Mona Liza to make Lollywood debut

LAHORE: She may have started her film career in Bollywood but Mona Liza is now trying her luck closer to home.

While her first film Kajraare is set to release by the end of October or early November, Mona Liza will next be seen in a Pakistani film which is likely to release this November. Saltanat, a movie by Faisal Bokhari, will feature the model-turned-actor in the lead role.

Mona Liza told The Express Tribune that Saltanat is a based on a story about the underworld. Some Indian actors will also appear in the film. Saltanat is an action film, in which Mona Liza will also be doing an ‘item’ song. “In fact the movie starts with the item song that I am doing. Javed Sheikh has an important role in the film while Ahsan Khan will play the lead role opposite me,” she said.

The film is one of the more expensive productions in Lollywood, with a budget ranging between Rs60 and Rs70 million.

Mona Liza said she signed the movie because she liked the idea behind it. “I am working in Saltanat because I also want to show people that I am interested in doing Pakistani films. I am looking for a good story and if a director wants to sign me on I need a good script and role. I hope people will come up with new ideas and film projects after Saltanat,” she said.

According to her, there is a dire need to promote and produce good films. “If leading stars decide that they will only do good films then the quality will improve. My decision is to only work in good projects. We have talented people and we need to use this talent to put our film industry on the right track,” she explained.

When asked whether she had bid farewell to modelling, Mona Liza said that she was currently concentrating on her acting career. “I will be on the covers of some fashion magazines but I am waiting for the right ad campaign,” she said. The actor is expected to leave for India in November, where she will decide on her other projects.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2010.