinous honour killing. I couldn’t stop thinking about her," says the filmmaker.
18 May, 2022

Indian filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava is set to direct a movie based on model and social media star Qandeel Baloch, who was murdered in the name of honour six years ago.

The upcoming project will be made alongside producers Vikas Sharma of Toba Tek Singh, Sunny Khanna of Why Cheat India. According to Variety, the filmmaker and the producers have acquired the rights to the book The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch by Sanam Maher.

Shrivastava, who is also known for her Netflix series Bombay Begums, told Variety that when Baloch, whose real name is Fouzia Azeem, was murdered in 2016, she was "shaken up".

"It was a heinous honor killing. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I started watching Qandeel’s videos repeatedly, and I was fascinated. She was so charming and full of life. A poor girl from a small village, who worked her way up to being provocatively famous. She was just 26 when she was killed. And ironically, it’s only after her death that she has been reclaimed as a feminist," she said.

Shrivastava also said that she sees this film "as an ode to the courageous spirit of Qandeel Baloch" and that it will show her rise to fame. "I hope to piece together the memories of the rebellious, funny and vulnerable young girl, whose life was cut short because she shimmered too bright. The film will celebrate her spunk and lust for life by telling her story without judgment, hopefully the way she would have liked to tell it," explained the filmmaker.

The producer of Qarib Qarib Singlle, Sharma also told the publication that Baloch's story needs to be told "by a sensitive filmmaker who is passionate about women's stories" and that Shrivastava is exactly that. "[It's] not just because she is an award-winning feminist filmmaker, but because she has so much empathy for her characters. She tells their stories with candor and warmth,” he said.

For Khanna, "Qandeel Baloch’s story is important and relevant," due to the fact that even today women often continue to be at risk when they "dare to express their individuality and challenge the status quo". The Indian film producer believes the world needs to watch stories like this.

More details, including the cast and release date, haven't been revealed yet.

Baloch was murdered in July 2016 by her own brother, who as of recent was acquitted by the Lahore High Court. She was 26-years-old when she became famous for her posts that were deemed suggestive and immoral by many in the country.

Comments

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad May 18, 2022 02:25pm
Who cares?
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Queen May 18, 2022 02:29pm
Don't Indians have stories of their own to tell?
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M. Saeed May 18, 2022 02:33pm
Qandeel lost her life to honor killing and the Court honored her killer brother with free life !
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Sara May 18, 2022 02:41pm
Why don't these Indians focus on their own problems? Why do they have to constantly interfere in the internal matters of Pakistan? If we say anything about the atrocities committed against Muslims or journalists in India then the Indians cry foul to not interfere in their internal matters. Indians should stay within their borders!
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Bilal May 18, 2022 02:51pm
It is so sorrowful to learn that the producer can't stop thinking about her for the past 6 years...!
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Rambo May 18, 2022 02:57pm
But why??? should make movies on their own issues
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Silent Observer May 18, 2022 03:08pm
Everyone is simply Content Hungry!! Pretty sure the director does not give a damn who Qandeel Baloch was !!
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Crusader May 18, 2022 04:17pm
What happened to Baloch was a heinous crime and the culprits should be punished but this Indian filmmaker will use Qandeels murder and try to mutilate the image of Pakistan and serotype muslims.
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Zak May 18, 2022 05:07pm
Indians are obsessed with Pakistan, have inferiority complex and totally in awe of it.
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Zak May 18, 2022 05:08pm
Indians should make film on suffering of kashmiris in IOK and grieving parents of missing 9 year old children.
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hussain May 18, 2022 05:25pm
it seems Indians are infatuated with everything that occurs in Pakistan, ofcourse thus was a heinous crime, but so are the hundreds of women murdered in india by their husbands and in laws for not providing enough dowry.
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zarmeena azeem May 18, 2022 06:20pm
@Queen Exactly! Couldn't she find one story in India. She is literally raking the dead. The Indian fascination with Pakistani stories, doesn't end. It is indeed a love hate relationship.
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ahmed May 18, 2022 06:37pm
The Indian director can find a lot more content and such incidents in India itself, she can make a movie on how Abhinandan was shot down in Pakistan!! - this must be BJP funded to show something against Pakistan.
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Nadeem Shah May 18, 2022 06:55pm
Just more anti Pakistan propaganda, you would think India would have a thousand more stories to tell but they are obsessed with Pakistan.
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Javed May 18, 2022 07:02pm
I respect that but India have yet to make movies of rape victims of India. In 2015 two minor Dalit sisters were raped and hanged on tree in Badaun, UP. The graphic photos of them are so disturbing all over internet. they gave me nightmares because I have daughter. The sisters were just hanging on tree lifeless While villagers were gather and no police on site. I still think of them til this day. Poor souls.
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Zak May 18, 2022 07:14pm
She should make a film on 'Genocide of muslims in Gujarst under Modi'.
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Zak May 18, 2022 07:14pm
Indians have inferiority complex infront of Pakistanis.
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Azra Ansari May 18, 2022 07:18pm
Indian film maker is seriously deficient in creativity. She is unable to offer anything creative and new. She wants to earn money that’s why she has chosen a miserable story of a poor girl to add some vulgarity in the movie to attract the masses.
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Ali Mehdi May 18, 2022 07:19pm
There are things that are so foreseeable. Once the movie on qandeel is all made n ready for screening any die hard bhagt will rise demanding to shelf the screwing of a movie casting a Pakistani dead hero.
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Ali Mehdi May 18, 2022 07:20pm
Why don’t you highlight the plight of helpless women in IOK You will find more gory scenes there.
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Peter coro May 18, 2022 07:23pm
Another attempt of Pakistan bashing by Indian media. Why don't they make the movies on suppress women of India. unfortunate event of Delhi gang rape is one example.
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well-wisher May 18, 2022 07:43pm
Be truthful in depicting Qandeel's life - you will be judged. She is RIP,
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Concerned May 18, 2022 07:49pm
A serial on Qandeel was already made in Pakistan. It would be wonderful if this film maker title her movie "R*pe Capitol" and give voice to thousands of women in Delhi and its surrounding who deserved to be heard.
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AH May 18, 2022 07:52pm
Will be used to malign Pakistan
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PLANETTREKKER May 18, 2022 08:37pm
It is not anti-Muslim, anti-Pakistan or about content deficiency. Its capitalism, stupid. Have an idea, research its marketability, produce the product, then sell it. Period.
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Ahmed May 18, 2022 09:16pm
Qandeel's murder was evil. Her brother's acquittal is evil. A girl showing off her body to the entire world and modelling is evil, wrong and condemnable. So many murders happen in India. Dalit girls are raped and then killed. Any movie on that? Seems like another cheap attempt to defame Pakistan.
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Excercise solution May 18, 2022 10:11pm
about Kashmiri women? they need attention too
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ambreen May 19, 2022 12:40am
@Queen Exactly :)
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TimeToMovveOn May 19, 2022 02:55am
@Crusader Pakistan does not have a image, so you have nothin to worry about
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Jayakumar May 19, 2022 03:18am
@Zak warch The Kashmir Files, if you missed it
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Queen Khan May 19, 2022 03:51am
@Queen Pakistan politics is more interesting than Bollywood. Without bothering about economic conditions they want power
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Faiza May 19, 2022 04:11am
India is the population of 1.2 Billion ppl. Yet again the tragedy they found as usual is in Pakistan. They would make any attempt to malign the Pakistan image. They should make documentaries on their own women stories and why Delhi is called rape capitol of the world. Fact checks India
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n sologar May 19, 2022 09:39am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad ; A lot of people like me DO CARE!
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n sologar May 19, 2022 09:40am
@Queen : Indians tell ALL stories!Why don't YOU? Afraid of facing bitter truths?
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n sologar May 19, 2022 09:41am
@M. Saeed :Right!That is WHY 'Qandeel's' story is WORTH telling!
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n sologar May 19, 2022 09:43am
@Sara :Then U should not tell Shakespearian stories! Or, watch Turkish movies!They R NOT yours!
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n sologar May 19, 2022 09:46am
@Silent Observer: Wrong! Many. many of us Know about Qandeel and her tragedy!
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n sologar May 19, 2022 09:49am
@Crusader: What happened to Qandeel was a stereotype murder! If U do not tell, some one else will! Please tell your own stories with integrity!
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n sologar May 19, 2022 09:50am
@Crusader : Was Qandeel's murder by her brother a One-off?
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Anonymous May 19, 2022 09:53am
I suggest there are lot of topics are events in India that needs your money, time and attention. So focus there and do not hunt for some bread here in pakistan. U won't get that over and ever obsessed indian lady.
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F Nawaz May 19, 2022 12:03pm
Who will be the molvi?
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Ammarah May 19, 2022 01:04pm
Looks like India is not aware of its own issues. So here are some ideas for 2022 to make a film: 1. Husband beat the wife to death for too much salt- Mumbai- India 2. Child girl raped by police when she went to report her rape- Lalitpur-India 3. Muslims house being demolished after religious riots- UP India Cheers!
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Crusader May 20, 2022 05:26am
@TimeToMovveOn that is why India is obsessed with making fake fantasy movies about Pakistan like the surgical strike, the submarine movie and now this and probably many more.... I guess there is a lot of Inferiority complex on the eastern border.
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Crusader May 20, 2022 05:27am
@n sologar stop obsessing over Pakistan, it's not good for our ego. We already consider ourselves superior to you lot.
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Tadka May 20, 2022 08:17am
@Zak firstly go learn the meaning of inferiority complex
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Tadka May 20, 2022 08:25am
@Ammarah movies are made on issues happening anywhere not just in your background
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