“The Next Salahuddin”, Pakistan’s first full-length AI-generated feature film

Pakistan’s film industry has marked a new milestone with the premiere of The Next Salahuddin, the country’s first feature film created entirely using AI.

The film premiered on Friday night at the Nueplex Cinema in Karachi, where media professionals, cultural figures and guests gathered to witness what was described as a “bold step into the future of filmmaking”. The project is seen as an attempt to blend advanced technology with a socially conscious narrative.

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The Next Salahuddin is written and directed by Farhan Siddiqui, who says the film is not just a cinematic experiment but a message for a global audience. The producer, veteran artiste Ustad Asim Ismail, described it as a story rooted in contemporary reality, drawing inspiration from history.

In an interview with The Express Tribune, Farhan Siddiqui described the project as a completely new experience for Pakistani cinema. “There are no actors, no physical filming locations and no conventional film sets in this project,” he said. “Even so, the audience won’t feel like they’re watching a movie created by AI.”

Siddiqui said AI-based filmmaking offers a cost-effective and safer alternative to traditional production methods. “There are no location issues, no availability issues with the actors and no risks associated with shooting on location. This entire film can be completed while sitting in a single room,” he said.

He added that the 55-minute film has been designed specifically with younger audiences in mind. “Today’s youth prefers fast and concise content, so we have structured the film like a reel to keep viewers engaged from start to finish,” said Siddiqui. According to him, the film aims to make audiences “laugh, cry and think” while encouraging young people to believe that they too can bring about change.

Highlighting the ideological basis of the film, Asim Ismail said The Next Salahuddin is a voice for humanity, peace and human rights. He said the film expresses solidarity with the people of Palestine and represents a historic step for making AI-based films in Pakistan. “This project has the potential to become Pakistan’s creative identity on the global stage,” he added.

Speaking at the event, writer and director Talal Farhat emphasized the need for young Pakistani filmmakers to move beyond traditional and overused themes. He argued that the industry needs to break away from stereotypical narratives that focus on violence, feudal conflicts and formulaic family dramas, and instead explore innovative ideas suited to the digital age.

“We now live in the information age,” he said. “Mobile phones and computers have reshaped human relationships, and artificial intelligence has quietly become a powerful force in our lives faster and sharper than the human mind. Escape from it is no longer possible.”

The filmmakers have announced that The Next Salahuddin will be released in multiple languages, including Urdu, English, Bengali and Arabic, and there are plans to submit it to an international film competition in France in March. Alongside Pakistan, screenings are also planned in Malaysia, marking what they describe as a major international step for Pakistan’s emerging AI-driven cinema.