The filmmaker, along with producers Vikas Sharma and Sunny Khanna, has acquired the rights to Sanam Meher’s book The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch.
Alankrita Shrivastava to direct a film on the late Pakistani celebrity Qandeel Baloch
Mumbai - 17 May 2022 14:30 IST
Our Correspondent
Writer-director Alankrita Shrivastava, who recently contributed an episode to Amazon Prime Video’s Modern Love Mumbai (2022), is set to direct a feature about the late Pakistani celebrity and social media star, Qandeel Baloch.
The filmmaker, along with producers Vikas Sharma and Sunny Khanna, has acquired the rights to Sanam Meher’s book The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch, published by Aleph.
Shrivastava stated, “When Qandeel Baloch was murdered in Pakistan in 2016, I was shaken up. It was a heinous honour 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.”
The 26-year-old became a social media star with her videos and appearances on Pakistani television; however, her popularity with the youth, along with her progressive thinking, clashed with the country’s conservative sections. Baloch was killed by her brother in an honour killing on 15 July 2016.
Producer Vikas Sharma, who has backed projects like Qarib Qarib Singlle (2017), Toba Tek Singh (2018) and Baarish Aur Chowmein (2018), said, “Qandeel’s story needs to be told by a sensitive filmmaker who is passionate about women’s stories. Alankrita is just the filmmaker for it. And 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 candour and warmth.”
Co-producer Sunny Khanna, whose credits include Bheja Fry 2 (2011) and Why Cheat India (2019), asserted that Baloch’s story is important and relevant. He said, “Even today women continue to be at risk when they dare to express their individuality and challenge the status quo. I believe the world needs to watch stories like this. And I’m looking forward to the journey of this film.”
Shrivastava is represented by content management company Tulsea; they will be packaging the film.
She added, “I see this film as an ode to the courageous spirit of Qandeel Baloch. It will chronicle her sensational and astonishing 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.”
