Alina Khan
Born
Lahore, Pakistan
NationalityPakistani
OccupationActress
Years active2019–present
Notable workDarling (2019)
Joyland (2022)
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss Trans Pakistan
Major
competition(s)		Miss Trans Pakistan 2023

Alina Khan (Urdu: علینہ خان) is a Pakistani actress known for her lead roles in the short film Darling in 2019 and the feature film Joyland in 2022.[1] She is the first transgender person to have a lead role in a major Pakistani film. In May 2023, she was crowned Miss Trans Pakistan 2023 in Lahore, Pakistan.

Early life and career

Khan was born into a Muslim family in Lahore, Pakistan. She has described facing societal discrimination due to being transgender,[2][3][4] and how after being contacted by an NGO in Pakistan, she auditioned and won a lead role in the film Darling,[5][6][7] which won the Orizzonti Award for Best Short Film at the Venice Film Festival[8] and had global distribution rights sold to Focus Features.[9] According to Aiman Rizvi, writing for Dawn about Darling, "The crux of the story is perhaps best encapsulated in the words of the lead actress, Alina Khan, a trans woman who describes her personal struggle in the industry, "I've always wanted to act in movies, since I was a child. But then I'd ask myself, how are they going to cast me? As a man, or a woman?""[10]

Khan has also appeared in the short film Happy Marriage, as well as commercials, a music video by Ali Sethi, and on the television show Good Morning Zindgi.[2][3] In 2018, she performed as a dancer at the Naaz Theatre in Lahore.[2]

Joyland

Khan made her debut at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in the role of Biba in Joyland,[11] the first Pakistani feature film screened at Cannes,[9][12][13] and "the first major Pakistani motion picture to feature a trans actor in a lead role", according to The Guardian.[4] Khan, the director, and other cast members were present during the Cannes screening where they received a standing ovation that lasted almost ten minutes.[14][15] Siddhant Adlakha writes in a review for IndieWire that in the film, Khan "has an immediately commanding presence — when she walks into a room, she makes it hers" and "as Biba grows closer to Haider, inadvertently threatening what little footing he has left as a man in society's eyes, a deep vulnerability begins to emerge, which Khan wields with precision."[16]

In November 2022, after the film was approved to be shown, the Pakistan Ministry of Information & Broadcasting banned Joyland from national distribution, in response to complaints about its subject matter, including from the Jamaat-e-Islami party.[17][18] In response to the ban, Khan told The Guardian, "I've been very sad. There's nothing against Islam and I don't understand how Islam can get endangered by mere films."[4][18] The ban was reversed on November 16, clearing the way for domestic screenings of the film.[19]

Miss Trans Pakistan

On 31 May 2023,[20] Khan was crowned Miss Trans Pakistan 2023 in a ceremony held in Lahore, Pakistan.[21] Khan commented to the media, "The feeling of being crowned in front of my Trans community is a very great feeling because it gives us a voice through this platform to represent ourselves."[22] Sonia Ahmed began the Miss Trans Pakistan pageant in 2021 where Shyraa Roy got the title previously; it is the first pageant for trans women in Pakistan with an opportunity for the winner to represent Pakistan at international pageants.[23][24]

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes Ref.
2019 Darling AlinaOrizzonti Award for Best Short Film, 76th Venice Film Festival[8]
2022 Joyland BibaJury Prize in the Un Certain Regard category and Queer Palme award, 75th Cannes Film Festival[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Transgender actor from Pakistan Alina Khan makes red carpet debut at Cannes Film Festival 2022". The Indian Express. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  2. 1 2 3 Ghosh, Tanushree (August 21, 2022). "Meet Negha S and Alina Khan, two trans actors, from India and Pakistan, who are changing the narrative". The Indian Express. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Goyal, Darshita (2022-06-20). "Joyland's Alina Khan on winning at Cannes Film Festival as a trans Pakistani actor". Vogue India. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Ebrahim, Zofeen (15 November 2022). "'It's not against Islam': Pakistani trans actor tells of deep sadness over film ban". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Sharma, Suparna (2022-05-30). "Alina Khan On Being A Trans Actress And 'Joyland' Winning At Cannes". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
  6. ↑ "Award-winning short film on transgender girl screened". The News International. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  7. ↑ "Cues to take from Alina Khan's fashion game at Cannes!". The Express Tribune. 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  8. 1 2 Raja, Maryam (September 10, 2019). "Pakistan's short 'Darling' wins big at Venice Film Festival". Arab News. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Cannes' Un Certain Regard Title 'Joyland' Swooped on by Condor in France (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. May 11, 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  10. ↑ Rizvi, Aiman (March 19, 2020). "Short film Darling is a landmark moment for queer cinema in Pakistan". Dawn. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  11. ↑ Reviews of Joyland
  12. ↑ "Here's what the international press has to say about Pakistani film Joyland". Dawn. May 24, 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  13. ↑ "Cannes 2022: Splendid reception for India's All That Breathes, Pakistan's Joyland". The Indian Express. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  14. ↑ "Joyland, first Pakistani film selected in Cannes, wins two prizes". Arab News. May 28, 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  15. ↑ "'Joyland' gets standing ovation at Cannes". The Express Tribune. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  16. ↑ Adlakha, Siddhant (May 23, 2022). "'Joyland' Review: A Daring Queer Pakistani Drama About Desire". IndieWire. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  17. ↑ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (November 14, 2022). "Joyland: Pakistan bans Oscar contender film about trans love affair". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  18. 1 2 Monteil, Abby (15 November 2022). "Trans Star Alina Khan Reacts to Pakistan's Ban of Her Film Joyland". them. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  19. ↑ "Film depicting transgender love affair to be screened in Pakistan". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  20. ↑ "Diverse events attract Lahore's citizens". 12 June 2023.
  21. ↑ "Joyland's Alina Khan crowned Miss Trans Pakistan 2023". The Express Tribune. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  22. ↑ Sohaib, Rija (2 June 2023). "Joyland Famed Alina Khan Crowned As Miss Trans 2023 Pakistan". Lens. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  23. ↑ Haq, Irfan Ul (1 June 2023). "Joyland star Alina Khan crowned Miss Trans Pakistan 2023". Images. Dawn. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  24. ↑ "Alina Khan crowned Miss Trans Pakistan 2023, celebrating representation and pride". Samaa. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
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