No one could have played better than Faryal Mehmood: Iram Parveen

The Red Sea Film Festival 2023 is in full swing, attracting the luminaries of the global film industry to Jeddah. Pakistani feature film debuting on the big screen Wakhri — Unique made its world premiere with the film’s cast and creators taking center stage. The film draws inspiration from the life of Qandeel Baloch, a social media star who tragically fell victim to an honor killing a few years ago.

Talking to me Deadlinehis director Wakhri Iram Parveen Bilal praised actor Faryal Mehmood, who plays the lead role of an influencer, for a sensational performance. Delving into the casting process that led her to stardom in her film, Iram expressed, “So I really think that in modern Pakistan right now and in the industry, no one could have played it better than Faryal Mehmood.”

Iram underlined Faryal’s suitability for her character, pointing out the latter’s battles with online vitriol. “She was someone you know… who had faced a lot of trolling on social media in the industry [and] out,” the director added. “[She had] an incredible weight loss journey [and] I kind of really gave it back to the trolls.”

“I still remember that,” Iram said of how a social media platform’s algorithm recommended Faryal to her. “I was in LA scrolling through Instagram and the casting director was coming up with a listing for the screening and somehow Instagram pushed her (Faryal’s) profile to me.” Fate may have prevailed according to the director’s account.

He continued: “And then I went down a rabbit hole and then I said to her (the casting director) ‘What do you think of Faryal Mehmood?’ She immediately called me on WhatsApp and told me I’m freaking out… the first name I wrote on my list just now, ten minutes ago, was Faryal Mehmood.”

Earlier, Red Sea Film Fest Head of International Programming, Kaleem Aftab, shared how the film was selected for the festival. “Well, I don’t want to go too far before they come out, but I think people will be very impressed by the new film from [Pakistani-US director] Iram Bilal, Wakhri: One of a kind [which will have its world premiere at the fest and follows a widowed school teacher in Pakistan who becomes a viral sensation overnight when she accidentally unleashes her unabashed opinions on social media].”

Aftab added, “I feel it’s a film that talks about an incident that happened in Pakistan and changes the narrative on it. I’m also happy to have Zarrar Kahn [non-conventional horror film] Into the flamesalso from Pakistan [it is Pakistan’s international Oscar contender]that changed the genre.

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