One gloomy winter’s evening, I was searching for something, anything, to kill time, and I stumbled upon an odd Instagram feed. I would never have wasted even a second of time peeking into the feed of an account like Abu’s Jinns. I have never been into horror. I was terrified of my own reflection.
Still, there was something about the page that drew me in. Was it the expertly crafted narrative that, rather than portraying the life of a New York John Doe against a blatant poltergeist, instead concentrated on the typical Shabana succumbing to a jinn? Was it the combination of Urdu and English, or the cute allusions to places nearby? Maybe it was a combination of all of them.
The brains behind the account, two-time published novelist Ayesha Muzaffar, has now accomplished her newest feat: she conceptualized and wrote the screenplay for Deemak, a star-studded film directed by Rafay Rashdi.
As Ayesha tells The Express Tribune, “I really enjoyed telling stories that my dearest baba jaan so fondly spoke of.” I’ve always enjoyed giving people the creeps. The brief glimpses of invisible beings quickly turned into a means of escape for me, and I fully immersed myself in the paranormal world.”
Ayesha sheds light on Deemak by saying, “My father narrated the story, which was then combined with a bit of my wild imagination to create characters that I have seen wandering around among me. This project holds great significance for me, as it represents my first attempt at creating a horror screenplay. It is being directed by the talented Rafay, along with his talented Canadian visual effects team.”
She goes on, “A lot of people can really relate to the story. It’s a supernatural tale involving a thousand dwellings in Pakistan. Which, I might say, makes it even more eerie. The show is expected to be a star-studded extravaganza, with a cast that includes notables like as Samina Peerzada, Bushra Ansari, Faysal Quraishi, Sonya Hussyn, and Javed Sheikh.”
Ayesha responds, “Everything! ” when asked what the audience can anticipate from the promised offering. It promises to be an incredibly unique experience with everything from a gripping story and excellent acting to mesmerizing cinematography and terrifying jump scares.”
It hasn’t always been easy going for her, despite being the author of two books: Jinnistan – Scary Stories to Tell Over Chai and The Bhabhis of Lahore & Other Forbidden Tales of the City. “I had a handful of unpleasant experiences with industry’s big shots that stole ideas, stories, and took up too much time before Rafay came along,” says Ayesha. “He mentored me and made me believe that the media industry is not as formidable as it seems.” In spite of everything that has gone wrong, Ayesha is dedicated to “creating unforgettable pieces of art.”
Rafay has been a mentor to Ayesha, therefore she is eager for their ideals to come together. “We’re both passionate and driven and somewhere in between that passion and drive, our thoughts meet,” says Ayesha. “That being said, for me, this has been a remarkably learning and enjoyable experience, having worked alongside him!”
On Instagram, Abu’s Jinns has amassed over 47 000 followers. But Ayesha’s ability to maintain her composure hasn’t been affected by that large number. “The prospect of this being the first interaction with me as a writer for those unfamiliar with my books is both exciting and humbling,” she says. “It offers an opportunity to introduce my storytelling style in a new light, and I’m eager to share this creative journey with a broader audience.”
Ayesha claims that this partnership has made her feel “important” and “heard”. “I believe that via words, I can create entire universes for others.making a place they love, which is an unfathomable emotion. Of course, I also really enjoy frightening folks. I’m happy about it,” she says.
But Ayesha’s adventure doesn’t end at Deemak. “There are two books in the pipeline, both on the verge of securing contracts,” she continues. “While one diverges from the horror genre, I believe it has the potential to impact lives, and I’m enthusiastic about bringing it to life.”
“My dream is a constantly changing tapestry of aspirations — to experience, to create, to deliver, as a writer should,” she goes on. I create new dreams every day, embrace them, and then go to sleep. I have faith that all of my dreams will come true because God is awesome.”
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.