Junaid Khan has been strong and stable since breaking into show business with his musical group Call. Known for gothic and hard rock, Call has reached many heights and Junaid’s powerful voice has been celebrated and appreciated by critics and the general public. With his time on TV, his acting prowess has been acclaimed and he recently appeared in the mega hit Khuda Aur Mohabbat which has had over 2 billion views on YouTube.

The actor, who is known for his positive social messages in his art, spoke to Khaleej times on his movie Kahay Dil Jidhar which was screened at the Pakistan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai as part of the Pakistani Film Week inaugurated by Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry last month.

“I would like to thank the government of the United Arab Emirates for this, especially for this program. Not just for me, but for many Pakistani artists and celebrities who will return. The UAE is like a second home for so many of us Pakistanis. Especially for us people based in Karachi, it’s just a 1.5 hour flight, we can get in and out anytime. And now that I have the Golden Visa, I will be more frequent!

Producer Kamran Bari, Junaid Khan and musician Atif Ali

Speaking about the Pakistan Pavilion and the Expo 2020 Dubai experience, Junaid said he experienced a lot of it digitally and heard wonderful things about it. “I’ve always heard so many good things about Expo 2020 and it looks really good,” said the Kahay Dil Jidhar Star.

In his movie, Kahay Dil Jidhar, he plays the role of a tough cop. “I’m emotionally attached to the film,” Khan said. “Because I have known people who have been drug addicts. I had to pick up this story. I’m very happy with what we did. »

Kamran Bari, the film’s producer, also commented on the film saying that he also personally knew people whose lives had been turned upside down by drugs. Addressing the audience during the screening of the film at the Pakistan pavilion, he also mentioned how the film was supported by the Anti Narcotics Force in Pakistan.

Dubai-based musician Atif Ali has explained how important it was to make sure audiences enjoyed tracks that would channel the entertainment element of the movie as well as having a well-balanced soundtrack to stay true to the message of the film.

The screening of the film brought together members of the Dubai media and the Consul General of Pakistan, Hasan Afzal Khan, in the multi-purpose hall of the Pakistan Pavilion. The cast and crew of the film also took part in a tour of the pavilion.

The film Kahay Dil Jidhar is the story of Sheheryar (Junaid Khan) and her fiancé (Mansha Pasha) and their group of friends (Kamran Bari, Dino) who face tragedy due to the threat of drugs. The film had a domestic release in Pakistan in December 2021.

mahwash@khaleejtimes.com