‘Gul Makai’: Shooting For Malala Yousafzai Biopic Underway in J&K

Reem Shaikh will essay the role of Malala Yousafzai while Divya Dutta plays her mother in ‘Gul Makai’.

First look of the film Gul Makai, a biopic on Malala Yousafzai

(Photo: Poster of Gul Makai)

Shooting for Bollywood film 'Gul Makai', a biopic based on the life of teenager Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, kicked off in the Ganderbal district of Kashmir in the first week of January.

TV actress Reem Shaikh will essay the role of Malala Yousafzai while Divya Dutta, will be seen in the role of the activist’s mother. The Amjad Khan-directorial also stars Mukesh Rishi, Abhimanyu Singh and Ajaz Khan.

The film chronicles the journey of Malala from her days in Swat Valley to her becoming the youngest Nobel peace prize winner. A major part of the film has already been shot in Bhuj and Mumbai and we are here in Kashmir to shoot the last leg of the movie.

Amjad Khan, Director, Gul Makai

He said the film aims to capture the essence of Malala's spirit and her fight, while also telling the story of the suffering of the people in Pakistan.

Reem Shaikh said she was lucky to shoot in Kashmir. “Kashmir has supported us. We wouldn’t get such realistic locations elsewhere,” she said.

The movie is based on education. Malala is a figure who took the bullet for all girls. So I’m very happy and inspired by her and I just hope that I can portray this role properly. I need everyone’s blessings. 

Reem Shaikh, Actor

The film has reportedly provided employment to 1000 people from Kashmir.

Through this film, we have employed over 1,000 people for crowd scenes as office boys, spot boys etc. We have been shooting for the past 15 days and hopefully there will be more such opportunities. 

Film crew member

Members of the crew said that the film goes beyond the life of Malala and focuses on aspects of her life that resonate with the plight of the Pakistani people.

At the age of 17, Malala became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize after surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban in 2012. She founded the Malala Fund, a non-profit organisation and in 2013 co-authored 'I am Malala', an international bestseller. She has continued to speak out on the importance of education.

Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj

(With inputs from ANI)