The first trailer for Inspector Jamshed: The Secret Parchment has arrived, giving fans of Ishtiaq Ahmed’s beloved Urdu novels their first major glimpse of the long-awaited screen adaptation.
With its darker, gritty visual style, fast-paced action and mysterious storyline, the trailer has already generated considerable excitement among audiences and celebrities alike.
The film, scheduled for release in 2027, follows Inspector Jamshed, played by Omair Rana, as he investigates a series of murders connected to a mysterious parchment. Ahad Raza Mir takes on the role of Behzaad, the film’s central antagonist.
Ahad appears convincing in the trailer, bringing a noticeable intensity to the character. His performance has sparked curiosity about how he will develop Behzaad on the big screen, particularly as the character appears to be markedly different from the polished, urban roles the actor has frequently portrayed.
Ahad is widely regarded as one of Pakistan’s accomplished actors, but his on-screen appearance has often remained within a familiar visual territory — sophisticated, urban and neatly styled, whether in formal suits or contemporary shirts and trousers.
The new trailer, however, hints at a darker and more intense side of his screen persona. It could offer the actor an opportunity to move beyond that established image and experiment more substantially with his appearance, mannerisms and character choices.
The trailer itself delivers plenty of genre elements, including fast cars, gunfights, a secret society and a family caught in the middle of a dangerous mystery.
It also teases an emotional conflict between Inspector Jamshed and his wife, Shakeela, after their daughter is kidnapped by Behzaad.
Anoushay Abbasi plays Shakeela, while Asif Raza Mir takes on the role of Khan Rehman, Jamshed’s trusted friend. Asif Raza Mir is also one of the project’s co-producers.
The family dynamic remains an important part of the story. Jamshed’s three children — Mehmood, Farooq and Farzana — are played by Ravel Imran and siblings Ahmed and Aline Harkous, reflecting the family-oriented appeal that helped make Ishtiaq Ahmed’s novels popular with generations of Urdu readers.
Shot in Abu Dhabi
The film has been shot in Abu Dhabi, with several visually striking locations featuring in the production.
Filming took place at the Louvre Abu Dhabi as well as across the city’s desert dunes. The locations have previously attracted major international productions, including Dune and the Mission: Impossible franchise.
The scale and locations visible in the trailer suggest that the filmmakers are aiming for a cinematic treatment rather than a conventional local thriller.
Celebrities react to the trailer
Following the trailer’s release, several Pakistani celebrities took to social media and the comments section to congratulate the cast and express excitement about the upcoming film.
Mahira Khan, Sarwat Gilani, Shaista Lodhi, Yasir Hussain and Maya Ali were among those who praised the project and shared their support.
For longtime readers of Ishtiaq Ahmed, the film represents more than just another action mystery. Inspector Jamshed is a character familiar to generations of Urdu readers, making the adaptation a particularly anticipated project.
With its darker tone, international locations, action sequences and a seemingly more intense performance from Ahad Raza Mir, Inspector Jamshed: The Secret Parchment is shaping up to be one of the more ambitious Pakistani film releases to watch for in 2027.
The trailer has certainly raised expectations. The bigger question now is whether the finished film can successfully translate the nostalgia and imagination of Ishtiaq Ahmed’s novels into a modern cinematic experience.
