Culture Interviews Cinema & Tv

“The cast were thrilled to tell a story that didn’t have anything to do with them being British Asian”: Isher Sahota on The Effects of Lying

“The cast were thrilled to tell a story that didn’t have anything to do with them being British Asian”: Isher Sahota on The Effects of Lying

The Effects of Lying is the new dramedy from director Isher Sahota and writer James Hey, following one particularly eventful day in the life of Naveen (Ace Bhatti), for whom everything seems to be falling apart at the seams as revelation after revelation changes his perspective on his relationships with his wife (Laila Rouass), teenage daughter (Lauren Patel) and brother (Navin Chowdhry). Avoiding the clichés and stereotypes often deployed by British Asian films and TV, it’s a thrilling and funny look at what happens when a seemingly “normal” family has years of secrets and lies unearthed in the space of 24 hours, with the banter and tension in the father-daughter relationship, in particular, providing the beating heart of the story.

The Upcoming had an in-depth chat with the filmmaker about how this single-day story idea came about, the appeal for him and his cast of making a British Asian film that wasn’t “issue-based” and the fine line his movie walks between its tragedy and its humour.

Sarah Bradbury

The Effects of Lying is released on ITVX on 6th July 2023.

Watch the trailer for The Effects of Lying here:

More in Cinema & Tv

Thunderbolts

Mae Trumata

British filmmaker Molly Manning Walker to lead Un Certain Regard Jury at 2025 Cannes Film Festival

The editorial unit

Prime Video sets May 2025 premiere for Nine Perfect Strangers season two with new cast and Austrian Alps setting

The editorial unit

New horror-thriller Weapons set for UK cinema release in August 2025

The editorial unit

“He’s stuck in between two chapters of his life”: Jan-Ole Gerster on Islands

Selina Sondermann

Parthenope

Mark Worgan

Another Simple Favour

Antonia Georgiou

“Every time I work with Gareth, I learn more about storytelling through action and action through storytelling”: Jude Poyer on Havoc

Mae Trumata

“I link the character’s body to my own so I can feel their pain”: Emilie Blichfeldt on The Ugly Stepsister

Selina Sondermann