Globally acclaimed Filmmaker Ayesha Zaki Interview

Born in Mumbai, Ayesha Zaki is the CEO and owner of Tinsel Town Films in UAE. Along with filmmaking she is also a successful Producer and Director and her work are globally appreciated. She is known as the OTT Queen of Dubai.Her short films on global burning issues have garnered much praise and prestigious awards.In an exclusive interview with the Heaven Mail and Buzzbytes she talks to Rameez Makhdoomi.

1. Tell us a bit about your childhood days?
   Born in Mumbai, the main center of indian film industry for a period of century, My favorite hobby was watching Bollywood movies. Since childhood days it was my dream to become a filmmaker and movie director.
2. How was academic life like ?
   In my teen days, I used to join the friends on the sets of film shoots just to watch them performing. My interest started building more on the production part since then. Later, joined them as an intern and learned filming techniques and processing. Later moved to Dubai along with family.
3. How did filmmaking happen?
   In 2015, I Ayesha Zaki along with my friends joined the Dubai International Film Festival as a part time volunteer. There I met many other talented students sharing the same interests and passion for the film world. I joined them as a part of production team and got to learn the new techniques on cinematography, pre production and post production processing. Later in 2020, I Ayesha Zaki the Owner and Founder started my own film production company named Tinsel Town Films in UAE.
4. You are renowned name when it comes to OTT Platforms, a bit on that ?
   Being Film maker, Producer and Director I the Ayesha Zaki became a role model for many as a Social Filmmaker. Being a filmmaker I always felt that I should utilize my story telling talent and skills by producing social awareness movies that would contribute for the wellness of the community.

I Ayesha Zaki is popularly known as OTT Queen. My social awareness movies are streaming on Dish TV, Cable and Satellite in Mumbai and also on many OTT platforms worldwide. I Ayesha Zaki own the historical benchmark of The First Indian Woman in UAE to reach this heights making all Indians proud.

5. Your movies journey?
6. Movie: Never Judge A Book By Its Cover
   Release Year: 2021
   Contribution: Producer, Director and Actress
   OTT Streaming on: Tata Play, Tata Play Binge, Jio, Jio TV.
   Dish TV Cable and Satellite: NXT, DEN, Hathway, InDigital.
7. Movie: Ek Chotisi Love Story
   Release Year: 2021
   Contribution: Producer and Director
   OTT Streaming on: Tata Play, Tata Play Binge, Jio, Jio TV.
   Dish TV Cable and Satellite: NXT, DEN, Hathway, InDigital.
8. Movie: Ten Thousand (Arabic Language)
   Release Year: 2021
   Contribution: Producer
   Available to watch on: Tinsel Town Films YouTube channel.
9. Movie: I Love You Mom
   Release Year: 2021
   Contribution: Producer and Director
   Available to watch on: Tinsel Town Films YouTube channel.
10. Movie: Meri Mom Ke Woh Din
    Release Year: 2021
    Contribution: Producer and Director
    OTT Streaming on: Hungama, MXPlayer, Google Play Epicon and VIMovies&TV, Tata Play, Tata Play Binge, Jio, Jio TV.
    Dish TV Cable and Satellite: NXT, DEN, Hathway, InDigital.
11. Movie: Can You Swim Now
    Release Year: 2022
    Contribution: Art Director
    Available to watch on: Tinsel Town Films YouTube channel.
12. Music Video: Should Tell Me
    Release Year: 2022
    Contribution: Director
    Available to watch on: Unreleased
13. Music Video: Bahut Din Ho Gaye
    Release Year: 2022
    Contribution: Producer
    Available to watch on: YouTube
14. Movie: Papa Businessman
    Release Year: 2023
    Contribution: Producer and Director
    OTT Streaming on: Disney+ Hotstar, Tata Play, Tata Play Binge, Jio, Jio TV.
    Dish TV Cable and Satellite: NXT, DEN, Hathway, InDigital.
15. Movie: The World Is In Our Hands
    Release Year: 2024
    Contribution: Producer and Director
    OTT Streaming on: Hungama, Airtel Xstream, Watcho, Green Chilli TV: Tata Play, Tata Play Binge, Jio, Jio TV.
    Coming soon on Dish TV, Cable and Satellite.

6 . Tell us about recently made impactful movie The World is in our hands on importance of conservation of water?
The World Is In Our Hands is not just a movie. It’s a social awareness campaign. We have submitted this movie to many NGOs from different parts of the world where people are facing scarcity of water. The sustainability awareness campaign is carried out in schools and malls by carrying out free movie screening open for everyone so that my sustainable awareness message on global warming and importance of water conservation reaches to the maximum people. Movie is also streaming on many OTT platforms so that the awareness campaign reaches out to the audiences and viewers from worldwide.

Ayesha Zaki’s statement:
Due to negligence of some people our natural resources are not reaching to the needy ones. Many parts of the world are facing water crisis due to global warming, climate change and environmental degradation. Research says 8 gallons of normal tap water is wasted in one minute by a single person. Being a responsible human it is our responsibility to save the world by preserving our natural resources. Be the change you wish to see in the world. Make a difference.

7. Your role models?
   None
8. What are your future goals ?
   I will continue doing more social awareness movies and keep releasing them on OTT platforms. Because I think in this digital era OTT platforms are becoming much easy accessible and fastest way to reach the masses. Through storytelling and filmmaking I strive to reach my social awareness goals to the mankind.
9. How has UAE helped your growth?
   I really like to make films in UAE as this allows me to work with people of different nationalities and diverse culture.
10. Your message to humanity?
    I certainly do not want die without having done something wonderful for humanity. There’s a famous saying; great acts are made up of small deeds and I think unconditional love for all human beings is the foundation of humanity.