Shaad Ali Helms Biopic On Saudi Media Icon Dr Sameera Aziz

Director Shaad Ali to work on a biographical film about Dr Sameera Aziz, an iconic Saudi media personality who broke barriers and set new standards in the industry at a time when few women pursued such careers.

Aziz, born in Al-Khober and currently residing in Jeddah, is a recipient of the ‘Gr8 Woman Award’ for best cultural icon in the mid-east in 2016. Her family's roots trace back to Lucknow in India, before 1947, spanning across Sylhet, Bangladesh; Karachi, Pakistan; Al-Khober, Saudi Arabia; and Houston, USA. Despite her South Asian background, Aziz has become a significant figure in Saudi media, known for her courage and determination in a traditionally male-dominated society. 

Trained as an investigative journalist by the Saudi Ministry of Media under the late HRH Prince Ahmed bin Salman, who was the chairperson of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group some 25 years ago, Aziz worked in senior decision-making positions, often participating in sting operations. Despite facing discouragement and disregard, she became a trendsetter, contributing to Saudi media's foreign language efforts to improve the Saudi image globally. 

Ali, known for his work on films such as ‘Saathiya’, ‘Bunty Aur Babli’, ‘Jhoom Barabar Jhoom’, ‘OK Jaanu’, ‘Soorma’ and as an assistant director for ‘Dil Se’, ‘Guru’, ‘Raavan’ and ‘Raavanan’ expressed his excitement about the project. “We have started filming real-life footage, including Sameera receiving her Doctorate degree and storytelling video sessions. This project is about capturing authenticity and telling the story of Saudi media's underrecognised iron lady. We intend to shoot a large part of the movie in Saudi Arabia for its picturesque locales and local flavour to bring to life the place where Sameera’s life has made such a massive positive difference”, he said. 

Producer Ankur Nigam added, “This biopic is not a run-of-the-mill story of a lady suffering harassment, taking up arms, and seeking revenge. This is a celebration of the life that Sameera has led and how she championed change in a society previously known for its conservatism toward women. It’s a testament not only to Sameera’s courage of conviction but also to her commitment to transforming entrenched practices and bringing positive change to society. It also highlights the role of HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and his Vision 2030, whose  initiatives have contributed to enhancing the global image of Saudi Arabia and transforming the lives of Saudi women, including Sameera.”

“This biopic is a thrilling, action-packed, and inspirational story of how Sameera achieved greatness in a conservative society, with patience and peace, despite the negativity around her. Her story is a beacon of hope for the new generation, proving that if she can do it, anyone can without quitting.”

Aziz shared her thoughts stating, “Shaad and Ankur suggested that I should share my life story for the betterment of global society and that it will serve as an inspiration to millions of people across the globe. I believe the acceptance of recent biopics shows that cinema lovers crave inspirational stories that invigorate, encourage, and uplift. Our team, including the Director and Producer, is confident that my journey, which exemplifies hard work and perseverance in overcoming any obstacle, might alleviate the depression affecting the modern generation due to social media’s impact and the lack of contemporary role models who demonstrate patience.”

The film is currently in pre-production and the title remains undisclosed.