Indian filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava, who recently acquired the rights to Pakistani journalist Sanam Maher’s biography of the model Qandeel Baloch whose murder in the name of ‘honour’ made international headlines, is planning to make a biopic on the life of the slain social media sensation.
The filmmaker, who is known for web series such as Made in Heaven and Bombay Begums, along with producers Vikas Sharma and Sunny Khanna, has acquired the rights to Sanam Maher’s book The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch, according to The Indian Express.
Qandeel Baloch, originally from Dera Ghazi Khan, was a model who rose to prominence for her videos and selfies that firmly established her as a social media celebrity. In 2016, she was strangled to death by her brother while she was sleeping in her parents house in Multan.
Alankrita shared that when news of Qandeel’s murder first broke out in 2016, she was very shaken at the heinous crime. “I started watching Qandeel’s videos repeatedly, and I was fascinated. She was so charming and full of life.” she said.
“A poor girl from a small village, who worked her way up to being provocatively famous. She was just 26 when she was killed,” Alankrita shared with the publication, adding, “Ironically, it’s only after her death that she has been reclaimed as a feminist.”
The filmmaker said that the biopic would chronicle Qandeel’s “sensational and astonishing” rise to fame, and would “celebrate her spunk and lust for life by telling her story without judgment”.
“I hope to piece together the memories of the rebellious, funny and vulnerable young girl, whose life was cut short because she shimmered too bright.” said Alankrita.
The producers, Sharma and Khanna, said they were excited about telling a story about women’s agency and that Alankrita was the ideal director to tell Qandeel’s story, saying “She [Alankrita] has so much empathy for her characters. She tells their stories with candour and warmth.”
Previously Qandeel Baloch’s life story was also told by a Pakistani drama channel through a drama serial titled Baaghi which starred Saba Qamar.
