'Sajal Ali as Umrao Jan, Hania Aamir as Heer'

Nadeem Baig's casting picks for iconic film characters

It's a game all film buffs will have played: in an alternate universe, which present-day A-lister would you cast to play an iconic role? In a recent appearance on Say It All With Iffat Omar, Punjab Nahi Jaungi director Nadeem Baig - humble, yet a tour-de-force in cinema - had all the answers.

"I had thought about making Umrao Jan at some point, and Sajal [Ali] was always in my mind," he admitted.

It will surprise no one that Sajal Ali, Mehwish Hayat, Hania Aamir, Ayeza Khan, Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, and Humayun Saeed were the names that Nadeem flitted to when reimagining classic roles. Keeping with the classical theme, Nadeem's casting for Gone With The Wind would include either Ayeza or Mahira for Scarlett O' Hara, originally brought to life by Vivienne Leigh in 1939. For the lead role of The Godfather, however, Nadeem gave pause for thought, initially speculating that it would be almost impossible for anyone to replicate Marlon Brando's performance.

"There are very few people who can pull it off," he mused. "I guess I would pick someone like Naumaan Ijaz or Sajid Hasan or Salman Shahid."

As for the Bollywood hit Devdas, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Nadeem did not have to ponder for too long. "I think it would be Mahira for the character or Paro, Mehwish for Madhuri's character, and either Humayun or Fawad for the male lead," he stated with the air of someone who knows exactly which faces are bound to reel in cinemagoers.

When it came to the classic Heer Ranjha, however, Nadeem was adamant that he wanted to see fresh young faces play the lead characters. "For this, I would like to see very young characters," remarked Nadeem. "Heer is so romantic and innocent - I would like to see Hania in the role, opposite and Wahaj (Ali)."

For Al Pacino's iconic blind Colonel in Scent of a Woman, however, Nadeem drew the line. "No one in the world can do it!" he protested. When pressed, however, Nadeem conceded that A-lister Fawad could take on the role, and also possibly play Batman villain the Joker.

"I think nobody can do the Joker," warned Nadeem. "I do so much casting these days that I only have a few people running through my mind! But Fawad has the ability to surprise you. He loves taking on offbeat work."