'Karachi You're Killing Me' goes to Bollywood

The novel, which centers on Ayesha Khan, a journalist, chronicles her life in Karachi.

The bestseller which left celebrated writer Mohammed Hanif laughing in fits has now come to the attention of Bollywood. Karachi You’re Killing Me, a novel written by Pakistani journalist Saba Imtiaz is soon to become a Hindi film.

Makers of the upcoming Bollywood movie, Airlift, have bought film rights from the young journalist and plan on putting the project to work by the end of this year. The novel, which centers on Ayesha Khan, a journalist, and chronicles her life in Karachi, is a Bridget Jones's Diary meets the Diary of a Social Butterfly, “a comedy of manners in a city with none,” as Saba describes it.

The author, Saba will be working closely with the production team to help develop the film. However, the makers are planning to revise the novel to fit an Indian context. "It's tentatively called Delhi, You're Killing Me and will be entirely set in the Old Delhi environment. The hunt for a young female actress to play Ayesha is currently on," said a source close to the development.

In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, Malhotra could hardly contain his excitement, "The story excited me just the way Queen had when Vikas Bahl had first narrated it to me.”

The book, which became a roaring success upon its release, illustrates the life of a progressive-thinking journalist in her late twenties, who drinks and smokes, putting her modern attitude in contrast to the city's orthodox elements. “I have full faith that Karachi You’re Killing Me will translate into a film that will resonate with today's audience, especially women as they will see a slice of their lives in it! Work is in full swing on adapting the book into a film and we will finalise the cast soon,” said Malhotra.

Saba Imtiaz has previously worked as a reporter and as head of the Life & Style desk at The Express Tribune.