Fawad Afzal Khan
After winning the hearts of people through his daily, Zindagi Gulzar Hai,Pakistani sensation Fawad Khan is all set for his Bollywood debut opposite Sonam Kapoor in Khoobsurat.In a chat with Rama Dwivedi, he talks about his role in the film, present scenario of Pakistani cinema & his love for acting
‘I’m a hopeless romantic’
How was your experience working in KhoobsuratIJ
It was an enriching experience. There were a lot of initial challenges and hiccups but it was fun dealing with them. From meeting people and making new friends to working in this film, the experience in India has been amazing.
You play a prince in Khoobsurat. Tell us more...
I play Vikram who is an arrogant, snobbish and ambitious person. He is a perfectionist and a strict disciplinarian. There is a twist when someone enters his regimented lifestyle and turns his world topsy-turvy.
How different is Bollywood from lollywoodIJ
There is a huge difference between the two industries. lollywood has been through a phase when cinema took a backseat and was looked down upon. Now things are shaping up. It’s revival times in Pakistan, while the film industry in India is thriving since 100 years. The Pakistani film industry is still at the nascent stage of filmmaking.
Do you want to focus on tele-series or filmsIJ
I have been actively involved with the TV industry for six years. Now, I want to migrate. Acting in films is a different ball game and I want to be a part of that. Having said that, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of going back to TV. That will always remain my first love.
You started out with a comedy, Jutt and Bond, but recently you are doing serious roles. What attracts you moreIJ
I want to explore the whole canvas. I don’t want to limit myself to a particular genre. I have enjoyed all the different characters that I played. But I’m a hopeless romantic in the real life, so romantic films attract me the most.
What kind of scripts are you looking forIJ
Character driven stories have greater impact on the audiences as compared to the story driven scripts. In the first format, an actor gets full freedom to express himself. There is also a better scope for interaction between the characters.
Any fictional character you connect toIJ
Zaroon of Zindagi Gulzar Hai is someone I resemble a lot. Apart from that, I played Asghar in Akbari Asghari which is like out of my own skin. The show wasn’t a hit but the character still remains with me. It gave me an opportunity to explore my anatomy as an actor.
You’ve played this rich, egoist and chauvinist characters on screen before. How different are you in the real lifeIJ
I’m not a chauvinist. But ego is something that everyone has, it’s just overly accentuated. Otherwise, I’m just a cool and romantic person.
You have often said that Entity Paradigm (EP), a metal band is like your second family. Any plans for revivalIJ
I left EP because I wanted to pursue acting. The band members are very warm and we share a great rapport. The only thing that still keeps us in the stage of dormancy is our engagement in different fields. We can’t actively pursue it at this point of time. Par kuch pata nahi waqt ka…
Do you see yourself singing in BollywoodIJ
I’m very passionate about music. Especially, when it comes to writing and composing. I am into the rock and metallic genres. I’m afraid music in Bollywood is totally different to what I have done in the past. But if I get an opportunity, I will definitely sing for films.