Veena Malik to play Laila Khan?

Filmmaker Rakesh Sawant, who directed murdered Pakistani actor Laila Khan in her 2008 film, Wafaa, will now direct a movie on the actor’s life, titled Ek Thi Laila. Sawant says that he has roped in starlet Veena Malik to play Laila and his sister, Rakhi Sawant, to play...

Filmmaker Rakesh Sawant, who directed murdered Pakistani actor Laila Khan in her 2008 film, Wafaa, will now direct a movie on the actor’s life, titled Ek Thi Laila. Sawant says that he has roped in starlet Veena Malik to play Laila and his sister, Rakhi Sawant, to play her elder sister Afreen.

“I will show Laila’s real life on screen, as I know a lot about it — where she came from, what really happened, how she got her first break. I will also show how she was well-networked with ministers and the police,” he says, recalling an incident when he went to Laila’s house and saw all guests accompanied by armed guards.

Veena Malik

About his decision to cast Veena, Sawant says, “She has a lot of oomph and is Pakistani, so she will understand her character better. I’ve chosen Rakhi to play Afreen, who played a major role in all that happened to Laila because she had got Parvez Tak ( Laila’s stepfather, prime accused in the murder) involved. There was a property issue between them.”

On being contacted, Veena says, “I have been approached (to work in the film). I am talking to the makers. If everything works out, I will do the film.”