Written by: Muhammad Suhayb
Posted on: June 02, 2026 | 
Fahad Mustafa and Mehwish Hayat in Zombeid
Imagine a Chaand Raat in Karachi. An upscale gym is winding down as members prepare to head home for Eid celebrations when a sudden zombie outbreak turns the festive atmosphere into a fight for survival. Trapped inside, the survivors must battle the infected and prevent the contagion from spreading beyond the gym’s walls. That, in essence, is Zombeid—Pakistani cinema’s latest experiment with a genre that has rarely been explored in the country.
Fahad Mustafa and Mehwish Hayat with the zombies
Pakistani cinema has often experimented with romance, action, and comedy, but zombie films have remained a rarity. Rather than presenting a grim, blood-soaked horror experience, Zombeid embraces this rarely explored genre through the lens of Pakistani commercial entertainment, resulting in an enjoyable and accessible viewing experience.
The story revolves around two rival bodybuilders: one who relies on shortcuts to reach the top, and the other a kind-hearted simpleton who believes in helping those around him. Their rivalry takes an unexpected turn when most of the gym’s members are transformed into zombies. However, the film does not aim for horror or shock value. These are distinctly local, light-hearted zombies that are more amusing than terrifying, with little of the gore or grotesque imagery typically associated with the genre. The result is a film that can appeal to a broad audience, including viewers who might ordinarily avoid traditional horror movies. It took a Fizza Ali Meerza–Nabeel Qureshi film to reunite Mehwish Hayat and Fahad Mustafa on screen after Load Wedding (2018). In the eight years since, the duo continued making films but with different lead pairings. However, a quirky subject like zombies proved the perfect opportunity to bring these seasoned stars back together. The film was shot almost entirely on constructed sets, with only a handful of exterior shots featuring Karachi’s landscape.
A scene from the film
Apart from the lead pair, the film features an ensemble cast including Dody Khan (of Rakhi Sawant fame), Veteran television host and comedian Mani, best known for evergreen comedy show Sab Set Hai, and veteran actor Babar Ali in roles well suited to their respective strengths. Mohsin Abbas Haider and Javed Sheikh make notable appearances, while Chhipa Sahib also appears in his trademark style. Fahad Mustafa brings his trademark charisma to the role of an underdog former bodybuilding champion, while Dody Khan delivers one of the film’s strongest performances as his rival. However, it is Mani who often steals the show with his effortless comic timing, adding much-needed levity without disrupting the tension.
Zombeid also marks the acting debut of YouTuber Azlan Shah, son of veteran actor Shabbir Rana, whose career in the entertainment industry spanned more than five decades. Often referred to as the Dilip Kumar of Pakistan, Shabbir Rana shared a brief but memorable moment with Fahad Mustafa and Mehwish Hayat in Actor in Law (2016), another Fizza-Nabeel production. In that scene, he asks for directions and receives a hilarious response from a child. Nearly a decade later, his son finds himself sharing screen space with Fahad as well. However, unlike the largely comic cameos by YouTubers and social media influencers in Fahad Mustafa’s recent hit Aag Lagay Basti Mein, Azlan’s appearance feels like a genuine acting debut, integrated naturally into the film rather than serving as a novelty or promotional gimmick.
Chippa sahib in the film
Director Nabeel Qureshi strikes a careful balance between comedy and horror. In Zibahkhana, a horror film released years ago and touted as Pakistan’s first gore movie, I witnessed audiences laughing even during the killing scenes. Here, however, the reactions are markedly different. The humor generates genuine laughter, while the deaths evoke sympathy and concern, allowing the emotional beats to land without being overshadowed by the comedy.
From a technical standpoint, Zombeid is among the most polished productions to emerge from Pakistani cinema in recent years. The makeup, visual effects, and production design work together seamlessly to create a convincing zombie- infested world. While the film does not rely heavily on graphic horror, the zombie makeup and visual presentation are impressive enough to stand comfortably alongside many international genre productions. In this regard, Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza deserve credit for pushing local production standards to a new level.
Mehwish Hayat in the film
The film is not without its flaws. Certain sequences could have benefited from tighter editing, and a few scenes linger longer than necessary. Character development occasionally lacks depth, leaving some relationships and backstories underexplored. Some of the dialogue, particularly that assigned to Babar Ali’s character, falls back on familiar clichés. The soundtrack is another area where the film could have been stronger; a set of original songs might have enhanced its identity, as several tracks create a sense of familiarity rather than leaving a lasting Impression.
Some viewers have compared it to watching a Mountain Dew commercial on the big screen, while others may find some of its jokes difficult to appreciate. Yet these criticisms do not overshadow the film’s accomplishments.
Mehwish Hayat and Fahad Mustafa in the film
Overall, Zombeid emerges as a successful and entertaining addition to the zombie genre in Pakistan. More importantly, it demonstrates that Pakistani filmmakers can confidently experiment with genres that have traditionally remained unexplored in the local cinema. The result is a fun, ambitious, and distinctly Pakistani cinematic experience that reflects the growing confidence, technical expertise, and creativity of the country's film industry.
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