‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ Creates History as First Pakistani Film to Release in China

Lahore/Beijing: Pakistan’s blockbuster film The Legend of Maula Jatt is set to make history with its official release in China on May 21, becoming the first Pakistani film ever to secure entry into one of the world’s most restricted foreign film markets.

Filmmaker Bilal Lashari announced the development on social media, describing it as a landmark achievement for Pakistan’s entertainment industry.

“The Legend of Maula Jatt has broken into one of the most exclusive film quotas in the world — the first Pakistani film ever to do so,” Lashari wrote on X.

He called the release “a huge moment for Pakistani cinema and a new door opening for our stories on the world stage.”

The director also shared a Mandarin-language poster of the film along with a dubbed Chinese trailer ahead of the nationwide release.

The Legend of Maula Jatt stars Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan in lead roles, alongside Humaima Malick, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Gohar Rasheed, Faris Shafi, and Ali Azmat.

Released in 2022, the film is a modern reboot of the iconic 1979 Punjabi cult classic Maula Jatt. The story reimagines Punjab’s legendary folk hero for a contemporary global audience through large-scale action sequences, cinematic visuals, and high production values.

The film achieved record-breaking commercial success, earning over Rs1 billion at the domestic box office and crossing $10 million worldwide by January 2023, making it one of the highest-grossing Pakistani films in history.

Industry analysts believe the China release could further expand the global reach of Pakistani cinema, particularly given China’s massive film market and growing interest in international productions.

The announcement also comes after the film’s proposed release in India in 2024 failed to materialise due to opposition from hardline nationalist groups. Had the release gone ahead, it would have marked the first Pakistani film to screen in Indian cinemas in more than a decade since Bol directed by Shoaib Mansoor.

With its entry into China, The Legend of Maula Jatt is now being seen as a milestone achievement for Pakistan’s film industry and a significant step toward bringing Pakistani storytelling to larger international audiences.