Will the Ghazis return victorious? Sheheryar Munawar thinks so

Cast and crew optimistic about 'Project Ghazi' prospects in Pakistan

KARACHI: Now that Eid is over and the two local releases Yalghaar and Mehrunissa V Lub U are performing fairly well at the box office, it’s time to look forward to July 14: the release of Pakistan’s first ever live action superhero film Project Ghazi.

The Express Tribune sat down with the team behind the upcoming film to discuss their experience and expectations. Project Ghazi revolves around super-soldiers, Humayun Saeed and Sheheryar Munawar, fighting antagonist Adnan Jaffar’s evil plot. Simultaneously, Zara, played by Syra Shahroz, is investigating what turned the duo into these enhanced super-soldiers in the first place. With a multi-layered storyline designed to show that “the same society creates good and the bad guys,” Project Ghazi sure seems like an ambitious project.



While it’s clearly a risky move, Syra said starring in a superhero film was her dream and she hopped on board without any hesitation. “I didn’t have any second thoughts whatsoever! I think I believe in constantly challenging myself as an actor, not having just one hit movie. It’s about how far I can push myself as an actor,” she said. “The risk factor is always there. You can’t control that.”

Syra added, “Nadir Shah (director) and Ali Raza (producer) have decided to explore this genre which hasn’t been done before. The movie was also made very differently, in terms of production and VFX.”

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Meanwhile, Sheheryar plays the rookie soldier, under Humayun’s mentorship. Talking about Pakistani films lacking characters with depth, the director felt Sheheryar has the most difficult and complex role in the film. “His character has the most grace. There are characters which are on extremes of either side of the spectrum, and you know what to hook on to. But Sheheryar’s goes through a lot and he shows many shades through his transformation.”

But Sheheryar, ironically, disagreed. “Actually, I am the one wearing tight shirts and being the eye candy in the film,” he joked. “As politically incorrect as it sounds, I am the girl in the film, playing the catalyst. But then, men do the same in our dramas with dialogues like ‘Acha, meri maa ne yeh kaha tha?’ But on a serious note, sometimes you are leading the scene or are a catalyst and give space to other characters to come out. It can’t just revolve around one person.”



Amir Qureshi plays Dilawar, an arms and gadget specialist. “He’s basically on the backend. Dilawar’s not in the field fighting but equipping the soldiers when they’re fighting. He’s dying to go fight but he’s required more in the lab. I’d say he’s like the Q of James Bond,” Amir revealed.

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Director Nadir also spoke of Adnan playing the antagonist. “He’s a trained actor and likes such off-the-wall characters so this role was tailor-made for him. He’s a mercenary with some special abilities in the film and sees so much crime in the society that it seeps into his personality.”

With the team excited to be part of Project Ghazi, it’s evident that they’re all fans of superhero films. Syra shared she’s more of a Marvel fan than DC person, even though she enjoyed Wonder Woman. “Captain America is pretty good too. I love X-Men a lot. I love the concept and I connect with them on some level,” she said. “I’m a Jason Bourne fan and a Tyler Durden fan,” chimed in Munawar, before he burst into a laugh.

Bare in mind, Project Ghazi is not a typical superhero film either. Nadir wanted to make an unconventional one with a blend of eastern and western flavours. Moreover, by doing so, he wants to encourage experimentation in Pakistani cinema, especially by young film-makers and film grads who are trying to break into the industry.

Finally, asked about why people should go watch Project Ghazi on July 14, Sheheryar said, “I’m there. Humayun is there landing punches, Syra is there kicking butt and looking good doing it. What else do you guys want? I think it’s a good package.”

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