Pakistani Forbidden Love Novel ‘In The Company of Strangers’ Being Adapted by U.K.’s Kids Fight Productions (EXCLUSIVE)

U.K.-based Kids Fight Productions is developing a feature film based on Awais Khan‘s debut novel “In The Company of Strangers,” marking the company’s first narrative project following its acclaimed documentary work.

The production company, led by filmmaker Sarah Tareen and producer Izmerai Durrani, made its mark with “Kids Fight,” a documentary about young people in Lahore using mixed martial arts for personal empowerment. That film gained international recognition for its authentic approach to challenging social issues and established the duo’s commitment to amplifying Pakistani voices on screen.

Khan’s novel explores a forbidden relationship within Pakistan‘s upper class. The story follows a woman trapped in a loveless marriage who finds passion with a younger man from a different social background. Their secret relationship unfolds against Pakistan’s volatile social landscape, where violence and danger complicate their affair. The narrative examines wealth, power, and societal constraints in modern Lahore.

“Being published in the U.K., I had always harboured a dream of seeing my books reach more people in the U.K. via the popular medium of film, and it gives me immense pleasure to see ‘In the Company of Strangers’ being adapted for screen,” Khan said. “With seasoned professionals like Tareen and Durrani at the helm, this film will be a true representation of the Global South in the U.K.”

The project arrives as British cinema increasingly embraces South Asian narratives, with recent successes including “Polite Society” and “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” demonstrating audience appetite for these perspectives.

Keshini Naidoo, executive publisher at Hera Books, a Penguin Random House U.K. imprint, praised the source material’s contemporary relevance. “‘In the Company of Strangers’ provides a necessary, urgent look at the world of modern Pakistan, one which the Western world rarely gets to see,” Naidoo said, highlighting the cross-class romance and the book’s examination of a society where violence remains present.

Literary agent Annette Crossland emphasized the novel’s dual appeal as entertainment and social commentary. She called it “an extremely important work, as it is a compulsive read as well as a serious book with a message. It will educate readers, and hopefully transform their opinions.” After viewing “Kids Fight,” Crossland said she recognized the alignment between Khan’s literary vision and the filmmakers’ approach, calling the documentary “brilliant and courageous” and “visceral and uncompromising in its treatment of harsh issues.”

For Tareen and Durrani, the adaptation represents an evolution of their mission. “Through ‘Kids Fight,’ we began a journey of bringing stories from Pakistan to the U.K.,” Tareen said. “Partnering on ‘In The Company of Strangers’ allows us to expand that vision to create films that are deeply rooted yet universally resonant.”

“Cinema is at its most powerful when it reflects the world in all its diversity,” Durrani added. “By bringing stories from Pakistan into dialogue with audiences in the U.K. and beyond, this collaboration represents exactly the kind of filmmaking that can move conversations forward.”