Ayesha Omar, Ushna Shah set to star in series on Salahuddin Ayyubi

Four well-known Pakistani artists are all set to feature in the upcoming Pak-Turk joint drama series on Salahuddin Ayubi. The show will be focusing on the life of the great Muslim leader - better known in the West as Saladin.

Ushna Shah, Adnan Jilani, Farhan Agha, and Ayesha Omar, were chosen in the first round of auditions that were held in Lahore and Karachi. Over 6,000 professional and budding actors had applied for the tryouts, but only 62 were short-listed for the Islamic warrior series, to be screened in Pakistan and Turkey simultaneously.

Renowned Pakistani actor Adnan Siddiqui who has been selected as executive producer along with Humayun Saeed, Dr Kashif Ansari, and Dr Junaid Ali Shah in an interview with BBC Asian Network said, “I am excited, I can feel it in my bones that this particular series will do wonders for Pakistanis."

Siddiqui further added, "It will be opening doors for Pakistani actors in the international market and the only way we can penetrate the international market is through Turkey."

Turkish producer Emre Konuk, owner of Akli Film in a tweet said, "A contract has been reached between Akli Films and Ansari & Shah Films regarding the upcoming Pak-Turk joint series."

"The upcoming show had already garnered a large amount of attention even before its release as was evident from the registered numbers of applicants, willing to play a role in the series," Konuk remarked.

Konuk further informed that they were in Pakistan to discuss the yet-to-released collaboration. He said they had exchanged views with Prime Minister Imran Khan and other high-level personalities associated with Pakistan’s cinema industry and the world of culture.

The Turkish producer further noted that PM Imran was an admirer of Salahudddin. Quoting the premiere, he said, “Prime Minister Khan believes that this project will resonate in the world and that it will also be very valuable for the younger generations.”

The much-awaited drama series is scheduled to be shot in Turkey on sets specially built for the purpose, he concluded.

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