I'd love to do a Punjabi film: Mehwish refutes claims of working only with Karachi-based filmmakers

Superstar Mehwish Hayat, at the press conference for her upcoming star-studded film, Teri Meri Kahaniyaan, set the record straight after she was called out by a journalist for choosing only scripts from Karachi-based filmmakers and deliberately refuting work from Lahore. The actor, however, declined all such baseless rumours and stated that it's the script and character for her and not where the writer/producer is from.

The said press conference got quite heated when a journalist alleged that Karachi took away Lahore's status as the central city for the film industry. He further stated that there is a divide between the two cities, with Karachi-based artists refusing to work in Lahore, and declining scripts from Lahore-based filmmakers. A journalist even accused Hayat of “ignoring” and “quoting higher prices” to Lahore-based filmmakers to avoid working with them. To which, Baig joked, “She charges a lot of Karachi-based producers too.”

The Punjab Nahi Jaungi actor handled the situation quite calmly and gracefully. To clear the air, she first clarified that there is “no bias” in Karachi-based artists' hearts for Lahore. “In fact, I would love to do a Punjabi film, but I have not received any offers yet. I am an artist and I’m here to do good work in this field, whether from Karachi or elsewhere,” she exclaimed.

Hayat further added that although her management is in Los Angeles, she personally reads all her emails, and knows for a fact that her management is not hiding any Lahore-based projects. She then stated what a “good script” means to her. “For me, as an artist, I first look at what the story is and what my character is. Then obviously, if you have a director like Nadeem Baig, a co-star like Humayun Saeed, and it's a big team, then it's a no-brainer for me. I will do it,” she said, adding that her heart and talent always have room for experiments as long as it's worth it.

“I have always been very experimental, and I like working with new people. If there is a good script that has a character for me, and people are willing to experiment with me, then I’ll do it for sure. It's the script, not the location,” she concluded.

Teri Meri Kahaniyaan boasts one of the most star-studded casts in recent Pakistani cinema. Hayat will be appearing with her favourite filmmaker Baig alongside Pakistan's latest heartthrob, Wahaj Ali, who will be making his silver screen debut. Industry icon Zahid Ahmed strikes a brooding figure alongside celebrated model-turned-actor Amna Ilyas, joined by the never-before-seen on-screen couple, Sheheryar Munawar and Ramsha Khan. Lastly, the husband-wife duo, Hira and Mani will be appearing together for the first time.

Teri Meri Kahaniyaan, which is to be released on Eidull-Adha will be a creative collaboration by renowned Pakistani storytellers Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar (Pyare Afzal, Mere Paas Tum Ho, Punjab Nahi Jaungi, London nahi Jaunga), Vasay Chaudhry (Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 1 & 2, Main Shahid Afridi Hoon), Ali Abbas Naqvi and Basit Naqvi (Lal Kabootar).

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