How does it feel to have the novel adapted into a film?

The other thing is I’m just a huge fan of classic 90s rom-coms, and I thought it would be really fun to write a book that was inspired by the film “You’ve Got Mail” with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. We all say that Toronto is diverse, but the way that the food options are really changed for specific communities like the Muslim community, tells you how diverse the city is and how it’s changed from one generation to the next. I started thinking about the way that food is symbolic of the way that a community changes, grows and establishes itself in a city. And when we were growing up, you couldn’t get these kinds of halal options in any restaurants. And you know this place serves traditional North American cuisine - steaks, ribs, etc. I went out for dinner at an upscale halal restaurant in the GTA. What inspired you to write ‘ Hana Khan Carries On ’ ? This interview has been edited for clarity and length. The Star asked Jalaluddin about her novel. Kaling is known for her role in “The Mindy Project,” and has earned six Emmy nominations for her work as a writer, executive producer and star of “The Office.” It’s described as a “Pride and Prejudice” adaptation also set in a Toronto Muslim community. Jalaluddin’s debut novel, 2018’s “ Ayesha at Last,” is also in development by Sony with Pascal Pictures and Jahani on board to adapt. The entertainment outlet reports Sahar Jahani will write the script, while Kaling and Jessica Kumai Scott will produce via Kaling International.

The adaptation was first reported by Variety. It’s a story Jalaluddin says was inspired by the classic romantic comedy “You’ve Got Mail.” Her 2021 novel follows Hana, a waitress at a halal restaurant whose business is threatened when a newer, more upscale halal place opens up nearby in her close-knit Toronto neighbourhood.Ī family secret, a hate-motivated attack on the neighbourhood and a crush for the rival restaurant’s young owner all put the reader in the whirlwind that is Hana’s life. Jalaluddin is the author of a culture and parenting column at the Star. Speaking to the Star Wednesday, Jalaluddin said she’s “still pinching herself” over the news. Actor and producer Mindy Kaling and Amazon are adapting the Toronto novel “ Hana Khan Carries On” by Star columnist Uzma Jalaluddin into a new film.

Hana khan carries on