These novels have been officially confirmed for adaptation into films and series, featuring both local (Lollywood) and international productions.

Confirmed Adaptations

Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal is going to be an international film adaptation. The movie will be a collaboration between US-based Traveling Picture Show Company (TPSC), Rising Tides, and Pakistan’s Hum Network. Sadia Ashraf is the director and scriptwriter of the film and it will be co-directed by James McMillan. The principal photography will begin early 2025 in Pakistan.

The movie is going to be a modern reinterpretation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, transplanted to contemporary Pakistan. The novel follows the lives of the five daughters of the Binat family showing their struggles as they try to navigate identity, relationships, and societal expectations. Pakistan’s cultural nuance to English-language audiences will be showcased and it will also challenge the many stereotypes prevalent in Pakistan.

Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo by Farhat Ishtiaq will be streamed on Netflix. The cast includes Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Sanam Saeed, Ahad Raza Mir, Iqra Aziz, Hania Aamir, Maya Ali, Bilal Ashraf, and Khushhal Khan. Momina Duraid Productions and Netflix are in charge of the production. For now the production is underway; it was originally slated for June 2025 but is now expected for a late 2025 release. The series is going to be a romance-drama revolving around Sikandar, a Harvard law student, and Liza, an artist with a complex past. Set across Italy, the UK, and Pakistan, the story explores emotional resilience and human connection. Notably, this marks Netflix’s first Pakistan-themed original production.

Umrao Jaan Ada by Mirza Hadi Ruswa is to be a Pakistani web/TV series with Sajal Aly as Umrao Jaan and Hamid Hussain and Muhammad Yaqoob as producers. The move is currently in development, expected to stream on a major platform .This eight-part adaptation stays “heavily” faithful to the original Urdu novel as opposed to past film renditions constrained by runtime. The approach allows for deeper character development and richer narrative.

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Last but not least, Pakeezah (Remake) is going to be a Pakistani remake of the original 1972 classic film with Mahira Khan front and centre, and producer Hamid Hussain will lead the way. As of now, the development is underway and casting confirmed. This remake will focus on revisiting the old beloved classic roles which were once immortalized by Meena Kumari and the adaptation aims to reintroduce the narrative to modern audiences.

These upcoming adaptations highlight the growing global interest in Pakistani literature and storytelling.