Pakistan's most expensive film broke records despite a multi-year legal battle
In short: The Legend of Maula Jatt wasn't just a cinematic milestone; it was a high-stakes gamble on cultural heritage. Despite a grueling copyright dispute and a massive $4.6 million budget, the film shattered records to become the highest-grossing Pakistani production ever, proving that
The Legend of Maula Jatt is an adaptation of a 1979 film, featuring characters created by Nasir Adeeb. Rather than a direct remake, director Bilal Lashari developed it as a "realistic fantasy" set in a "Parallel Punjab"—a world without firearms or electricity, drawing visual inspiration from 16th-century Punjab. Lashari rewrote the screenplay eighty times to ensure the tone felt contemporary. He first drafted the script in English before translating it into Punjabi. The project specifically sought to reinterpret the rural gandasa film tradition.
The production faced significant hurdles, including a 2017 copyright lawsuit filed by Muhammad Sarwar Bhatti, the producer of the 1979 original. Bhatti sought an injunction to prevent the film's exhibition, claiming intellectual property violations. A settlement was finally reached on February 9, 2020, allowing the film to proceed while recognizing Bhatti as the owner of the 1979 film's trademarks. The legal conflict lasted until a settlement was reached in early 2020. This agreement specifically covered the production, promotion, and distribution of this title. It did not grant rights for any future projects that might violate the original owner's rights.
Financially, the project was a massive undertaking, reported to cost $4.6 million. It was marketed as Pakistan's most expensive film at the time. The scale was reflected in its production, which involved a team of action choreographers from Los Angeles, visual effects artists from multiple countries, and a large-scale set built in Bedian, on the outskirts of Lahore. Principal photography took place between January 2017 and June 2019. The production team utilized a large set located in Bedian. Bad weather conditions and various logistical issues caused several delays during the filming process.
The commercial success was unprecedented. By August 2023, the film grossed over Rs. 400 crore worldwide. It became the highest-grossing Punjabi-language film globally and the highest-grossing Pakistani film to date. It also achieved a historic first for Pakistani cinema by entering China's quota-based system for foreign film imports, premiering in Beijing in May 2026. The movie opened on over 500 screens across 25 different countries. It reached the number one spot at the box office in the United Arab Emirates. In the United Kingdom, it became the top-grossing film from the Indian subcontinent in four years.
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