‘AI-based filmmaking offers a cost-effective and safer alternative to traditional production methods’, says director
A screencapture from the trailer for The Next Salahuddin. Source: x.com/HaideryMuhammed
KARACHI:
Pakistan’s cinema industry has marked a new milestone with the premiere of The Next Salahuddin, the country’s first feature-length film created entirely using AI.
The film premiered on Friday night at Nueplex Cinema in Karachi, where media professionals, cultural figures and guests gathered to witness what is being described as a “bold step into the future of filmmaking”. The project is seen as an attempt to blend advanced technology with a socially conscious narrative.
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The Next Salahuddin has been written and directed by Farhan Siddiqui, who says the film is not just a cinematic experiment but a message for a global audience. The producer, veteran artist Ustad Asim Ismail, described it as a story rooted in contemporary realities while drawing inspiration from history.
In an interview with The Express Tribune, Farhan Siddiqui described the project as a completely new experience for Pakistani cinema. “There are no actors, no physical shooting locations and no conventional film set in this project,” he said. “Despite that, audiences will not feel that they are watching an AI-generated film.”
Siddiqui said AI-based filmmaking offers a cost-effective and safer alternative to traditional production methods. “There are no location issues, no availability problems with actors and no risks associated with on-ground shoots. This entire film can be completed while sitting in a single room,” he said.
He added that the 55-minute film has been designed specifically with younger audiences in mind. “Today’s youth prefers fast-paced and concise content, so we have structured the film like a reel to keep viewers engaged from start to finish,” Siddiqui said. According to him, the film is intended to make audiences “laugh, cry and think,” while encouraging young people to believe that they can also bring about change.
Highlighting the film’s ideological foundation, Asim Ismail said that The Next Salahuddin is a voice for humanity, peace and human rights. He said the film expresses solidarity with the people of Palestine and represents a historic step for AI-driven filmmaking in Pakistan. “This project has the potential to become Pakistan’s creative identity on a global stage,” he added.
Speaking at the event, writer and director Talal Farhat emphasised the need for young Pakistani filmmakers to move beyond traditional and overused themes. He argued that the industry must break away from stereotypical narratives centred on violence, feudal conflicts and formulaic family dramas, and instead explore innovative ideas suited to the digital age.
“We are now living in the era of IT,” he said. “Mobile phones and computers have reshaped human relationships, and artificial intelligence has quietly become a powerful force in our lives faster and sharper than the human mind. Escaping it is no longer possible.”
The filmmakers announced that The Next Salahuddin will be released in multiple languages, including Urdu, English, Bengali and Arabic, and there are plans to submit it to an international film competition in France in March. Alongside Pakistan, screenings are also planned in Malaysia, marking what they describe as an important international step for Pakistan’s emerging AI-driven cinema.
