Meesha Shafi is ready to make her Hollywood debut with her first Pakistan-American film, which will also star comedian Hasan Minhaj.
According to a Deadline report, Mustache is going to be largely autobiographical. This will be award-winning shorts director Imran J Khan’s first feature film, which he will write and direct as well.
The film follows Ilyas (Verma), a 13-year-old Pakistani boy who sets off to his new California public school with a mustache which his parents do not allow him to shave off.
Meesha Shafi will play Ilya’s mother with Rizwan Manji in the role of his father, Hameed. Manji’s daughter Ayana will play his school friend, Yasmeen.
The film stars Rizwan Manji, Atharva Verma, Ayana Manji and Alicia Silverstone.
Patriot Act’s Hasan Minhaj said, “I’m very humbled and honored to be partnering with the amazing people at MakeSay as well as the talented Christopher Storer to bring my very personal and often eccentric film, Mustache to life.”
Imran J. Khan has written and directed a number of award-winning shorts including 2016’s Prom, which was based on ideas from Hasan’s stand-up special Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King.
Christina Won of Birdman and Jessica Sittig of MakeSay will be joining the team as producers alongside American Light and Fixture’s Christopher Storer and Tyson Bidner.
Silverstone and Minhaj’s roles haven’t been disclosed yet.
Known for his role as Ray Butani on the breakout comedy series Schitt’s Creek, Rizwan Manji said that Mustache is an honest representation of growing up Muslim in the 90s. “I found the script special, and immediately connected to the father-son relationship that is central to the film.”
Meesha has been seen in films such as Waar, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, and The Reluctant Fundamentalist, while Hasan is an actor and comedian known for hosting the Peabody Award-winning Netflix series Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, and for comedy specials including Homecoming King and his latest stand-up special, The King’s Jester.He has appeared in films like The Spy Who Dumped Me.
Production company MakeSay and Cinereach are financing the film, whose release date has yet to be announced.