Mark your calendars for ‘Parchi’

Makers of ‘Janaan’ announce all-out comedy film as their next venture

KARACHI:

With post-production of Janaan still underway, IRK Films seems to have spared no time in jumping on to their next venture: an all-out comedy film titled Parchi. Even though the project is still nascent and yet to be announced officially, film producer Imran Kazmi revealed the team has already begun its pre-production and is hoping to commence shooting the movie later this year.

“The script for Parchi has almost been finalised and we’re expecting it to go on floors in October 2016,” Kazmi told The Express Tribune. Most of the production personnel for the movie is expected to remain the same with Imran Kazmi and Azfar Jafri donning the producer and director hats respectively. However, credits for the film’s script will not go to actor Osman Khalid Butt, who previously penned the screenplays for horror-flick Siyaah and the soon-to-be-released romantic-comedy Janaan. Both projects were produced under the banner of IRK Films.



Elaborating upon the decision, Kazmi explained, “Shafqat Khan has written the script for Parchi whereas Osman Khalid Butt, Azfar Jafri and I, have provided our input to the story and screenplay.” Although the producer and director are still on the hunt to cast actors in different roles, they have already managed to rope in television actor Hareem Farooq to play the lead role in the film. After Siyaah, this will be the second time Farooq will partake in an IRK Films production. According to Kazmi, Farooq fit the role like a glove. “Not only is she an excellent actor, but the role had always been written with Hareem Farooq in mind,” said the producer. Not willing to divulge any further details about the storyline, Kazmi hinted it will be similar to the movie’s name. “You can easily guess what the film is about by just looking at the name of the movie.”



Currently occupied with post-production work on Janaan, Kazmi revealed the film’s first trailer is expected to release over the course of the next few weeks. Initially slated for an early 2016 release, the movie has been pushed back with the producers now wanting the premiere in September, closer to Eidul Azha. The decision seems to have stemmed from their desire to ensure the film performs impressively at the local box office. “A holiday release is likely to do better than a film released during a normal weekend,” noted Kazmi. Editing for the film has been completed, it is currently in its colour grading stage.



Jaanan’s Facebook page recently shared a post by the film’s editor, Mitesh Soni, who sang praises for the script. “Just finished reading the script and I’m in love with it. It’s very well-written. I could visualise the characters while reading it. It has a tight screenplay, wonderful story and lovely characters,” read Soni’s post. Soni has worked as an associate editor on Yash Raj Films such as Dhoom 3 and Jab Tak Hai Jaan. Regarding his decision to get a Bollywood editor on board, Kazmi reasoned that given the genre of Janaan, it would be appropriate to hire someone with experience in romantic comedies. “Who better than someone from Yash Raj Films?” he quipped.

Directed by Azfar Jafri and written by Osman Khalid Butt, Janaan stars Armeena Rana Khan, Bilal Ashraf and Ali Rehman in lead roles. Media personality Reham Khan has also served as the producer for the movie.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2016.

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