What’s the recipe to commercial success when it comes to cinema? Pakistani filmmakers are finally figuring it out.

Actor in Law, starring Fahad Mustafa, Mehwish Hayat and Om Puri, tells us just that. Released on Eid ul Adha 2016, directed by Nabeel Qureshi and written by Fizza Ali Meerza, the film was funny and populist and upbeat yet held some important positive messages all at the same time. Packed with excellent performances and a well-rounded dialog, Actor in Law is a film you can go watch with your friends and family and be assured about having a good time for the next two hours.

The film revolves around Shan Mirza (Fahad Mustafa) who is a struggling actor. The film takes digs at the entertainment industry and the silliness it is often surrounded by. Shan wants to be an actor, and Shan’s father, Shafqat Mirza (Om Puri) a lawyer, does not approve of Shan’s life choices. Meena (Mehwish Hayat) is a journalist for a TV channel and is a firecracker of a woman who doesn’t believe in sitting quietly when any kind of injustice is occurring anywhere. 

Shan Mirza claims that he is a serious actor because he has done theatre (a mark of a serious actor, by Pakistani standards) therefore would not be satisfied with a small role in any film. After being coerced by his agent, Mehboob, (a very funny and crisp performance by Saleem Mairaj) he accepts a small role opposite Humayun Saeed (as himself) where he is thrown out because he overshadows the hero by prompting him the dialogs. Shan’s parents have gone for Hajj, Shan is dejected by his failure and walks into his father’s office to collect a few things. A group of pleading young laborers mistake him for a lawyer and he is overcome by an attack of his conscience as well as his need to go out and actually succeed anywhere (even if it is being a fake lawyer in a real court), and the story spins into a madcap series of fortunate events. Shan’s lawyer skills become a stuff of news and he meets Meena and the two make headline news together by fighting the common man’s case in the court.

The dialog is fun and quippy (even if it does rely on some of the old rehashed jokes from Facebook) and the storyline is blended well together. The music is upbeat and the song sequence between Mustafa and Hayat are also well choreographed.

Here’s what I had to say more about it, but if you want a short review: go watch!