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Lily James stars in new rom-com scripted by Jemima Khan

Lily James stars in new rom-com scripted by Jemima Khan <i>(Image: Photo: Working Title)</i>
Lily James stars in new rom-com scripted by Jemima Khan (Image: Photo: Working Title)

TV producer Jemima Khan has written the script for a new rom-com starring Lily James, Emma Thompson and Shazad Latif.

Ms Khan bought Kiddington Hall near Woodstock in 2010.

One of her latest film projects is What's Love Got To Do With It? that examines the issue of arranged marriages.

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The film, directed by Shekhar Kapur, focuses on documentary-maker and dating app addict Zoe (Lily James), swiping right has only delivered an endless stream of Mr Wrongs, to her eccentric mother Cath's (Emma Thompson) dismay.

For Zoe's childhood friend and neighbour Kaz (Shazad Latif), the answer is to follow his parents' example and opt for an arranged (or "assisted") marriage to a bride from Pakistan.

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As Zoe films his hopeful journey from London to Lahore to marry a stranger, chosen by his parents, she begins to wonder if she might have something to learn.

Ms Khan is the ex-wife of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

She spent her twenties living in Pakistan where she had her two sons and saw many arranged marriages succeed.

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She told PTI News: "I guess the film charts my own personal change of opinion over a period of 10 years, from cynicism about arranged marriage to the merits of a consensual arrangement involving introductions by parents or by people who kind of know you best.

"Ours was the only non-arranged marriage in the entire history of quite a Conservative Pathan family.

"I saw some really happy successful long-term arranged marriages."

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Ms Khan, 49, said scriptwriting was one of the hardest things she has done, and added that one of the highlights was showing her children the finished movie.

She added: "My kids are in their twenties, half Pakistani, identify completely as Muslim and they are definitely not rom-com fans.

"So I was very nervous - them being my biggest critics - my stepdaughter as well.

"It was a really lovely moment when they said they were really proud; they definitely laughed and were move by the film. I feel that was a real high point."

Filming took place during a Covid lockdown but the director took that as a challenge and completed the film in just over 40 days.

The movie was shot on location in and around London, with a country manor house in Suffolk doubling as a Lahore palace for a traditional ceremony.

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In 2021, Ms Khan was involved in a dispute over vehicle access to a churchyard on her estate.

Kiddington Hall has 466 acres of surrounding landscaped parkland.

What's Love Got To Do With It? is being shown in cinemas now.

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF