For last several months we have been hearing about new film projects one after the other, showering like meteors from the sky at midnight.
So, we prepared a list of upcoming films which are announced, in production or ready to release in 2016, including several projects which are in limbo for quite long time now and these may also release some time soon.
Without further ado, here is the ultimate guide to all the films expected to release in 2016 and what we know about them so far. We are not sure if all of them will be released in 2016 but our careful guess says that most of them will make it.
Films are arranged in alphabetical order.
(1) 3 Bahadur 2
Status: In Production
The sequel of first animated feature film by Oscar winning director Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy will be released in December 2016. This time Fahad Mustafa, Ahmad Ali Butt and Sarwat Gillani will also give their voices to the characters. (HIP in Pakistan)
(2) Arth 2
Status: In production
The remake of Mahesh Bhutt’s Arth, written and directed by Shaan Shahid, has already hit the floors. The cast of the film includes Shaan Shahid himself and Humaima Malik, Mohib Mirza and Uzma Hassan in lead roles.
Read more: Shaan’s directorial comeback “Arth 2” hits the floor
(3) Azad
Status: In production
The social drama indie stars Sanam Saeed, Salman Shahid and Rehan Sheikh. The film will be the directorial debut of TV veteran actor Rehan Sheikh. (Dawn Images)
(4) Bachaana
Status: Ready to release
Sanam Saeed and Mohib Mirza starer rom-com is announced to release very soon in February, 2016 (the exact release date will be announced on 5 Jan). The film revolves around the love story of an Indian girl and a Pakistani taxi driver who meets in Mauritius. (HIP in Pakistan)
(5) Band Tu Ab Bajay Ga
Status: Announced
The first film by Fahad Mustafa’s Big Bang Productions, a rom-com, will be directed by Mah e Meer director Anjum Shahzad. The script of the film is written by Yasir Hussain of Karachi Se Lahore fame. The cast of the film is not yet announced. (Dawn Images)
(6) Dance Kahani
Status: In production
The low-budget indie dance film is written and directed by Omar Hassan. The film explores the underground dance culture and free running on the streets of Karachi. (Dawn Images)
(7) Dobara Phir Se
Status: In production
The rom-com starring Adeel Hussain, Sanam Saeed, Shaaz Khan (Moor), Hareem Farooq, Ali Kazmi and Tooba Siddiqui will be the comeback of Mehreen Jabbar (Ramchand Pakistani) as the director. The US part of the film has already wrapped up and the shooting in Pakistan will start from January next year. (Dawn Images)
(8) Gidh
Status: In production/delayed
The film set in the glamorous and controversial world of the media is written and directed by Shammon Abbasi. It stars Shamoon Abbasi himself and Shaan Shahid and Sara Loren. The film was announced several years ago but its cast was changed in late 2014 with the online release of the first look. The film is expected to release in 2016.
Read more: Gidh: The teaser is out and the excitement is already building up
(8) Hijrat
Status: Ready to release
The romantic drama starring Asad Zaman, Rabia Butt, Nadeem Baig and Ayub Khooso, written and directed by Farooq Mengal, is releasing on 21 January, 2016. (Dawn Images)
(9) Ho Mann Jahaan
Status: Ready to release
Mahira Khan, Sheheryar Munawar, Adeel Hussain and Sonya Jahaan starer coming of age drama, directed by Asim Raza, is releasing on 1 January, 2016.
Read more: “Shakar Wandaan” mania brings many celebrities to the dance floor
(10) Ishq 2020
Status: In production
The rom-com by the makers of Dukhtar (2014) has mostly the young cast including Muneeb Butt (Halla Gulla), Sanam Chaudhary, Furqan Qureshi and Mariam Ansari. The film is directed by Najaf Bilgarami and expected to release on Eid-al-Azha.
Read more: Muneeb Butt and Sanam Chaudary are set to enthrall in rom-com “Ishq 2020”
(11) Ishq Positive
Status: In production
The directorial debut of film star Noor has mostly a new cast including the leading man Wali Hamid Ali Khan, the son of legendary classical singer Ustaad Hamid Ali Khan. The music of the film is recently launched and the film is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2016.
Read more: The music of Noor’s directorial debut “Ishq Positive” is launched
(12) Janaan
Status: In production
Reham Khan’s first production has already completed a major part of its principal photography. The cast includes Armeena Rana Khan, Bilal Ashraf and Ali Rehman Khan. The film is directed by Azfar Jafri (Siyya) and its script is penned by Diyar-e-Dil famed Osman Khalid Butt.
Read more: Cast and crew of Reham Khan’s production “Janaan” is announced
(13) Karachi Se Lahore spin-off
Status: Announced
The untitled spin-off of 2015’s hit road trip will bring Yasir Hussain and Wajahat Rauf team back to the big screen. The film will revolve around the character of Moti (Yasir Hussain) and it will majorly include new cast. The film is expected to hit the floors in January.
Read more: Karachi Se Lahore spin-off will be bigger and better, reveals Wajahat Rauf
(14) Laloolal.com
Status: In production
The low budget art movie stars Faisal Qureshi, Aimen Iqbal and an Australian actress Natasha. The film is directed by Najaf Bilgarami. (Dawn Images)
(15) Maalik
Status: In production/delayed
The political thriller written and directed by Ashar Azeem (Dhuaan) has been delayed for quite long time but it is expected to be released soon in 2016. The film stars Ashar Azeem, Farhan Ali Agha, Sajid Hassan and Hassan Niazi in the lead roles. (Dawn Images)
(16) Mah e Meer
Status: In production/delayed
Fahad Mustafa, Iman Ali, Sanam Saeed, Ally Khan and Manzar Sehbai starer biographical film based on the life of famous Urdu poet Meer is among long awaited films which were originally expected to be released in 2015. The film, directed by Anjum Shahzad, is delayed due to technical reasons and is expected to be released in 2016. (Express Tribune)
(17) Quetta
Status: Ready to release
The emotional social drama set in Quetta is the debut cinematic venture by Murtaza and Faysal Chaudary of BNN fame. The film is slated for an international release in January and very soon across the country. (Dawn Images)
(18) Rasta
Status: In production
The film written and directed by TV famous host Sahir Lodhi has hit the floors. The film cast includes Sahir Lodhi, model turned actress Saima Azhar, Naveed Raza, Aijaz Aslam, Sana Fakhar and Shamoon Abbasi.
Read more: Sahir Lodhi’s ‘Rasta’ is about system’s failure, revenge and bond of brothers
(19) Rahm
Status: In production
The Urdu adaptation of William Shakespeare’s comedy Measure for Measure stars Sanam Saeed, Sunil Shanker, Sajid Hasan and Nayyar Ejaz. It is written by Mahmood Jamal and directed by Ahmed Jamal. (Dawn Images)
(20) Revenge of the Worthless
Status: Ready to release
Jamal Shah’s directorial debut is set in the backdrop of Swat insurgency and the subsequent military operation. The film, which was expected to release in 2015 and got delayed multiple of times, is finally releasing on January 15, 2016.
Read more: Its confirmed, “Revenge of the Worthless” is releasing on 15 January
(21) Salute
Status: In production/delayed
The film based on the life of Aitzaz Ahsan, the 12 year old boy of FATA who saved lives of his schools fellows by stopping a suicide bomber to enter the premises, is directed by Shehzad Rafiq. Saima is playing the role of mother of Aitzaz and Meera will do a cameo in it.
(22) Saye Khuda e Zuljalal
Status: In production/delayed
The cast of the action/historic film includes many new and established names including Javaid Sheikh, Jia Ali, Shafqat Cheema, Nair Ijaz, Noor Bokhari, Resham and Arbaaz Khan. The first trailer of the film was released earlier in 2015 but the release date of the film has still not been announced.
Read more: Five Reasons why the film Saya E Khuda E Zuljalal should be on your watch list
(23) Sikander
Status: In production
The action thriller will not only be the comeback of Moammar Rana to the big screen but it will also be the directorial debut of Lollywood’s chocolate hero. The film was announced in the mid 2015 with little news about the main cast and it is lined up for 2016 release.
Read more: All hail the new “Sikander” in town: Moammar Rana launches his directorial debut
(24) Teri Meri Love Story
Status: Announced
Javad Bashir’s next film will be a rom-com and it stars singer/actor Junaid Khan, Mohsin Abbas Haider (Na Maloom Araad), Salman Shahid and Uzma Khan. The leading lady of the film is not announced yet. (Dawn Images)
(25) Tum Hi Tu Ho
Status: In production
Danish Taimoor starer romantic drama is being directed by the veteran film actress/director Sangeeta. A part of the film shooting has already been completed in Lahore and it is expected to release on Eid-al-Azha 2016.
Read more: Danish Taimoor will romance in Sangeeta’s next “Tum Hi To Ho”
(26) Two+Two
Status: In production
The cast of this rom-com inlcudes Bilal Ashraf, Urwa Hocane, Ali Azmat, Mustafa Qureshi and the veteran film actress Babra Sharif who will also have a special role in the film. The film will mark the comeback of Babra Shareef after decades in any film. Ayesha Omer is also doing a special song in the film. (Dawn Images)
(27) Untitled Iqbal Kashmiri’s action/thriller
Status: Announced
The cast of the untitled action/thriller by Iqbal Kashmiri includes Agha Ali, Shamoon Abbasi, Sajid Hassan and Ghulam Mohiuddin. The film was announced couple of months ago with the expected release date in 2016. (Dawn Images)
(28) Waar 2
Status: Announced
The sequel of 2013’s blockbuster and second highest grossing film, Waar, has been in news for long. The film will be written and directed by Hassan Waqas Rana who also produced Waar. Shaan Shahid will reprise his role of Major Mujtaba. (Dawn Images)
(29) Wujood
Status: Announced
The film will be the comeback of industry’s stalwart Javed Sheikh as the film director and it will be shot in some foreign location, just like previous ventures of Sheikh. As the script of the film is being written, its cast is not announced yet.
Read more: Javed Sheikh signs distribution deal for his directorial comeback “Wujood”
(30) Yalghaar
Status: In production/delayed
The long awaited war drama and action thriller, directed by Hassan Waqas Rana, is expected to hit cinemas in 2016. The ensemble cast includes Shaan Shahid, Humayun Saeed, Ayesha Omer, Armeena Rana Khan, Ayub Khoso, Bilal Ashraf, Sana Bucha, Sikander Rizvi and Umair Jaswal.
Read more: Yalgaar to bring Swat operation in light
(31) Zeher e Ishq
Status: Announced
TV director Khalid Khan is debuting as a film director with HUM Films production Zeher e Ishq. The lead cast of the film has not been finalized yet. The music of the film is done by big names like Sajjad Ali and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. (Express Tribune)
(32) Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai
Status: In production
The romantic drama stars TV’s hot and young couple Feroze Khan and Sajal Ali in the lead roles and it is being directed by Anjum Shahzad. Initial phase of the project has already been shot and the film is slated for an early 2016 release.
Read more: Feroze Khan and Sajal Ali to ignite their magic on big screen now
Beside there are several speculated films and projects in very early stage. We also included some of the notable ones below.
(33) Shoaib Mansoor’s next, as Galaxy Lollywood reported earlier might star Bollywood superstar Kareena Kapoor, is also one of the (least) likely releases of 2016.
(34) Another TV’s award winning director Haissam Hussain is speculated to foray into film making very soon, as revealed by DAWN.
(35) Shahzad Roy and Faisal Qureshi (of a telecom company’s TVC fame) are teaming up for a film, written by Anwar Maqsood, as reported by Express Tribune.
(36) A film by the makers of 2014’s blockbuster Na Maloom Afraad, Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza, is also speculated for 2016 release, as our instincts say.
(37) Crew Motion Pictures signed Danish Nawaz for a comedy film, as reported by HIP in Pakistan.
(38) Ali Zafar’s film Deosai is also a (speculated) potential 2016 release, as reported by Express Tribune.
Its a long list of films some may disappear. You need to do a list with the tiitle….”WHERE ARE THEY NOW!” films like “FATIMA” & “IMRAN” & other films that were hyped but never released. Also Pakistan needs to build an infrastruce abroad UK,USA,EUROPE like a weekly TV cable show about the new films, stories about their creation to get Pakistanis abroad involved with trhis new infusion of creativity coming out of Pakistan. India has a weekly show called “Namaste” it airs with filkm stories, music videos, stories about film production, filtered with some political news this creates interest in the homeland & briings foreign investment also into the country. I am regularly asked by Indians why no such informative show exists, Indians love Pakistani Television they want more to know about the TV stars, the story about how television has assisted the revival of a dying film industry.
So there is a dire need here is a title lets call it “Salaam” have a half hour show with film, TV & sports news there are growing Pakistanis in California, Texas, New York we can do this people lets do it!
What about Jami’s other movie “Downward dog” ?
Mahi-meer?
Bilal Lashari’s Maula jatt?
Shaan’s romantic comedy film with Humayun Saeed ?
You have covered virtually all the upcoming movies for 2016 which come to mind. No mention of Bilal Lashari’s Maula Jaat remake. Well I can’t blame you as nothing concrete has been announced for a long time.
Aamir & Saad – We confirmed from Bilal Lashari, Maula Jutt has no signs of release in 2016.