Superstar premieres; generates positive reviews

Eid ul Azha 2019 will see the release of three Pakistani films and while Heer Maan Ja and Parey Hut Love have not planned premieres prior to their nationwide release, Superstar premiered in Karachi to a star studded audience earlier this week. Directed by one of television’s top notch directors Mohammed Ehteshamuddin (who makes his film debut here), Superstar features Mahira Khan and Bilal Ashraf in lead roles. The Superstar cast and crew was present at the crowded premiere, where it seemed like the rest of the industry had turned up too.Nueplex Cinemas, DHA, witnessed absolute mayhem on Tuesday night, six days before the film’s official release, as the stars descended on the mall, trailed by countless fans hustling for selfies and photo opportunities. The red carpet, which was scheduled for 7:30 pm, commenced over an hour late and accommodated an endless stream of artistes; the film’s screening began at 10:15pm, an unnecessary delay as several cast members had a 2am flight (the same night) for London and had to leave straight for the airport when the film ended. Punctuality remains a pertinent issue at our events and needs major improvement. But it was a “grand premiere” by all standards, as over 1100 people were invited and all cinema screens were reserved for the film. Grand, yes, but well organized it wasn’t; it was haphazard as the red carpet area couldn’t accommodate too many people, making coverage difficult for press personnel. This resulted in a lot of shoving and pushing and rising temperatures, as one can imagine. Several celebrities, mostly Hum TV favourites, showed up including Imran Ashraf, Ahad Raza Mir and Sajal Aly, Mawra Hocane and Urwa Hocane with Farhan Saeed, Adnan Siddiqui, Adeel Husain, Hira Mani, Sarwat Gilani, Sunita Marshal, Asad Siddiqui, Shehzad Sheikh, Gohar Rasheed and many others. Most of them had good things to say about the film.Speaking to Instep during the interval, Gohar Rasheed shared that he liked the film, adding that Bilal [Ashraf] has worked on his acting skills and has improved a lot. In his first film, O21, Bilal shared screen space with Gohar, followed by Yalghaar that also featured the two together.We can’t deny that a new Bilal emerged in Superstar and he wore that newfound confidence with pride. Dressed smartly and traditionally in a crisp white trouser kurta set and waistcoat with Peshawari chappals, Bilal looked every bit a national icon as he accepted praise from his peers. “I have given everything in me to this film,” he beamed during the interval, knowing it certainly had paid off.Mahira Khan, Pakistan’s sweetheart and undoubtedly the country’s biggest star, was also dressed traditionally in a black and gold gharara, with an oversized dupatta and jhumkas. Visibly exhausted due to a relentless schedule, she held onto her son’s hand, and when the film ended, was escorted out by a human shield of body guards. She was every bit the Superstar she portrays in the film.It was a night for black glamour as everyone from President Hum Network, Sultana Siddiqui to Mahira Khan, Azaan Sami Khan – with his ageless mother, Zeba Bakhtiyar – director Ehteshamuddin, Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir and countless others wore variations of the fashionable colour. Mawra and Urwa Hocane, however, turned up in white shirts and jeans from their recently launched label, UXM.A relatively new face to the screen, 18-year old Alizeh Shah – who is presently playing the protagonist in drama serial Kun Faya Kun – also took a bow for her character in the film. She plays Noor’s little sister Chutki and made room for some laughs with her spontaneity. Other actors who play important roles include Nadeem Baig as Agha Jan (Noor’s grandfather), Ali Kazmi as director Shaan, Asma Abbas as Noor’s and Marina Khan as Sameer’s mother, many of who were present at the premiere. No one from the cast and crew of the two other Eid films was seen at the Superstar premiere but that could be because they are busy with promotions of their own.– Superstar, Parey Hut Love and Heer Maan Ja are all releasing over the Eid holidays, starting from August 9.

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