“There’s nothing against Islam [in Joyland]”: says Trans actor Alina Khan

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting declared the internationally acclaimed film Joyland ‘uncertified’ for containing ‘highly objectionable content’.

Where many showbiz stars condemned the ban on the film Joyland, team members and the cast of the movie also raised their voices. They demanded from the Govt. of Pakistan to review the decision and release Joyland.

Today, one of the main characters of the film, trans actor Alina Khan spoke to The Guardian and expressed disappointment by saying she is very sad at the government’s decision to ban the film and hopes it will be reversed.

While talking about her role “Biba” in the film, the 24-year-old said, “She’s a badass, strong-willed, fiercely independent, dominating, outspoken woman, everything that I am not; I loved the role I played”. She said that when she was offered the role, she was relieved not to play an ‘oppressed’ character ‘which is the life for most transgenders in Pakistan’.

After the massive international success of Alina’s film Joyland, her family also accepted and welcomed her with open arms. “They accepted me finally. They realised that I was not earning by begging or doing sex work,” she said.

Saim Sadiq’s Joyland became the first Pakistani feature movie to win Queer Palm award at the Cannes Film Festival. In August Joyland won the best film from the subcontinent at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, last month it received the top award at Zagreb’s film festival.

The film is also Pakistan’s entry for best international feature film at next year’s Oscars, which has received the backing of the Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, who joined the film as executive producer.

Before the ban on the film, Joyland was set to release on November 18 all across Pakistan.