KARACHI: Renowned singer and actor Ali Zafar’s film debut in Pakistan couldn’t have been more filmi — the pop star had to endure a couple of dozen protesters while entering the premises of the cinema where his film Teefa in Trouble was being launched on Thursday evening. The protesters were holding placards and shouting in favour of singer Meesha Shafi against whom Ali Zafar had moved court over sexual harassment allegations.

As for the premiere, once you entered the premises, it was all glitz and glamour with the best in the business attending the event. There was the cast of the film including the lead actors Ali Zafar and Maya Ali, followed by Asma Abbas, Mehmood Aslam, Jawed Sheikh, Mah-i-Nur Haider, Faisal Qureshi as well as the co-writer Danyal Zafar and director Ahsan Rahim. Two of the film’s Polish line producers Milena Drincic and David Szurmiej came over especially for the premiere and they were surprised themselves on walking the red carpet and talking to the anxious media.

Renowned actors Humayun Saeed, Hania Aamir, Azra Mohyeddin, Feroze Khan and Zara Noor Abbas among others were there to support the cast and crew of Teefa in Trouble who walked the red carpet and spoke to the media. The film’s producer and lead actor Ali Zafar, who made his Bollywood film debut way back in 2010 and has worked in more than a dozen films in India, was all smiles on his film debut in Pakistan and termed the feeling as humbling.

“I am very happy at the film’s release especially in 10 to 15 countries where no Pakistani film has been screened in cinema before; I cannot explain my excitement in words. My dream to work in a Pakistani film with Ahsan bhai has been fulfilled.”

Ali Zafar was accompanied by his family and was all smiles before the film’s start; however, his leading lady Maya Ali seemed a little nervous for her film debut.

The dressed-in-black leading lady told the media that although she was nervous, she was hopeful of the film’s success. Director Ahsan Rahim also spoke about working with his frequent collaborator Ali Zafar and why it took him so long to make a film, considering he has been around for over 20 years as an ace director. He spoke highly of the film’s cast and crew who were instrumental in giving their best, be it in Pakistan or Poland where the film was shot.

Teefa in Trouble was released in over 25 countries on July 20 and is currently being shown in cinemas all over Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2018