Pakistani film Wakhri has been selected for the UK’s South Asian Film Season 2026, bringing the locally released drama to a wider international audience.
Organised by British broadcaster Channel 4, the film season features nine productions from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, highlighting stories from across South Asia. Wakhri’s network premiere was scheduled for October 5, followed by its availability for streaming after the broadcast.
Directed by Iram Parveen Bilal and starring Faryal Mehmood, Wakhri centres on Noor Malik, a widowed schoolteacher whose outspoken views about life as a woman in Pakistan unexpectedly turn her into a social media sensation.
The film draws inspiration from the life and public image of slain Pakistani social media personality Qandeel Baloch. However, Wakhri is not a direct biography and presents a fictional story built around themes of identity, social media, gender expectations and public attention.
The movie was released in Pakistan in 2024 and received attention for its portrayal of a woman navigating sudden online fame and the pressures that come with it.
Its selection for the South Asian Film Season gives Wakhri an opportunity to reach viewers in the UK while showcasing a contemporary Pakistani story to an international audience.
The inclusion also highlights the growing presence of South Asian cinema on international platforms, with films from the region continuing to explore social issues through different storytelling styles.
