Alina Khan

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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

References[edit]

  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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b Raja, Maryam (September 10, 2019). "Pakistan's short 'Darling' wins big at Venice Film Festival". Arab News. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  9. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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.

External links[edit]

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss Trans Pakistan
2023/2024 		Succeeded by
To Be Announced
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