"we need to take matters into our own hands.”
Mehwish Hayat has announced that she is launching her production house Pink Llama Films, which is based in the UK.
Taking to Instagram, the actress stated that setting up a production company in the UK was a means of showcasing who Pakistanis really were.
This comes after she realised that in Western media, Muslims and Pakistanis are usually portrayed as dangerous.
Mehwish wrote: “I’ve been working on something special for quite some time. I have spoken extensively about the representation of Muslims and Pakistanis in Western Media.
“It has become clear to me that talking alone is not enough.
“If we want to change these perceptions, we need to take matters into our own hands.”
Mehwish Hayat went on to tell her fans that along with her team, she is committed to making “authentic, thought-provoking content” and wishes to be able to break stereotypes and advocate acceptance.
She also spoke about her time working on the Disney+ series Ms Marvel, in which she played Aisha, and how she witnessed the character reverberate with her audience.
Mehwish said she was inspired to launch her company after the series had an effective impression on Pakistani and Muslim representation.
She added: “The experience strengthened my belief in how important representation really is.”
Under her company, Mehwish has already started working on several projects and has asked individuals to come forward and share their stories with her.
Speaking of the upcoming projects, she said:
“Each story was carefully crafted to challenge stereotypes, dispel misconceptions, and showcase the myriad dimensions of Muslim and Pakistani identities.
“I am thrilled by the response I’ve received so far and proud to collaborate with award-winning partners on an amazing slate of projects that I can’t wait to share with you.
“If you think you have a story to tell, drop me a line via the website.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CuaByezI_ez/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=69df3375-2559-4252-814f-4eaa8a836adf
Fans came together to wish Mehwish success in her new venture.
One fan wrote: “This is incredible, much needed and who better to spearhead this than you!
“Looking forward to seeing what projects come out of this, the narrative and the performances.”
Another said: “More power to you.”
A third wrote: “Let’s show the real precious and beautiful face of Pakistan and Muslims to the world!!”
Mehwish Hayat is not the first Pakistani star who has stepped into production.
Humayun Saeed, Fahad Mustafa, Adnan Siddiqui and Yasir Nawaz are just a handful of names who have also produced films.
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