Teefa in Trouble

In 2014, Ali Zafar revealed to Dawn that his first Pakistani film production would "be directed by Ahsan Rahim".[17][18] In September 2015, Zafar established a studio in his new house and named it Lightingale Studios.[19] The film was announced on 18 October 2016 by Zafar and Rahim, reported The Express Tribune.[20] It is Zafar's first Pakistani film as a lead after working in several Indian films and a small role in Lahore Se Aagey.[21][22] Rahim also had directed some music videos for Zafar previously.[23][24]

Zafar revealed the film title on 20 January,[25] with the name of lead actress Maya Ali on 27 January 2017.[26][27][28] She is known for many Pakistani dramas and has gained popularity on Indian television when her starring drama Aunn Zara aired there.[29][30][31] On finalizing her debut film, she told The News that "it took me a while" because "I don't want people to relate it to any of my previous work(s)". Zafar commented that this film will show "what all she is capable of."[32][33]

Filming began on 18 February. The first spell took place in Lahore, Pakistan,[34] and completed on 10 May after about 42 days.[35] In April, Asma Abbas revealed her role in an interview with The Nation.[36] Nayyar Ejaz, Simi Raheal, Mehmood Aslam and British actor Tom Coulston were also cast, along with Marhoom Ahmad Bilal in his film debut.[37] The second spell then continued from 20 June in Warsaw, Poland.[38] Jawed Sheikh, Mahenur Haider and Faisal Qureshi were cast, along with Fia Khan in her film debut.[39] Filming wrapped up on 26 July, after about 30 days in Warsaw.[40] Zain Haleem has served as the cinematographer.[37] The song "Item Number" was shot in Bangkok, which took five days.[41][42]

Sheikh revealed his role to The News;[43] he further said, "I absolutely love traveling", as he had to work in many films that required traveling including this.[44] The film marked the return of Aslam to the industry after 28 years; he said, "I finally got the role which I always wanted to play."[45] Maya Ali commented to Pakistan Today, "I couldn't have found a better film than Teefa to make my cinematic debut."[41] Zafar told Khaleej Times that he was interested in witnessing the characters he had developed come to life, with each actor who brought their concepts to their characters.[46]

Zafar said in an interview with Newsline, "I wrote the story along with the director."[47] "We started off with an idea to make an action comedy, then romance came into play and then the songs…", he said to Dawn.[48] He further told The News that he had "studied books on screenplays to learn how it's done."[49] He further said that the architectural shots[48] and the action sequences[50] would be something like never been seen before, for which he prepared himself physically and disallowed his stunt double.[51] He told The Express Tribune that it has been designed to "provide a cinematic experience that hasn't been done here yet",[50] and added to Dawn that this may be "the most expensive Pakistani production",[52] further said to The News, "We need to think out of the box and see how international cinema works".[49] He told IANS that the film has a message "about the journey more than the destination".[53]

He revealed the film logo at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Pakistan Super League on 9 February, followed by his "Ab Khel Jamay Ga" performance.[54] On 20 April, he performed his original song "Ishq" with Maya Ali at the 16th Lux Style Awards.[55][56][57] The film teaser was released during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pakistan Super League on 22 February,[58] where Zafar flew around the stadium on a hoverboard while performing his rendition of "Teefa", followed by his "Dil Se Jaan Laga De" performance.[1][59]

Rahim told The News that they started shooting "on the 10th or 12th draft" after more than six months in pre-production. He said that a film should not look like "a TV serial, it should be larger than life and the story should be engaging".[60] He said to Pakistan Today, "If a director cannot tell a story effectively, he cannot make a good film."[61] He commented that it is "difficult to be fully satisfied with one's own work", but he gave his best to the film, so it "belongs to the public" after him.[60][61] Zafar's wife, Ayesha Fazli, has served as the co-producer.[53]

Zafar is the first Pakistani who was invited to the 5th Silk Road International Film Festival (SRIFF), held in China in October 2018. He proposed the collaboration between Pakistani and Chinese artists and to release at least three Pakistani films in China to extend the business. Teefa in Trouble was also screened to over 30 Chinese mainstream distributors at the festival in Fuzhou.[62][63][64][65]

Adapted from YouTube:

• Ali Zafar – lyricist, composer, vocals, producer (tracks: 1–5)
• Aima Baig – vocals (tracks: 1, 2, 4)
• Asma Abbas – vocals (track 6)
• Danyal Zafar – English lyrics, composer (track 4); guitars (track 5)
• S. M. Saddique – lyricist (track 5)
• Naqash Haider – producer (tracks: 1, 2); composer, stereo mix (track 2)
• Baqir Abbas – producer (tracks: 4, 5)
• Shani Arshad – producer (tracks: 3, 6)
• Hassan Badshah – programmer (tracks: 4, 5)
• Donal Whenal, Levi Oven (MasteringWorld – UK) – stereo mastering (all tracks)
• Akash Pervaiz – stereo mix (tracks: 4, 5)
• Asad Ahmed – guitars (track 2)
• Amir Azhar – bass (track 2)

In September 2018, Shani Arshad shared 4 tracks from the score listed below:[75]

On 1 December 2018, the film was released in India and worldwide on Netflix, except in Pakistan and China.[65][80] It was released on Iflix in Pakistan on 4 January 2019.[81][82] It premiered on television by Geo Entertainment on 19 January.[83] It was made available on Netflix Pakistan on 30 January 2020.[84] To mark its third anniversary, ARY Digital aired the film on 21 July 2021, Eid al-Adha day 1.[85]

Teefa in Trouble became the biggest opener for any Pakistani film, collecting Rs. 2.31 crore,[86] breaking the previous record of Rs. 2.07 crore by Jawani Phir Nahi Ani.[87] At the local box office, it became the fifth biggest non-holiday opener.[88] This record was broken by Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 soon, collecting Rs. 2.99 crore.[89] It collected under Rs. 2.5 crore on its second day from Pakistan.[90] It became the second Pakistani film to collect above Rs. 7 crore by its first weekend in Pakistan, surpassing the challenge of releasing during a non-holiday and non-peak season.[91] The worldwide collections for the first weekend were approximately Rs. 10.15 crore.[92] It also became the first Pakistani film to collect a high of Rs. 9.86 crore within five days from the local box office[93] and made its worldwide gross of about Rs. 14.26 crore.[94]

On 27 July, it became the highest-grossing Pakistani film of 2018.[95] The nationwide collections till the second week were Rs. 18.79 crore.[96][97] At the local box office, the film also registered the biggest third weekend[98] and week with Rs. 5.77 crore,[99] the biggest fourth weekend[100] and week with Rs. 4.17 crore,[101] and the biggest fifth weekend[102] and week with Rs. 1.5 crore. It became the 3rd highest grossing Pakistani film behind Punjab Nahi Jaungi and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, and the first non-holiday film to cross the Rs. 30 crore mark, that too only locally.[103] After collecting Rs. 9.4 crore from the overseas market in 38 days,[104] and Rs. 32.04 crore from the local box office till the eighth weekend,[105] the film made Rs. 41.44 crore. It collected Rs. 33 crore locally after its four-month run.[106] On 20 February 2019, EPK's report stated that it has made Rs. 34.5 crore locally, and Rs. 14 crore from overseas.[107]

It was back to the screens on 22 February[108][109] in the aftermath of the 2019 Pulwama attack and the tensions among India and Pakistan.[110][111] On 31 March, it was announced that the film has crossed the Rs. 50 crore mark.[4]

The film premiered on 19 July at Nueplex Cinemas, in DHA, Karachi, and on 20 July at CineStar IMAX Lahore.[112] It opened to positive reviews.[113]

Writing for The Express Tribune, Rahul Aijaz praised the acting, score, and the direction, and said that it "sets new standards for film-making in Pakistan" due to its visuals and action sequences, adding that "a few inadequacies hinder" it "from reaching its full potential".[114] Sahir Palijo called it "quite entertaining" while rating 3 out of 5 stars, and commented that "The first half is very enjoyable and leaves you excited", but "the second half is a drag and doesn't have much to offer."[115] Omair Alavi rated the film 4 out of 5 stars and said that the "magical background score" and "amazing cinematography keeps the audience engaged in the film, making it one of those films that will not bore", however, he too noted that the film duration could have been lowered.[116][117][118][119] For Dawn, Bilal Agha described the film as "splendidly directed" and one that "set the bar high" for Pakistani films.[9] Mohammad Kamran Jawaid wrote in a moderate review, "At times, a movie that doesn't aim that high yet scores on all levels is good enough."[120] Khurram Suhail of Dawn News said that the film has everything except the story, which is a plus as well as the negative for the film; only box office gross can not grow the industry.[121] Sulman Ali of Pakistan Today praised the film and said that it is "simply a fun ride with its quirky and witty dialogues, with the perfect humour showcased by all the actors".[122]

For Geo News, Aizaz Imtiaz commented that it may be an "ordinary story" but "the way it has been shot keeps you hooked till the last scene".[123] Rehan Ahmed reviewed it positively and called it the biggest and most smart film in the revival of Pakistani cinema.[124] Sadiq Saleem of Masala! rated 3 out of 5 stars, and praised the film's production value, stunts and dialogues, but noted the weak plot and drags.[125] Shahjehan Saleem of Something Haute rated it 4 out of 5 stars while calling it "a strong competitor" due to its "stellar cinematography, beautiful music, strong acting skills, and an overall comic persona" while noting that "it lacks from a meatier story".[126] Nayab Fatima of Aaj TV rated 3 out of 5 stars and praised Maya Ali and the film's "quality" for "action scenes", "beautiful locations" and "funny dialogues", while she also noted the weak storyline.[127] Asjad Khan of HIP said that despite "there are some issues with the film", it is "the mass entertainer audiences have been crying out for."[128] UrduMom praised the film, she commented that she was entertained "by the witty lines, music, acting and the beautiful shots."[129]

Momin Ali Munshi of Galaxy Lollywood rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and said, "A technically sound and beautifully shot film with all the right ingredients" but "some scenes could easily have been chopped or reserved for a directors cut".[130] Farheen Abdullah of Youlin Magazine too praised the film, saying that it "proved to be a great mix of action, comedy, romance, and drama", but she also criticized its length.[131] Fatima Awan of Reviewit.pk rated it 3 out of 5 stars, she compared this film with previous Pakistani films, but praised its action sequences and said that it "could have been far more impressive if it was visually pleasing as well".[132] A critic from Oye Yeah! noted the trouble in the script, but praised the film and commented, "A strong hero, a free-spirited heroine, sharp dialogues, fun and light-hearted comedy, the picture perfect look, song and dance, and powerful fight sequences".[133] A reviewer from GlobalVillageSpace.com said, "Though the film is not without its issues", it is an "entertaining film that deserves to be seen on the big screen."[134] BBC Urdu's Hassan Zaidi gave positive reviews to the film and termed it as the most commercial Pakistani film which will help open a new chapter in Pakistan's commercial cinema.[135]

Protests[140] marked the premieres of Teefa in Trouble in Karachi and Lahore by activists who boycotted the film over the sexual harassment allegations against Ali Zafar by Meesha Shafi, which Zafar denied.[141] Reports had also emerged that some demonstrators were physically and verbally abused at the protest.[142] In one instance, the demonstrators asked Waleed Zaman, the creative director of women's clothing brand Kayseria, the reason why he was backing the film, to which Zaman responded by saying, "We support sexual harassment of women."[143][144] He later apologized for his comments.[145][146]

Teefa in Trouble was largely unauthorized and was available on multiple streaming websites after its release, including YouTube and Facebook. The production team also posted a warning notice[147] and initiated the step against piracy of all Pakistani films.[12][148][149]

The nominations for the 2019 Lux Style Awards sparked social media due to Zafar's name in it. Many celebrities called out for either boycotting the awards or rejecting their nominations. Director Ahsan Rahim shared that widely acclaimed film music not being nominated is a disappointment, and asked for the deserving ones. The award show commented to respect the decisions of the jury as well as wait for the legal decision of the harassment case.[150][151][152][153][154]