Page 31 - Pakistan Link - November 19, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE NOVEMBER 19, 2021 – PAKISTAN LINK – P31
NOVEMBER 19, 2021 - PAKISTAN LINK

elebrity couple Ali Safina and Hira Tareen, who tied in our industry, serious and comedy. There are so many sub- stands out, otherwise, it’s the same old thing every time.” In a
the knot back in 2013, made an appearance on Time genres in both.” However, the actor feels that the rise of digital segment of the show where they were asked which actor in the
Out on Ahsan Khan, reflecting on the entertainment platforms offers respite from the derivative content on televi- industry they are not too fond of, Ali reflected, “There are some
Cindustry, as well as their personal lives. The couple sion. “One good thing that has happened is that now with all actors that we feel are overrated, who don’t churn out enough
shed light on the trials of being typecast and the actors they this digital content being made. You know, short films and all hits and don’t put out enough work, yet they are always in the
believe are “overrated”, with the couple sharing how having a that. Especially short films.” news. We were like, what if the newer actors are given more
child has changed their lives for the better. Hira elaborated on the matter further, adding, “I think digi- work, as opposed to giving the same kind of work to the same
Former VJ Ali, who made his acting debut with the huge- tal is picking up in Pakistan now. People have shorter attention kind of people over and over again.”
ly popular sitcom Taakay Ki Ayegi Baraat, and later Dolly Ki spans, and also I feel that, for a particular age group, there re- When pressed for names, he revealed, “We like Mahira,
Ayegi Baraat, shared that he is known primarily for his co- ally is no content on television. I think in digital content you but acting-wise, I feel like she needs to up her game when it
medic roles, which leads to him being offered similar scripts. can select what you want to watch and also when you want to comes to acting,” with which Hira disagreed. She added, “Ma-
He explained, “When Dolly and Taakay happened, they were tune out. It’s a new medium. I don’t think it’ll replace TV, but hira is one of those blessed actors that only needs to be her
such phenomenal hits that all the production houses identified it’s definitely growing.” charming self. She’s like the Shah Rukh Khan of Pakistan,” lat-
me through the characters I played. Due to that, when I would On how he has been lucky to have worked with good er revealing her distaste for Yasir Hussain, commenting on the
meet with directors and producers, they would prefer to see me directors that allow for a greater variation in characters, Ali actor’s attitude that she feels is disrespectful. She asserted, “It’s
in comic roles as opposed to serious ones. I wouldn’t call it be- shared, “Luckily, in comedy, I have also had great directors. not about star power, it’s about tameez [respect] and knowing
ing stereotyped, it’s more like I made my own brand of come- They are all the kind of directors with whom you can talk about how to speak to people.”
dy.” He added further, “It doesn’t bother me. What does bother characters. Even if the script doesn’t give you a lot of margin, On how becoming a mother changed her life, Hira ex-
me is when you’ve made a niche for yourself in the industry directors can really transform the characters for the better. In plained, “When I first found out I was expecting, I had sort
and then you don’t find the right amount of work pertaining to my most recent experience with Chupke Chupke, the director of an existential crisis. A lot of women would relate to me on
that niche, that’s when it becomes a problem.” Danish Nawaz played a major role in giving me that look. He this. We all feel this way, but most of us don’t say it out loud,
Hira, who has also suffered from being typecast, shared, knew the right kind of gimmicks necessary for that kind of because then people call you unthankful. I was very happy that
“This is an issue that most actors face. They often get typecast. character.” my life was about to change, but I kept thinking about all the
It happens more often in comedy because there aren’t a lot of On the short notice at which production houses offer ac- things I wouldn’t be able to do anymore.”
people available who can do comedy well. Even if you look at tors scripts, Ali commented, “These days, things happen at the She continued, “I spoke to all my new mother friends ask-
my acting career, then I also get the same roles of the girl from last moment. Recently, I was supposed to do a drama with one ing them how they deal with this. I was going to have a little
abroad or the homewrecker over and over again.” production house which was delayed, so the same production human being who’ll be running around and I’ll have to look
Ali highlighted the issue of variation on television, sharing house came up with another drama, and they were like, ‘Why after it. So, that year and the year after she was born, I felt that
that in Pakistan, there are only two kinds of roles, one per- don’t you do this?’ And when I asked when they said two days existential crisis in phases. But now, it’s been three and a half
taining to the serious category, and the other to comedy, disre- later. They weren’t giving me enough time.” years, looking back, I launched my channel, I got all these new
garding sub-genres like horror, thriller, romantic comedy, etc. He added further, “Not everyone has the luxury of actually ideas, I have never been so focused before in my life. I think
He commented, “When we start looking at dramas genre-wise, taking out time and deciding between projects because, at the that’s because she’s given me a new purpose in life. I’m also
then we’ll have a better understanding of directors. Right now, end of the day, most dramas are the same. Their standard is a lot more unapologetic now. I don’t think about what other
everything feels like a mish-mash. There are only two boxes the same. Every once in a while you’ll have something that people will say anymore.”

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