Once one of the largest studios in Asia, it suffered from a lack of maintenance over generations and has largely ceased active production. Evernew Studio Movie studio Lahore, Pakistan
The industry began as a post-partition scramble to rebuild what was lost. Pancholi Art Pictures : Originally owned by Dalsukh Pancholi
In the late 1980s, a notoriously stingy producer refused to buy new blank-firing guns for a war film. The prop master, "Khala Jee," was given 500 rupees to "make it work." Khala Jee went to a toy market, bought plastic toy guns, and spray-painted them black. During a crucial battle sequence near the Ravi River (often used as a stand-in for the Vietnam jungle), it began to rain. The black paint ran off the guns, revealing bright orange and yellow plastic underneath.
If you want to focus on the (music production, editing, lab work) Share public link lollywood studio stories
: Malik Bari sparked a massive protest (the "Jaal movement") in 1954 when he tried to import an Indian film, Jaal , which led local filmmakers to fear for the survival of the nascent Pakistani industry.
I recall the story of the "Lollywood Curse" as told by Rangeela, the legendary comedian. Once, a financier with ties to the underworld wanted to force a heroin-addicted hero to complete a film. The hero had fled to Dubai. The financier didn't have a contract—he had a handshake. So, he sat in the hero’s makeup room for three days without moving. He didn't eat. He didn't sleep. He just sat there, in the broken swivel chair, waiting.
The physical studios in Lahore were the heart of the industry but have since fallen into disrepair. New Shahnoor Studios Movie studio Lahore, Pakistan Once one of the largest studios in Asia,
Lollywood—Pakistan’s vibrant film industry centered in Lahore—has long been a fertile ground for storytelling, ambition, and cultural expression. Behind the glamour and celluloid magic lie studios filled with unforgettable characters, creative clashes, and moments that shaped both cinema and society. This essay explores the rise of Lollywood studios, their internal worlds, memorable anecdotes, and their lasting cultural impact.
Shahnoor was founded by the pioneering director Shaukat Hussain Rizvi and his superstar wife, Madam Noor Jehan. It was a sprawling estate where cinematic royalty walked daily. Musicians rehearsed in one corner, while massive wooden sets for period dramas were hammered together in another.
Sadly, the stories from these studios are now elegies for a lost world. Evernew Studios, the pioneer, is now a shadow of its former self. “The large rusted doors to the studio floors are locked, the building derelict… lies deserted,” writes Dawn . Once churning out nearly 100 films a year, the studio is now sporadically used for music videos and commercials. Even the makeup men, like the granddaddy of Evernew’s makeup room, Husain, who powdered the faces of Waheed Murad and Shabnam, have now faded into the background, relics of a forgotten machine. The prop master, "Khala Jee," was given 500
What makes Lollywood studio stories truly remarkable is the sheer resilience of the crews. Unlike Hollywood or Bombay, Lahore’s studios faced severe economic constraints, a lack of modern equipment, and political instability.
Lollywood was haunted—not just by its declining fortunes, but by actual ghost stories.
During its peak, Lollywood produced over 100 films annually and birthed legends whose stories still resonate. The Chocolate Hero:
The studio canteen became a legendary meeting ground. Writers, extras, lighting technicians, and superstar actors sat on wooden benches under the stars, drinking endless cups of strong Kashmiri chai and debating script changes. It was during these midnight sessions at Evernew that the "Chocolate Hero" persona of Waheed Murad was meticulously crafted. Directors noted that Murad would spend hours in front of Evernew’s makeup mirrors, perfecting his signature hair flip that would later drive millions of fans into a frenzy. The Rivalries: Muhammad Ali vs. Waheed Murad