posting the IV here for PNA xD
Adeensyed: What are your fears in life?
I suppose it's the fear of not leaving behind a legacy; of not being remembered for doing important work, of making a difference after I'm gone.
Adeensyed: Your favorite book?
Do I have to pick one? I'd read anything written by Stephen King (my
all-time favorite author) or Neil Gaiman - but here's an interesting
spin on your question: the best memories I have associated with a book
is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
DON'T PANIC.'
Buttsaab: How tall are you? Do you speak French? Would you work in Bollywood? What do you think of movies like Waar'?
I'm almost 6 ft. 1,' he answered, curious and a little bit creeped out at the very... specific inquiry.
I do speak a bit of French, but not as well as I should. That's one
thing on my list of 2015 resolutions: brush up on my omelette du
fromage.
French. I mean French.
Re: the Bollywood question: Yes, I would - if the right script came along. I've already had my say on this topic in a recently conducted interview (scroll down to question no. 10)
Re: Waar', any film that features a mildly (unintentionally?)
sensual cheek-to-cheek scene (Ayesha Khan & Shaan) gets an automatic
A from me.
Jokes aside, though, I think you have to credit the film for changing
the visual landscape of Pakistani cinema. Also I'm a huge fan of the
post-intermission sequence - the way the suicide bombing was juxtaposed
with the track Mauje Naina and that dance sequence ft. Meesha Shafi & Shamoon Abbasi. Chilling, and wholly original.
Adeensyed: Are you choosy when it comes to picking characters?
I'd like to think I am, and I've been very fortunate to have gotten
interesting, unorthodox roles to play so early on in my television
career. Well, maybe except for one. But with that particular project, my
apology is in its title.
#HintHint
Adeensyed: Which character was more challenging: Omer Hashmi or Aunn?
I think they were both quite challenging roles, actually. With Aunn, I
had to maintain a fine balance between quirky and over-the-top; I
wanted the character to come across as immature, not farcical. Omar, of
course, was the first time I performed an angry, aggressive character.
It was also my first full-fledged serious role, so that added to the
pressure. Audiences were so used to Aunn I think many believed (and some
might still do) that I couldn't pull off a character like that.
Tasneem: Are you interested in doing Bollywood films? If yes, then what kind of project would you choose?
I've already answered your first question, Tasneem (see above). As to
what kind of project I'd choose: I don't know. Anything offbeat,
interesting, quirky, Anurag Kashyap, Vishal Bhardwaj, Imtiaz Ali - wow,
I've moved on from adjectives to just listing down director names. (Laughs)
I don't see myself fitting into the traditional Bollywood hero' role, though (can you imagine: Mera Pehla Pyaar, featuring Deepika Padukone and Pakistan's beloved chitti bandari* Osman Khalid Butt) - and somehow I'm more attracted to negative characters in film, be it Pakistani or Indian.
* (To those of you unfamiliar with my vlogs, someone posted this
comment describing me in one of my earlier videos, and I have since
wholeheartedly embraced the laqab.)
Adeensyed: Has anyone ever told you that you resemble ORLANDO BLOOM?
Acha? This is the first I'm hearing of it.
Adeensyed: Your favorite movie genre?
Definitely horror. My brother Omar is a huge fan of the genre as
well; he (and Omar Ali Khan, the owner of Hot Spot and the director of Zibahkhana) introduced me to some fantastic, offbeat horror films when I was young. I mean, I remember I was watching The Conjuring on my laptop in the dead of night, and when that clap-clap sequence came on, I jumped so hard I fell off my bed.
What I wouldn't give for an encore.
Adneensyed: Your favorite Pakistani TV serial?
That would be a three-way tie between 50/50, Aangan Terha
(these two for their brilliant, brilliant satire - it's no wonder these
serials are still celebrated via Facebook & Whatsapp video shares:
they are timeless) and Ainak Wala Jinn.
Adeensyed: Sahir Lodhi interviewed you in his morning show
once...what kind of experience was it? (as you mocked him once in an Omore
TVC "Ye cone hai Sahir lodhi nahi.")
First of all, far as I know he was contacted for and approved said
line - and it wasn't me who mocked him; that's the storyboard and script
I got.
Re, the morning show: It was a good experience; he was a
well-informed host and struck me as an intellectual - which was a sharp
contrast to all the Sahir Lodhi hate' that was rampant on social media
at the time. We did have a difference of opinion over a plot thread of
Aunn Zara, but that's that.
Adeensyed: Who did you get along with the most during the shoot of Diyar-e-Dil?
Shooting was so much fun with all the cast/crew members -
me, Ali and Hareem go way back (we've done theatre in Islamabad together
- in fact Ali and I made our theatrical debut together in 2005) so it
was fun acting with friends you knew - of course this was my third
project with Maya and we're close friends, so there's that... from
Haseeb's energy on set as a director to our DoP Zeb Rao to makeup artist
Summiya Majeed; we were the proverbial one big happy'.
Tasneem: OKB When are you gonna marry?
Matlab meray cousins aur family ke taanay kaafi nahi hain jo ab yahan bhi sunni parrahi hai. (Laughs)
When I find the love of my life.
Your question reminds me of a comment my friend made recently that made me laugh so hard: Obi jaldi shaadi kar lo bohat zor ka naach aya hai.'
(EDIT: Turns out Sana asked the same question. I hope the above was a satisfactory response, Sana.)
Ruba & Rehmat: What you enjoy more: theatre or
television? If theatre then in what way has theatre helped your
performance in dramas?
(Before I begin: thank you, Rehmat for your wonderful comments and your support)
Theatre, any day. Theatre's my muse, my mistress; this might sound very repetitive but it is my raison-d'etre. If it weren't for theatre, you'd probably never have seen me on television - or, for that matter, on YouTube.
See, I'm an introvert by nature, and back in the day I was painfully
shy/closed-off; this gawky, unsure kid with, how does the song go, his
nose stuck in a book' - theatre gave me confidence, it gave me drive.
It kindled a true passion for the performing arts in me. I think the way
theatre has helped me most in dramas is that I try to approach each
character I play the same way I would in theatre: thinking about the
character's background, upbringing; what makes him tick', what quirks
and characteristics I can add.
Rehmat: How hard or easy was it to play a character like
Wali... Asking because that was my favourite character in novel... And
equally excited to see you as Wali.
It was very hard! Pahaar jitni to expectations hain logon ki, given
that he's such a beloved character from the novel - and such a
multifaceted one at that. The way Farhat Ishtiaq has written Wali and
the way Haseeb visualized the character were a huge help, of course.
What was the most challenging was that he has a very different dynamic
with every character: Agha Jan, Faarah, Roohi, Arjumand... I just hope
I've done him justice.
Rehmat: Which shade of Omer gave you the most exciting experience?
I think I enjoyed Omer's scenes with his father, Rahat Hashmi (played
by Usman Peerzada), the most. There was an incredible negative energy
and chemistry there; a constant game of one-upmanship that I really
enjoyed. And the fact that I tried to carry a bit of Rahat's DNA - his
temperament, his aggressiveness - in my performance as Omar as well;
which I think makes him flawed but also human. You know Omar's
essentially a good guy, but he has his father's genes.
(EDIT: FA asked a similar Goya-related question).
Rehmat: So great to know about your writing skills as well.. Any upcoming project that you have written or thinking to write?
Yes, in fact I'm very happy to be part of my friend and producer
Imran Kazmi's upcoming project, a romantic comedy with an element of
drama. We've had a great experience working on Siyaah', and I'm really excited with how this film's shaping up as well in its scripting.
Param: Is there any chance of seeing you in full beard ever
or you will always be seen with this kind (or design) that you keep? Why
did you choose to have this kind of beard in Goya?
I think Diyar-e-Dil' will be the closest you'll see me in a
full beard. My facial hair is very, hmm, how should I put it, uneven?
Patchy? Like I've yet to pass puberty?
I dunno about Goya... I wanted a different look for Omar; I'd like to
think he'd have gone for this kind of style. I'm sure Rahat Hashmi would
have wanted a prim and proper, clean-shaved Omar. Small act of
rebellion?
Romy: Name one Indian TV actress and one film actress with whom you would like to work in a TV serial and in a film.
I confess: I don't watch Indian TV except for when I'm visiting my family in Lahore, which you know, don't even get me started.
Indian film actress? Hmm: Sri Devi. Huge fan. I'd also love to work with Vidya Balan or Alia Bhatt. A guy can dream, right?
Romy: Which Indian TV serial do you like the most?
You know, when I was younger, Zee Horror Show used to scare the sh*t
out of me. That theme music alone guaranteed sleepless nights.
Romy: How are you so down to earth and kind to your fans?
That's very kind of you to say! I...err...don't really know how to answer this one, to be honest.
Fefefe: Are you good friends with Mohini (Sana Javed) off-screen? Do you guys hang out often? Please answer honestly.
I am friends with Sana; we hit it off during the shoot for Goya. In
fact it was kind of like a trio: me, Sana and Farah Shah - because we
had so many scenes together, we'd often be seen laughing our collective
behinds off at the latest Whatsapp audio/video Farah shared with us (she
was the one who introduced the Goya team to the Coca Cola' song, which
eventually made its way in a scene as well.)
We don't hang out that often, no, but that's because we're busy with projects and when not, jab free time hota hai mai to forran wapis Islamabad bhagta hoon.
Roopan: Do you prefer acting in comedies or stories with intense characters?
I think comedy comes a bit naturally to me, especially in theatre.
And while I love making people laugh, some of my most challenging
characters have been extremely intense. And I love a challenge.
Roopan: Do you think being Pakistani and coming from a rather cultural place puts boundaries on actors?
If you're brave and you believe in what you're doing, I don't think
there are any boundaries, to be honest. Except the ones that are
self-imposed. I mean, I assume you're talking about taking on
hard-hitting, bold topics and themes and not asking whether I'd ever
appear in a Fifty Shades of Grey.
Because if it's the latter, then yes of course there are boundaries. But that's part culture, part common sense. Death to Inner Goddess'!
Roopan: What are your thoughts on India and Bollywood?
I've never been to India - though my team from Desi Writers' Lounge
had amazing things to say about the place and especially the people when
they went for the Goa Arts and Literary Festival, but I'm a huge,
unabashed fan of Bollywood.
Tooba Shah: Why are you so cute?
My only response to this is a series of awkward facial expressions and a sudden reddening of my cheeks and ears.
Tooba Shah: What kind of roles do you like to play?
Dark, intense roles, mostly.
Hashtag Damaged Goods'.
Mona: Everything that I want to know has already been asked, so I'll just want to know what are his plans after Diyar e Dil?
Hey Mona, always a pleasure. I'll never forget your support when I was taking my first steps in the industry.
I'm looking at a couple of TV scripts, I'm writing a movie, I'm
thinking of doing theatre again; it's been 5 years since I've directed a
major commercial play and I miss it. There might just be a film project (acting) as well, but it's too early to talk about it.
Seher: How r u?
So very tired. I am juggling two dholkis (one dance practice in
Islamabad - the other in Lahore), two writing assignments, a laptop that
loves nothing better than to crash and burn right before I press Save on my work, my shoots and...
Err, sorry. This escalated quickly. I'm fine, you know, always next to normal.
Sana Khanum*: Which Game of Thrones:
1.Woman
2.House
3.Episode
4.Character
is your favorite?
* Sana, I read your previous question and
had written out a reply but I think TogetherWeStand' has summed it up
quite beautifully. If you haven't already, please read their response underneath your question.
You know, from the novels, I've always been drawn to Cersei
Lannister's character (the chapters that are from her perspective),
followed by Arya Stark.
In the series, aside from these two, I love the Tyrell women.
The Baratheons are noble, but House Lannister is where all the drama, the politics are.
Episode? Hmm. Oh, it'd have to be The Rains of Castamere'. I knew what was coming and yet it was so brutal, so gutting.
Re: character - TYRION LANNISTER.
Also, your Board exams must be underway by now, but the very best of luck!
Hamna: You are a great person Osman! Do you like the British
music band One Direction!?Are you exited for you new role as Wali in
Diyar-e-Dil!? What is your favorite character Aunn or Omar Hashmi? Is it
possible to get a follow from you on twitter?
Thank you, Hamna! I don't really follow their (One Direction's) music, but I heard Steal My Girl' and I think it's a solid pop track! By the way, I heard about Zayn...so, err, my condolences.
I'm very excited about Wali, a little sh*t scared, but mostly very excited. Between Aunn and Omar Hashmi? Definitely Aunn.
Re: the Twitter follow, if your timeline is interesting, who knows.
Edited by lostmymusic. - 9 years ago
comment:
p_commentcount