“Sherdil is about a young man chasing his dreams.” – Armeena Rana Khan

The upcoming war film, Sherdil has released its first teaser - on Thursday night, at a time when patriotism in Pakistan is soaring high. Starring Armeena Rana Khan, Mikaal Zulfiqar, Hassan Niazi and Sabeeka Imam in pivotal roles, the film focuses on the events preceding the 1965 Indo-Pak war as well as the subsequent events that took place.

Now, speaking exclusively to Instep about the film which is all set to release (soon) this year, Armeena Rana Khan is spilling the beans about her experience on the sets of the film and with her co-actors.

Instep: Your film Sherdil is about to release this year. What are your expectations?

Armeena Rana Khan (ARK): I feel elated, excited but at the same time, full of trepidation. No one can really predict the “mood” within the audiences; they can love the simplest of stories sometimes. I cannot predict the outcome nor do I have any expectations, it will be what it will be.

Instep: What according to you is Sherdil all about?

ARK: Sherdil is about a young man chasing his dreams; the challenges and the family drama around it. There are, of course, subplots and parallel stories; I think it’s an interesting mix. One would think only women in Pakistan go through career challenges in the context of family pressures but the case sometimes is applicable to the other gender too. Now I’ll be honest with you. I have not seen the film; I am only making a statement based on the original script. I guess we will find out together when the film finally hits the big screen.

Instep: Was it a difficult or an easy journey to work on a film that is based on the armed forces? Do you believe you were able to do justice to it?

ARK: When you are working with a brand new team, it does bring about its own unique set of challenges; what may be lacking in experience can be overcome with the prep work to make it easier for every member of the cast and crew. Ultimately, it is about teamwork and the product. I have made some new life long friends on these sets and I am sure the chemistry will reflect in our work. I would like to give my personal thanks to the P.A.F; they were extremely professional, sensitive to our needs and welcomed the team in every way possible. A big shoutout to squadron leader Hassaan Jalal for looking after us and working long, long hours with us.

Instep: Will your fans get to see you in a different avatar in this as opposed to your previous feature films?

ARK: I am not playing an air force officer as it is quite easy to get confused from the earlier photo-shoots; I would absolutely love to play an empowered role like that one day. This film is very much based around Mikaal’s character and his journey; my role is in context to him. Of course, the avatar is going to be different physically but is it groundbreaking? I will let the audience decide.

Instep: How has your experience been working with your co-star Mikaal Zulfiqar and filmmaker Azfar Jafri on this project?

ARK: Azfar Jafri is always fun to work with; he is super professional and a powerhouse of talent. His perseverance and patience astound me and I continue to learn a lot from him on each set. I have a feeling that we are only seeing the beginning of a long and illustrious career. Much like Azfar, Mikaal too is a very serious and a focused actor. I thoroughly enjoyed working with him; it was an amazing experience. You will definitely see him in a very different avatar in Sherdil. I am sure he will do full justice to his role.

Instep: We’ve recently seen another film based on the armed forces - Parwaaz Hai Junoon – that released last year. Do you feel there are any similarities between the two? What makes your project different?

ARK: Honestly, I have not seen Parwaaz Hai Junoon so I am not in a position to comment on similarities or differences. I do know that my role is not of a fighter pilot so that changes the plot completely. However, what I can tell you is that there is an underlying ‘debate’ of sorts in Sherdil; I am sure the audiences will appreciate it as it promotes peace, friendship, and understanding.