The anticipation had been building for weeks. When the official trailer for Apnas crossed 1.5 million views, the online buzz became impossible to ignore. For AFA Productions, the moment marked more than just numbers on a screen, it signalled the beginning of a long-awaited journey to the cinema.
On 20 March 2026, as families across the country prepare to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr and mark the end of Ramadan, Apnas will arrive in cinemas nationwide. The timing is no coincidence. Reflection, family and community, the spirit of Eid, lie at the very heart of the film’s story.
At its centre are two Pakistani cousins whose lives gradually become entangled in the criminal underworld. With every step, survival clashes with ethics, and loyalty is tested against obligation. Their journey unfolds against the backdrop of Manchester, where questions of belonging, generational ties and cultural expectations shape their choices and their fate. Rooted in South Asian lived experience, the film paints an intimate portrait of contemporary British South Asian life, honest, emotional and deeply human.
The story is brought to life by an ensemble cast including Asim Ashraf, James Greaney, Nitin Ganatra, Rehan Sheikh, Mollie Winnard, Ash Tandon and Haiesha Mistry. Beyond the screen, music pulses through the film’s identity. An original soundtrack blends modern urban sounds with South Asian influences, featuring a diverse line-up of talent including lead actor Asim Ashraf, known musically as Ceazaa, alongside Joga Jeezy, Metz & Trix, Hukz, Wiley and Sneakbo. Together, the music reinforces the film’s contemporary voice while honouring its cultural roots.
For AFA Productions, Apnas represents a defining milestone. Years of storytelling, community connection and audience-building through their YouTube channel, Apnas TV. The trailer’s rapid success only confirmed what the creators already felt: this was a story audiences were waiting for.
For CEO Fiaz Ashraf, the film carries deep personal meaning. Years were spent shaping a narrative that reflects the realities of the community, and bringing it to the big screen is a moment of pride. Releasing it during Eid, he believes, creates a space for families and friends to come together and experience a story that speaks directly to them.
With UK and Ireland theatrical distribution secured by Munro Film, the film is set to reach audiences across the nation. Supported by a distributor known for championing independent cinema, Apnas arrives not just as a film, but as a cultural moment, one grounded in authenticity, community and shared experience.
Behind the camera, the project is produced by Fiaz Ashraf and Nadia Jaynes, and co-directed by Ashley Chin and Darren R.L. Gordon, seasoned industry professionals whose combined experience helped shape the film’s vision.
As the lights dim on 20 March, Apnas will invite audiences into a world of family, identity and difficult choices, a story rooted in culture, carried by music, and brought to life by a community ready to see itself on the big screen.