Joyland’s trans actor Alina Khan is hopeful for the portrayal of queerness in Pakistani cinema

The trans actor and the film’s lead talks about what made her take up the role, her concerns about how trans people are viewed, and how she deals with trolls

A scrawny young man, Haider (Ali Junejo), rushes his sister-in-law to a rundown hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, where she delivers another baby girl. However, there is no excitement; the birth adds to the existing devastation of a family desperate for a male heir. While at the hospital, a married Haider happens to glance over at a dishevelled woman Biba (Alina Khan), covered in what appears to resemble blood, walking aimlessly in the hallways. Despite her appearance, something piques Haider’s interest.

Joyland, directed by Saim Sadiq, is a modern love story that explores what happens when Haider lands a job at the local ‘erotic theatre’ as a background dancer for Biba’s troupe and ends up falling in love with her. Premiering for the first time at the Sundance Film Festival since winning the Jury Prize in the 2022 Un Certain Regard category of the Cannes Film Festival, the movie portrays, through Biba’s struggle, the quest among trans people for their place in an LGBTQ-phobic society.

As a film that dares to explore queerness without fetishising it, its narrative questions traditional conformism in contemporary Pakistan, attempting to break free from the extant stereotypes surrounding gender and identity. In a nation that has had a long history of proscribing cinema that goes against religious or societal norms, making Joyland is a groundbreaking move.   

In an interview with The Established, lead actorAlina Khan talks about her motivation behind taking on this role, her reaction to trolls, and future goals.

What motivated you to take on the role of Biba? What were you most excited or nervous about after committing to it?

For me, what was most important was that the film addresses a trans person’s experience, which in itself is rare to come by in cinema in Pakistan. Moreover, the makers of the film wanted to cast a trans person to play the role, which has never happened. I wanted to show viewers that trans people are just like regular people, and we can do all the things that cis-gendered people do.

I also want to thank Saim, the director, for not writing this role in a cliched way. Usually, trans characters are reduced to comic roles or are assigned roles that are meant to be pitied. My character Biba, though, is nothing like that because she is strong-willed, and figures out a way to gain society’s support. 

While this was my first feature film, what was most challenging was that there are no classes or opportunities available for trans people to improve their acting skills. But I worked through it.

How do you think being cast [in Joyland] will change the narrative of trans actors in South Asia?

As I mentioned earlier, it is very rare that a trans person gets such work opportunities in Pakistan. This is an important step in terms of representation, so that the masses are able to understand that we can be successful too. One of the responsibilities of the media is to sensitise people, and if trans people play themselves on screen, the viewers will realise that we should not be reduced to a joke. Only trans people can portray and express our struggles and troubles. I’m hoping this opens doors for trans people within the Pakistani dance, drama and film industries.

Joyland showcases discrimination, discomfort and violence that trans women face. Would you say this is reality for the community?

The realities of trans people on a daily basis are often worse, because most of them are forced into begging or prostitution. In my own life, I have faced a lot of harassment. Since the film was released, people’s attitude towards me has changed. There are obviously a lot of people who are not happy about the film and my role in it, but there are several others who are personally supporting me. They are happy I’m not resorting to begging but working for a livelihood.  

How did you react to the backlash and temporary censorship of the film?

I was deeply hurt when our casting director, Sana Jaffery, informed me that the film had been banned in Punjab. I couldn’t stop crying because I spent my whole life in Punjab and created more opportunities for the trans community. 

I wanted my family and friends in Punjab to watch the film, hoping it would possibly change their mentality on how they view trans people. The censorship also affected me professionally because although there are people who want to give me more projects, others are avoiding me because they don’t want to get into trouble. 

I witnessed the film receive so much love and reverence globally, but all I want is for it to be played in my homeland of Pakistan and Punjab. It still hurts that it didn’t play there.

How do you deal with and block out trolls?

I usually try to avoid them. Harassment is something I have faced from a young age and it then became part of my existence. There still are some unpleasant experiences in my life following the film, but I don’t want to spend my energy to fight with others or tell them off. Instead, I want to work on my career and life, and I have no time to resort to negative replies or stoop down to their level.

What’s next for you?

I just want to have a better life. If more roles come my way, that’s great, but by focusing on my work, I want to let the world know about talent in Pakistan and I want to be respected. The movie was a great experience, but for there to be greater change, we will need more trans characters, and trans actors to play them, so we are viewed as more than just subjects of derision. This was one step, one movie, and there’s so much more to showcase and tell. 

(Translated from Urdu by Sadaf Raza Zaidi)

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