‘The Lion Does Not Concern Himself’, written and directed by Zarrar Kahn, explores modern masculinity, the gender divide, and the awkwardness of genuine romantic connection. At the centre of the TIFF-premiering short is Danny, a young man navigating digital culture, vulnerability, identity, and his evolving understanding of what it means to be a man. Blending humour with heart, the film finds humanity in the awkwardness of trying to understand yourself and connect with others in an increasingly divided world. In this conversation with Asis Sethi, Kahn and actor Mohammad Ali Hashmi discuss the inspiration behind the film, bringing Danny to life, balancing comedy with vulnerability, their creative partnership, and the challenges of filming during a Canadian winter. ‘The Lion Does not Concern Himself’ premeired at TIFF on September 11th, 2026 as part of the Short Cuts Programme 2.

Bridging the Gender Divide

Zarrar Kahn on Finding the Story

I was talking with a Gen Z male relative, and I was dumbfounded when he told me some of the conspiracy theories that he genuinely believes in. I think it’s incredibly hard to be growing up in a world where everyone is siloed in their own algorithms. ‘The Lion Does Not Concern Himself’ is my attempt to bring folks together, with humour and heart.

Mohammad Ali Hashmi on Discovering Danny

So I got the idea for the project when I switched gyms, and it was there where I was introduced to these young men that eventually became “Danny”. I found it really alarming that the discussions would go from health to peptides to Dominance and being the ‘better sex’. It was a lot of red pill rhetoric, but to them it was an ideal that was presented to them as the answer. So when I was connecting with Danny, it was his ambition that really did it for me.

Building a Toronto World

Zarrar Kahn on Visual Language and Influence

I had a blast working with my DP, Ash Tailor, and considering how we wanted to showcase this small pocket of Toronto. I brought my references, rom-coms that have inspired me with the deftness of how they speak about urban loneliness – films like ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ (2012), ‘The Big Sick’ (2017), and ‘The Umbrellas of Cherbourg’ (1964). It was really fun to consider how we can make those references feel authentic to the world of the short film.

Finding the Right Genre

Zarrar Kahn on Moving Between Genres

I’m realizing that I’m largely genre-agnostic, and I like the story of the film to inspire the genre that I work in. The patriarchal conditions and judicial process of South Asian countries are nothing short of horrifying, and so ‘In Flames’ made sense as a way to live in that genre. With ‘The Lion Does Not Concern Himself’, we’re talking about the goofiness of being young, discovering yourself, and trying to bridge the gender divide – and so a rom-com felt natural. I’ll say, I found writing for comedy to be incredibly challenging, and am grateful to have a team that was open to rounds of script revisions.

Making Vulnerability Funny

Zarrar Kahn on Building Danny

Mohammad has a great ability to find the vulnerability in characters and embody them in a way that feels deeply relatable. When we were building the character of Danny, we were discussing the way that folks mask their identity, the public vs private persona in the digital age, and how Danny is still trying to find his place. Danny is trying to understand what ‘being a man’ means to him. It was this earnestness that I feel unlocked both the character and story, and makes me excited to share the film with the audiences at TIFF.

Mohammad Ali Hashmi on Danny’s Earnestness

Honestly, I wasn’t even trying to be funny; Zarrar is an amazing talent, and the humour was already on the page. I really just wanted to capture Danny’s earnestness; this character is discovering something life-changing, and I wanted to do justice to his truth. That moment in everyone’s life when they think they’ve cracked it- it’s a beautiful, vulnerable moment.

Mohammad Ali Hashmi on Playing the “Himbo”

I think that Danny is a bit of a ‘Himbo’ and so much of the humour of the film comes from what Danny misses; he’s not in on the joke. But with Jen, he really has a kinship where he feels safe enough to be vulnerable.

Trust, Collaboration & Creative Chemistry

Mohammad Ali Hashmi on Working With Zarrar Again

I think there is a reason why we’ve seen iconic director/actor duos like Akira Kurosawa & Toshiro Mifune, Quentin Tarantino & Samuel L. Jackson, Yorgos Lanthimos & Emma Stone. That trust allows the artist to really push the craft without worrying about egos. We’ve also learned so much from working with other creatives that when we do reconnect, we bring something fresh to the table.

The Challenges of Shooting in Winter

Mohammad Ali Hashmi on the Most Challenging Scene

In the final scene, we were dealing with the elements. We shot film during winter, and I was wearing 5-inch inseam, really tiny shorts, so you can imagine what the experience must’ve been like. But we both knew that it made sense for where those characters were in the film; Danny wouldn’t really worry about anything else except Jen in that moment. I have to give a shout-out to our costume department for making sure we stayed warm between takes.

From Toronto to TIFF

With its focus on masculinity, vulnerability, romance and the challenges of genuine connection, ‘The Lion Does Not Concern Himself’ brings an intimate and humorous perspective to conversations that continue to shape how young people understand themselves and one another. For Kahn and Hashmi, the film is ultimately an attempt to find connection within a world that can often feel increasingly divided.

With its TIFF premiere, the film now brings that conversation to audiences on an international stage, inviting viewers to find both the humour and humanity in Danny’s journey.