Pakistani singer-turned-actor Ali Zafar is undergoing intense training to prepare for his role in upcoming film Deosai.
Training in martial arts and kickboxing for his next movie the actor has been seen working out a great deal in the gym.
The 35-year-old actor, who is not just acting in the film but is also producing it, has hired one of the best trainers in martial arts and kickboxing in the world to help him get into shape.
“I started the prep a week ago and will keep going for another seven eight weeks before we start shooting in August,” said Ali.
He trains two hours daily at a local mixed martial arts (MMA) club and has a special protein diet.
The film will be shot on one of the highest plateaus in Asia and has some fast-and-furious action sequences. “We will fly down trainers and action directors from abroad,” he added.
The Urdu-English bilingual action drama will mark Ali’s international debut as a producer. The action drama will be set in the northern areas of Pakistan, and will be shot on real locations.
“I wanted to have my first movie shot in Deosai and the places around it was because I wanted to showcase the beautiful side of Pakistan, one that has not been shown on film previously,” Ali told The Express Tribune.
Deosai is Ali’s way of playing a part in the revival of the Pakistani film industry and he wants to do it by making films that are not just avant-garde in their aesthetics but also meaningful.
“I want to make films that can make a difference and are remembered for a long time for their content, besides being successful commercial ventures,” he says. “I waited for that right intuition and idea for my first film as an actor/producer and I am extremely happy with the way it has shaped up.”
Scheduled to go on the floors by the end of summer 2015, it is listed for a worldwide theatre release by mid-2016.
