Mumbai, India – Director Shaad Ali made a major announcement about his upcoming
biographical movie chronicling the inspiring journey of Dr. Sameera Aziz, a Saudi national and iconic media personality in Saudi Arabia. The film will delve into the life of Dr. Sameera Aziz, a woman who shattered barriers and set new standards in the Saudi media industry during a time
when women rarely pursued such careers.
Dr. Sameera Aziz, born in Al-Khober and currently residing in Jeddah, is a recipient of the prestigious “Gr8 Woman Award” for Best Cultural Icon in the Mid-East in 2016. Her family’s roots trace back to Lucknow, India, before 1947, spanning across Sylhet, Bangladesh; Karachi,

Pakistan; Al-Khober, Saudi Arabia; and Houston, USA. Despite her South Asian background, Dr. Sameera has become a significant figure in Saudi media, known for her courage and determination in a traditionally male-dominated society.
Trained as an investigative journalist by the Saudi Ministry of Media under the late HRH Prince Ahmed bin Salman, who was the chairperson of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group some 25 years ago, Dr. Sameera Aziz worked in senior decision-making positions, often participating in
sting operations. Despite facing discouragement and disregard, she became a trendsetter and trailblazer, contributing to Saudi media’s foreign language efforts to improve the Saudi image globally.

Shaad, known for his work on films such as “Saathiya,” “Bunty Aur Babli,” “Jhoom Barabar Jhoom,” “OK Jaanu,” “Soorma,” and as an assistant director for “Dil Se,” “Guru,” “Raavan,” and “Raavanan,” expressed his excitement about the project. “We have started filming real-life footage, including Sameera receiving her Doctorate degree and storytelling video sessions. This project is about capturing authenticity and telling the story of Saudi media’s underrecognized iron lady,” said Shaad.

“We intend to shoot a large part of the movie in Saudi Arabia for its picturesque locales and local flavor to bring to life the place where Sameera’s life has made such a massive positive difference.”

Producer Ankur Nigam added, “This biopic is not a run-of-the-mill story of a lady suffering harassment, taking up arms, and seeking revenge. This is a celebration of the life that Sameera has led and how she championed change in a society previously known for its conservatism toward women. It’s a testament not only to Sameera’s courage of conviction but also to her
commitment to transforming entrenched practices and bringing positive change to society. It also highlights the role of HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and his Vision 2030, whose