‘Rawalpindi Express – A Shoaib Akhtar Biopic’ teaser released | The Express Tribune

In an absurd turn of events, the official first look teaser for Rawalpindi Express – A Shoaib Akhtar Biopic has dropped amidst a legal tiff between the subject of the film and its makers. Some major changes can be seen, with Mirza Gohar Rasheed stepping in to play the cricketing legend instead of Umair Jaswal. 

A swift-paced teaser accompanies this sudden announcement, wherein Rasheed takes centre stage as the alleged Akhtar. A journey of childhood struggles, battles with numerous elements, and a rise to success can be mapped through the official first look. However, with an intense soundscape accompanying the teaser, one cannot help but feel that the “biopic” may just be a highly dramatized version of events. 

Certain scenes from the teaser remind one of Ranbir Kapoor’s Sanju, whereas other scenes make one wonder how authentic the narrative aims to be. Shot over 47 locations over 68 days, the line, “Running against the odds” accompanies the official title. The cast consists of Faran Tahir, Saleem Mairaj, Raheela Agha, Salman Shahid, Shafqat Cheema, Usman Peerzada, Umer Aalam, Hamza Khawaja, Rabita Ali, Faiza Khan, Omair Rana, Adnan Shah Tipu, Rahim Pardesi, Hammad Siddique, Baatin Farouqi, with the titular character being played by Rasheed.

This is especially intriguing given the fact that Akhtar himself announced recently that he obtained a stay order against the makers of his supposed biopic. The order prohibits the filming and release of the film until the final decision of the aforementioned lawsuit. “I have secured a stay order against the filming and release of the supposed biopic being made on my life by a certain group of people,” said the famed cricketer in his social media post. He also warned that any person involved in the project should be aware of the illegality of their actions and the potential reputational loss they may face.

A notice from Akhtar’s lawyer was attached to the Instagram story to provide further clarity on the matter. The notice states that the court, through its order dated June 22, 2023, has restrained the producer of the biopic, titled Rawalpindi Express, from shooting, filming, and releasing any part of the film to any media platform, including social media and cinema, until a final decision is reached in the ongoing legal battle.

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