Bilal Lashari

Biography of

Bilal Lashari

 Bilal Lashari is a Pakistani film director, cinematographer, screenwriter and occasional actor. He made his directorial debut film in Waar (2013), which holds the record of being the seventh highest-grossing Pakistani film. His next project is a remake of the 1979 film Maula Jatt. The film is titled The Legend of Maula Jatt,whose trailer was released on December 21, 2018. Lashari won awards in four categories at the ARY Film Awards 2014 for his directorial debut.

Early Life & Career

Lashari was born into a Baloch family. His father, Kamran Lashari, is a retired senior Pakistani bureaucrat who served as Petroleum Secretary of Pakistan and did a lot in cultural preservation, while his paternal grandfather was a landlord, lawyer and poet.  His younger brother, Rohail Lashari, has been the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the Lahore-based band Jhol (2010-2015), was "in charge" of the seventh season of Coke Studio Pakistan as well as a MBA graduate from HEC Paris, while another younger brother, Omar Lashari, is a Cornell-educated financial analyst.   Lashari grew up in Pakistan, attending local schools. He went to the United States of America for college, studying at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Motion Pictures and Television in 2008.

After his return to Pakistan, Lashari first directed music videos, and won 'Best Music Video Director' twice at the Lux Style Awards and ‘Best Pop Video’ at the MTV Pakistan Music Video Awards for “Sajni”. He has also directed “Chal Bulleya” for Meekal Hassan Band. He has worked with artists and bands such as Abrarul Haq, Atif Aslam, Mekaal Hassan Band, Jal and Entity Paradigm. He also directed the video “Chal Bulleya” for Meekal Hassan Band.

In 2004 Lashari briefly worked as assistant director for Shoaib Mansoor during pre-production of Khuda Kay Liye in 2004.

Awards

Awards @ Pakistan

ARY FILM Award for Best Director (Jury Choice) "WAAR"

ARY FILM Award for Best Director (Voters Choice) "WAAR"

ARY FILM Award 2014 for Best Film "WAAR"

ARY FILM Award 2014 for Best Cinematography "WAAR"

ARY FILM Award 2014 for Best Editing "WAAR"

2nd HUM TV Awards 2014 - Award for Contribution to Pakistani Cinema

LUX Style Award for Best Music Video Director "Shor Macha"

LUX Style Award for Best Music Video Director "Sajni"

MTV Pakistan Music Video Awards 2008 - Best Pop Video "Sajni"

Awards @ Epidemic Film Festival @ Academy of Art University

Best Music Video 2008 "Sajni"

Best Music Video 2007 "Islamabad"

Best Music Video 2006 "Hungami Halaat"

Best Director 2008 "Islamabad"

Best Cinematographer 2006 "Hungami Halaat"

Best Editor 2008 "Sajni"

Best 16mm Short Film 2005 "Ordinary Stimulation"