Hamza Ali Abbasi, Fawad Khan may join ‘Selahaddin Eyyubi,’ says Humayun Saeed

'Not only me, other top Pakistani actors may also be a part of it,' shared the superstar

In a groundbreaking collaboration between Pakistani and Turkish production houses, the inaugural episode of a riveting drama series recounting the life of the renowned 12th-century Muslim commander, Selahaddin Eyyubi, made its debut in Karachi. 

As per Arab News, the Pakistani producers expressed a resounding sentiment, declaring, "We don't need supermen; we have our real heroes." Ayesha Omar and Humayun Saeed, two prominent Pakistani actors, have emerged as frontrunners in the selection process for the upcoming second season of the show. 

Anticipation is high as they are poised to join the cast, adding their star power to the unfolding narrative of the series. The inclusion of these accomplished actors signals an exciting prospect for the second season, promising to elevate the storytelling with their noteworthy performances. “They had to start with Turkish actors, obviously,” Ayesha told Arab News. “We are supposed to have our workshops, learn the Turkish language and [then] work with them.” 

The star further mentioned that her mother is especially thrilled about the possibility of her being part of the show. “Since I was very young, my mother was really into Islamic history and she used to tell us [about it]. Selahaddin Eyyubi was her favorite character...So, when I told her I was going to audition for this (series), she said ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe it’. It was like her dream come true.” shared the actor. 

According to the producers, Humayun is set to make appearances in a few episodes of the upcoming season once he identifies a character that is "dynamic." “Not only me, other top Pakistani actors may also be a part of it. Hamza Ali Abbasi, Adnan Siddiqui, Fawad Khan,” stated Humayun. “The way [Diriliş] Ertugrul aired everywhere internationally whether it was Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Pakistan or even India, this series will also go places,” he continued. 

Humayun and Ayesha have been associated with the series from its inception. However, as recounted by the former, the transformative idea to forge a collaboration with Turkiye for a joint production originated during a visit to the sets of Diriliş Ertugrul, courtesy of Adnan Siddiqui's insightful suggestion. “One of the reasons to screen the series [in Pakistan] is for people to watch and spread word of mouth,” Adnan revealed. “A lot of channel owners are also in attendance, they must be watching and evaluating it. There will be a round-table conference with them and we’ll see how things unfold [for the release of the series in Pakistan].”

The series chronicles the remarkable journey of Eyyubi (1138-1193), the first sultan of Egypt and Syria and the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty. A collaborative effort between Pakistan's Ansari and Shah Films and Turkey's Akli Films, the series was filmed in Istanbul on an expansive set spanning 200 acres, owned by co-producer Kashif Ansari. Originally produced in Turkish, the show is set to be dubbed in Urdu, English, and Arabic, catering to a global audience eager to delve into the epic tale of Selahaddin Eyyubi.

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