'Send Help' producer Zainab Azizi: 'I'm a huge Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai fan; want to produce film with Preity Zinta' - EXCLUSIVE

Rachel McAdams stranded on an island with Dylan O'Brien could serve as the plot for another epic romance, but in the hands of director Sam Raimi, it becomes something far more sinister. That’s the 'delicious twist' that 'Send Help' producer Zainab Azizi couldn’t resist.

In an exclusive chat with ETimes, Azizi opens up about casting “America’s sweetheart” in her darkest role yet and betting on this survival story powered by rage, horror and gore.

While she was at it, she also got candid about growing up on a healthy dose of Hindi cinema. No stranger to the Desi flare, she also shared her admiration for Bollywood icons like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai, and her desire to produce a potential Hollywood–Bollywood crossover with close friend Preity Zinta. Excerpts:

'Send Help' sees Rachel McAdams, a classic rom-com actress, in a very different light. What made you want to pick her to lead this story?

Zainab: So, first off, I am a huge fan of Rachel McAdams. She is, one of the best actresses in Hollywood, and when we were developing the character of Linda Liddle, we wanted someone who was America's sweetheart, someone who was so sweet and endearing and kind and someone you would just fall in love with. And Rachel has all of those qualities. What was so exciting to cast her was that we've never seen her do a dark role like this before and that was just such a delicious idea to have her as Linda Little.

And Sam and Rachel worked together before on 'Doctor Strange', so it was a wonderful reunion for them.

Do you remember the exact moment you wanted to come on board for this Sam Raimi venture?

Zainab: Yes. I actually was on board from the very beginning. I'm a huge fan of the writers Mark Swift and Damien Shannon. I had a general meeting with them, and we liked the same things. We love horror, comedy, and romance, and we wanted to make a movie together. So they sent over a document with a bunch of movie ideas and this idea of Linda Little - a female executive who is overworked and undervalued and is a big Survivor fan, gets stranded on a deserted island with her terrible boss - I thought that was so juicy and something that audiences would want to see because it's so relatable. Linda Liddle is a character who's very relatable to many people.




Speaking about the subject of being overlooked, as a female producer in Hollywood, do you personally relate to this feeling? Or do you think the film industry has slowly warmed up to women spearheading projects?

Zainab: Yes. I think being a female producer is a challenge in itself.

I think you have to work harder, but I do see the industry changing and I'm so happy to see more and more female producers. It's very inspiring.

Well, this is not your first stint with Sam Raimi. As a director, he brings his blend of horror, humour, and even gore with his storytelling. After seeing characters like Scarlet Witch and Linda Liddle, how do you think he handles female rage?

Zainab: Sam was attached from the very beginning as well, because once I worked with the writers on the pitch, we brought it to Sam to attach as the producer , and he loved the character of Linda. He loves rooting for the underdog , and he was attached as director from the very start. So I think, from the very start of developing her character, he understood that we wanted to be very mindful and respectful of a female anti-hero. So it was a very fascinating experience to work with him.

At a time when Hollywood and Bollywood are belting out these huge ensemble films, let us in on your take on making a film with just two actors - Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien - leading this nearly two-hour film.

Zainab: I've produced a movie with a huge ensemble cast, and it is very, very exciting, and it had challenges of its own. With 'Send Help', the writers wrote such a brilliant script of character study, that the island itself was a character, with the creatures and the fear of the unknown.

And we were so fortunate to have Rachel and Dylan bring so much that you never get tired of seeing both of them on the screen.

We've seen several crossovers between Hollywood and Bollywood in recent years. How do you view this growing Indian presence in cinema? And also, can we expect you to possibly produce an Indian movie or with a lead Indian actor?

Zainab: Yes. I mean, when I was a child, I watched a lot of Bollywood films. Like, I'm a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai. And I've always wanted to produce a film in India and with Preity Zinta. She's one of my closest friends. So we are working very closely to find a Bollywood-Hollywood crossover.

We've seen your pictures with Hrithik Roshan. Why don't you get Preity and Hrithik together again in 'Krrish 4'?

Zainab: I would love that. Please, let's make it happen. Okay.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”