KARACHI: Humayun Saeed’s upcoming film Jawani Phir Nahin Aani (JPNA) may augur well in terms of box office returns but, so far, it has boded ill for the actor-turned-director.
The renowned television and film actor was recently injured in a car accident in Bangkok, as he, along with his family and the film’s crew, was scouting locations for the movie’s shoot shortly after landing.
However, things are now looking up as Saeed is back on his feet after being hospitalised for a few days.
“It (the accident) was so bad that I couldn’t have even imagined coming out [of it] alive. It’s probably because of all my fans and their prayers that I was able to survive,” Saeed told The Express Tribune.
“I don’t remember what happened right after the bus hit our car, but the picture that my friends drew of how my legs were jammed and body twisted was quite horrible,” he added.
Now fully recovered, Saeed is gearing up for his film which is set to begin shooting in November, 2015, and release during Eidul Azha next year.
The first round of shooting will take place in Thailand.
Talking about his film, Saeed said, “It will be an out-and-out comedy and the audience won’t have to think a lot to get entertained.”
Following his action-packed Main Hoon Shahid Afridi, Saeed was inspired to make a comedy when he saw people “falling off their seats laughing” during the screening of Abhi Tau Mein Jawan Hoon, a recently-aired comedy telefilm.
“That was the time when I called Vasay Chaudhry, the screenwriter of JPNA, and said, ‘We have to make a comedy film because that is where hardcore entertainment lies’,” he said.
The film will be directed by Nadeem Baig of Pyaray Afzal and will feature Humayun Saeed, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Ahmed Ali Butt, Vasay Chaudhry, Javed Sheikh, Bushra Ansari, Mehwish Hayat and Ayesha Khan in prominent roles.
“Technically, there is no lead role in the film,” Saeed commented, adding, “One can’t pinpoint who the most important character is in the film. I believe all the characters in the film are equally significant.”
Saeed is ecstatic about the increasing box office collections of Pakistani films and hopes that people will support JPNA more than they supported Main Hoon Shahid Afridi — a film that was received well at the box office.