The entertainment industry has evolved over the years in many ways. With the audience becoming more critical about the content being shown, television producers and filmmakers are also now aware of what should be made in these times.
Showcase Productions is one of the leading production houses of recent times. They tend to create content that is diverse and meaningful along with having entertaining and mass appealing elements involved in it. The company is headed by the dynamic husband-wife duo; Wajahat Rauf and Shazia Wajahat.
Notable projects from the production house include blockbuster films like ‘Chhalaawa’ and ‘Karachi say Lahore’, while recently, the audience loved and applauded their drama ‘Raqs e Bismil’ and feature film ‘Parde Mein Rehne Do’.
Post the massive success of their most recent projects, Shazia and Wajahat are set to bring a number of dramas to television screens including ‘Pinjra’ which is the last script of late writer Asma Nabeel.
In an exclusive conversation with Galaxy Lollywood, Shazia Wajahat spoke about her upcoming projects.
About ‘Pinjra’
Shazia Wajahat shared how close is ‘Pinjra’ to her heart. She said: “Three years ago, Wajahat and I told Asma Nabeel that we want to do something about teenagers since content of this sort doesn’t get created on television usually. Asma got very excited as she also wanted to do something like this for a long time.”
Talking about the story she shared: “It’s basically a social topic for which Asma did a lot of research while writing. It is about how we bring up a kid, and where we go wrong in the process of parenting. To understand your children. Every child is different, unintentionally we end up putting a lot of social pressure on the children. We don’t realize what harm we are bringing to them with the comparisons in schools and at home.”
About writer Asma Nabeel’s journey with the project, she said: “She was very passionate about it because Asma thought whoever has kids will relate to it. Even during her illness she continued to write the script, we asked her to take a rest, and told her that the project can wait, but she would say it’s my commitment, what if I go without completing it.”
‘Dil Ke Chor’ producer further added: “The project got delayed for two years, we did ‘Raqs e Bismil and then Asma went (passed away). I still have this in my heart that she wasn’t there when we started shooting for it.”
About The Casting
Shazia revealed that the character of Aashir Wajahat was actually written for him by Asma Nabeel. She said: “Although Aashir was not working for television for so long, his film was in pipeline, but we asked him to do this role as it was Asma’s last wish.”
The project stars Hadiqa Kiani opposite Omair Rana. Talking about the lead actors, Shazia stated: “We were very excited about working with Hadiqa, ‘Raqeeb Se’ was on air and ‘Dobara’ was in pipeline, so she also wanted to do something different as she prefers the quality of work over quantity. Good thing is that Hadiqa had a long chat about her role with Asma and we got her on board while Asma was alive.
She further added: “Also with Omair Rana, when we told him, he was super excited that the story is about an issue that needs to be told to people. Same with Sunita Marshall, she is an air hostess in the drama, although she is not that old as the character, but she loved the character and the story.”
Talking about the expectations that people should have from the drama, Shazia said: “We’re very excited about this that it’s finally coming. When people will watch it, they will see that it is so close to reality that they will be able to identify with the household, the family and the characters.”
About ‘Adan’
Another upcoming project ‘Adan’, which is a mystery and a thriller stars Azfar Rehman, Mansha Pasha, and Junaid Khan. There were rumours that Sanam Jung will also be a part of it. Responding to that Shazia said: “Yes, she was but due to some health issues she had to leave and we got Mansha on board.”
The maker confirmed that the shooting is about to wrap and will air on Aan TV.
About ‘Saanwal Yaar Piya’
An upcoming drama that has been creating a buzz among the viewers because of the exciting casting is ‘Saanwal Yaar Piya’, starring Imran Ashraf, Iqra Aziz and Feroze Khan.
‘Raqs e Bismil’ team returns as Hashim Nadeem has written the script, Wajahat is the director and Shazia is the producer. In terms of casting Imran is also part of the project. Shazia said: “Iqra and Feroze are new members and we are very excited to work with both, as we have not worked with them before. Iqra is just like family and I am really looking forward to working with her, Feroze is a friend too but we never got a chance to work with him so Wajahat and I are very excited about this project.”
She added: “Soon we will be revealing other cast members, as some other big names are also attached to the project”. The drama will be going on floors very soon.
Be it a social message in ‘Pinjra’, a mystery thriller ‘Adan’, or a love story with a stellar cast in ‘Saanwal Yaar Piya’, they all will be a treat to watch for the viewers. Which drama are you most excited about?
