KARACHI: Pakistani actor Shahroz Sabzwari has said his new movie, ‘Babylicious,’ with ex-wife Syra Yousuf will give “butterflies in your tummy,” with the flick scheduled to be released on Eid Al-Adha.
Babylicious was announced in December last year when Yousuf and Sabzwari revealed the first look of the film, initially slated for a release in February 2023. The news came as a surprise for many, particularly after the real-life couple parted ways in 2020.
Nonetheless, the former couple this month began promotions for the film, which had been in the works since 2017 when Yousuf and Sabzwari were married to each other.
In an exclusive interview together with his ex-wife, Sabzwari, who plays the role of a college student Omar, told Arab News the film is “romantically entertaining.”
The still image taken from a video on June 9, 2023, shows Syra Yusuf (lrft) and Shahroz Sabzwari, during an interview for their upcoming film called Babylicious. (AN Photo)
“Go watch all the films but if you want butterflies in your tummy, watch Babylicious. Like true butterflies in your tummy if you really want to feel happy and sad at the same time. Watch Babylicious,” he said, when asked what the picture will bring to viewers apart from other movies slated for release on Eid.
“If you want to cry a little and then get excited and jump on your seat then watch Babylicious. Otherwise, you can watch other films also.”
The movie, shot in Karachi, Nawabshah and Bahrain, is written, directed and co-produced by Essa Khan, who described it as:
“Fun, date movie set in a super affluent Pakistani neverland where college students drive fancy new cars, have top brand wardrobes and lavish weddings.”
But Yousuf believes Babylicious portrays romance in an “old school” manner and is very different than what “love means in today’s time.” She stars as Omar’s college sweetheart, Sabiha.
“It’s funny because we shot this movie over a span of five years,” said Yousuf, who thought the former couple has “really changed” over the years.
“I’m kind of looking forward to see how that’s going to turn out.”
Sabzwari said the film is equally relatable to youngsters and their parents.
“Anyone who has fallen in love in their teens, or early 20s. Maybe, their first love. This film is for them,” he said.
“It is also for the parents.”
Babylicious is not the first time Yousuf and Sabzwari have worked together. The former real-life couple appeared in the sequel of cult-classic ‘Tanhaiyaan’ in 2012.
They mutually opted for divorce due to “irreconcilable” differences three years ago. The two have a daughter, Nooreh, who they co-parent, while Sabzwari later married Pakistani model Sadaf Kanwal.
The two shared they work hard on maintaining a “good equation” for their child that seeps into other areas of their lives too.
“Along with being very dedicated actors, we are also very dedicated parents. We both are very big on the responsibility we share,” Yousuf said.
“It’s mainly the fact that we work really hard on maintaining a good equation for our child. It just kind of leaks into other areas of our lives as well.”
Asked if they would sign up for another project together, Yousuf said they were good “co-parenting.”
“It was very smooth [working together in Babylicious] because we have known each other for a very long time,” she shared. “So, we know what works, what doesn’t work.”
Sabzwari said people were “shocked” when they learnt the two actors were starring in a film.
“[They should] live and let live but it doesn’t happen, which is okay,” he said. “It was [a surprise] for a lot of people and that’s why they’re going to go watch the film.”
Babylicious, according to Sabzwari, does not have an international release planned yet, however, if the film does well at the box office, they hope to release it in the US, England and Dubai.
