When screenwriter Jemima Khan began writing What’s Love Got to Do with It?, she didn’t intend to make a romantic comedy.
In the British romantic comedy, Lily James plays a documentary filmmaker who follows her best friend Kaz, played by Shazad Latif, to Pakistan to document the process of his arranged marriage.
The producer and journalist, who makes her screenwriting debut with the film, told Cover Media at the film’s recent premiere that she didn’t always know the story would be a romantic comedy.
“The truth is, I didn’t really intend to write a romantic comedy, (but) when I showed people the draft, they said, ‘That’s funny,’ and I said, ‘Oh, is that it?'” she said.
Although she had no intention of making a romantic comedy, Khan was always clear that she wanted to show the “happy” side of Pakistan, where she lived for ten years while married to Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan.
“Pakistan is often portrayed in mainstream films as a very scary and dangerous place, so I wanted to show a Pakistan that is a little bit different and hopefully more surprising, a happy, colourful and fun one,” explained Jemima.
The 49-year-old was on set every day and admitted that filming in reality was not as glamorous as the celebrations on screen.
“The whole wedding scene (which was filmed) in a country house in Suffolk was one of those incredible moments where we were in this extravagance that was so beautifully designed, and there were these choreographed, incredible dancing and costumes and incredible production, and then you go outside and it was Covid and it was snowing and there were portaloos (toilets) and it was a real Insta versus reality moment,” she recalls.
What’s Love Got to Do with It? is now in UK cinemas.
