Indian filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava is all set to direct a film on Pakistan’s first ever social media star Qandeel Baloch also known as “Pakistan’s Kim Kardashian”, who was assassinated in the name of honor six years ago.
Producers Vikas Sharma and Sunny Khanna, along with Alankrita have bough the rights to the book ‘The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch’ written by Pakistani journalist Sanam Maher, as reported by Variety.
India’s Alankrita Shrivastava Sets Film on Slain Pakistani Social Media Star Qandeel Baloch (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/OXEQpYcFoj
— Variety (@Variety) May 17, 2022
Alankrita famous for her Netflix series Bombay Begums, shared with Variety that when Qandeel, whose real name is Fouzia Azeem, was murdered in 2016, she was “shaken up”. “It was a heinous honor killing. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I started watching Qandeel’s videos repeatedly, and I was fascinated. She was so charming and full of life. “A poor girl from a small village, who worked her way up to being provocatively famous. She was just 26 when she was killed. And ironically, it’s only after her death that she has been reclaimed as a feminist” she said.
Sharing similar sentiments, Sunny Khanna said “Qandeel Baloch’s story is important and relevant. Even today women often continue to be at risk when they dare to express their individuality and challenge the status quo. I believe the world needs to watch stories like this. And I’m looking forward to the journey of this film,” said Khanna.
The late social media sensation’s life was ridden with controversy as she shot to fame after posting videos and pictures of herself on the internet, which many considered to be shameful and immoral.
Qandeel’s death came as a result of her brother who strangled her in her sleep, who confessed in front of the press that he had no choice but to murder her because of her indecent behavior. Recently, her brother Waseem was freed by courts on accord of a legal loophole that allows a victim’s mother to pardon the crime.
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