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Toronto actress Fatima Iqbal stars as Rani in the Brampton filmmaker’s story “I Am No Queen.” (Photo: IMDB)

When Rani arrived in Canada to study, she could not have known that her life would take a dangerous turn towards the world of sex work after going through difficult times.

And even though Rani’s story is a work of fiction in the new film I’m not a queen Directed by Brampton filmmaker Shadab Khan, his struggles are inspired by real events and are an all-too-real example of the horrors some international students face when they fall into the trap of human traffickers.

The film tells the story of Rani, whose name means “queen” in Hindi, who finds herself entangled in a web of financial difficulties after moving to Canada to study at a private college, only to struggle to get both of them together. ends after registering without knowing it. in a fraudulent college.

Between living expenses and payments owed to loan sharks abroad, Rani’s desperation leads her into the arms of the charismatic Harry – a pimp with his own struggles who leads her down a dark and dangerous path.

Just like Rani, hundreds of international students in Canada fell victim to registration scam and was expelled in 2023, with some of the fraud blamed on fake colleges or “ghost consultants” – unlicensed third parties who submit applications on behalf of students.

Khan and producers Deep and Minu Basi took inspiration from real-world events to create the story, such as the case of Dozens of students found crowded in Brampton basementfake schools and consultants, and women forced into prostitution by attackers.

The film features many early performances and stars Toronto actress Fatima Iqbal in the lead role of Rani. It was one of the standout films at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.

And even though the film is not currently showing locally, city council members say they are hosting a screening to share the film’s powerful and important message.

Just this week, Brampton City Council urged the federal and provincial governments to step up their efforts and take action to better protect international students from human traffickers.

The city says removing sex work as a condition of deportation on student visas is a crucial step in cracking down on traffickers and getting victims the help they need.

Although Peel Regional Police say only two cases of exploitation of international students have been reported, the true extent of the problem is not known due to under-reporting.

Posters promoting sex work seen outside a Gurdwara and post-secondary school in Brampton.

Police say international students can be lured into prostitution by landlords holding a victim’s passport. In other cases, traffickers are bold in recruitment, with posters and advertisements promoting sex work around Brampton, outside a local Gurdwara and post-secondary schools.

And even though the problem extends provincially and nationally, Det. Sgt. Bob Hackenbrook of the Peel Regional Police Unit says “all roads lead to Brampton” due to the city’s proximity to the 400-series highways and Pearson International Airport.

Brampton City Council has raised the issue of exploited students after seeing reports of an online ad offering free rent in exchange for a “friends with benefits relationship.”

The city also called on its academic institutions to build and provide housing for its students, as well as provide education to international students on sexual exploitation and consent.

This morning, director Shadab Khan and Canadian entrepreneurs Deep and Minu Basi announced their film “I Am No Queen” at the city council meeting to highlight the harsh realities young people face when pursuing education superior abroad.

The film won a place at this year’s Festival… pic.twitter.com/pjNc3qwKhi

– City of Brampton (@CityBrampton) October 16, 2024

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