ZEE5 Global is set to bring a deeply moving and socially resonant coming-of-age drama to audiences worldwide with the digital premiere of Safia Safdar on January 16, 2026. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Baba Azmi, the film marks another significant addition to the platform’s growing slate of meaningful, content-driven cinema.
Produced by Zee Studios and Azmi Pictures LLP in association with Film Stoc Pvt. Ltd, Safia Safdar stars Aditi Subedi in the titular role, alongside Sidharth Menon, with powerhouse performances by legendary actors Naseeruddin Shah and Kanwaljit Singh in pivotal supporting roles.
The global streaming release follows the film’s critically appreciated screening at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival, where it drew praise for its understated storytelling, emotional depth, and nuanced exploration of identity and resilience.
A Story of Courage, Identity, and Quiet Defiance
As revealed in the film’s trailer, Safia Safdar unfolds against the backdrop of a modest neighbourhood barbershop run by Salman, portrayed by Kanwaljit Singh. When Salman falls gravely ill and the family’s livelihood is threatened, his daughter Safia makes a bold and unconventional decision. Disguising herself as a young man named Safdar, she steps into a male-dominated space to keep the barbershop alive and protect her family’s dignity.
What follows is an intimate and layered journey of survival, self-discovery, and emotional awakening. As Safia navigates her double life, she forms an unexpected bond with a neighbourhood boy, blurring lines between identity, affection, and belonging. The film delicately explores themes of gender, class, and quiet rebellion, presenting transformation not through grand gestures, but through everyday acts of courage.
Safia Safdar stands out for its restrained storytelling, choosing tenderness over melodrama and emotional truth over spectacle. It is a story of a young woman carving space for herself in a world never designed to accommodate her.
A Personal Vision From Baba Azmi
For director Baba Azmi, the film is deeply personal. Speaking about the project, he said, “Safia Safdar is a film about the quiet strength of women who survive not by shouting, but by enduring. Safia’s journey is about finding freedom within constraint, and I hope audiences connect with her courage and vulnerability.”
Azmi, known for his evocative visual language and sensitivity to human stories, brings a documentary-like realism to the narrative, allowing performances and silences to speak as powerfully as dialogue.
Performances Rooted in Emotional Truth
Aditi Subedi’s portrayal of Safia anchors the film with remarkable nuance. Reflecting on her role, she said, “Playing Safia was both challenging and liberating. She lives between identities, emotions, and expectations — and that tension is what makes her human. I feel incredibly grateful to bring such a layered character to life.”
Kanwaljit Singh, who essays the role of Safia’s ailing father Salman, described the emotional core of the story from his perspective. “What moved me most was not Salman’s illness, but the silent strength of his daughter stepping in,” he said. “Safia’s resilience carries the family through hardship, and that courage fills Salman with pride.”
The presence of Naseeruddin Shah adds further gravitas to the film, lending depth and quiet authority to a story that thrives on subtlety.
Celebrated by the Film Fraternity
Ahead of its digital premiere, the makers hosted a special screening in Mumbai, attended by close friends and family of the cast and crew. The evening saw the presence of stalwarts including Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, Tanvi Azmi, Dia Mirza, Tabu, Manisha Koirala, Richa Chadha, Boney Kapoor, and Rahul Bose, among others.
Producer Namrata Goyal of Film Stoc Pvt. Ltd said the story stayed with her long after she first encountered it. “In Safia’s journey, I saw courage taking a quiet form. This film exists to honour the choice to stand up, adapt, and keep going when there is no other way,” she said.
A Global Release With Local Soul
With Safia Safdar, ZEE5 Global continues its commitment to championing stories rooted in cultural authenticity while resonating with universal human emotions. The film’s global premiere ensures that Safia’s story — of resilience, identity, and hope — reaches audiences far beyond geographical boundaries.
As it arrives on screens worldwide on January 16, 2026, Safia Safdar promises to be more than just a film. It is a gentle yet powerful reminder that transformation often begins in silence — and that courage does not always announce itself loudly.
