Saba Ahmed talks to Fahad Mustafa – Beloved Host, Actor, Rising Film Star
We see a lot less of you on TV in drama serials. Why is that?
Over the past two years, things have changed when it comes to drama serials. Serials have become less of a priority and films are slowly taking over. There has been a progressive change overall in our industry. I have greatly reduced the number of serials I am doing and have started doing more shows instead. I figured, for me, since I actually enjoy acting, it would be better to do fewer serials so as to keep enjoying acting in them. I saw a transition period where I went towards shows and also had more time to focus on films. I got this film called Mah-e-Meer which will be released in the next month or two. This is a film written by Sarmad Sehbai and I’m playing Meer, in fact I play two very interesting characters. Iman Ali and Sanam Saeed are co-starring with me. I’m currently working on one film and waiting for the release of Mah-e-Meer. It’s already been selected for the Toronto Film Festival just from people having watched the promos.
Tell us about Big Bang Entertainment, your very own production house
Producing a serial is a lot of money. Acting in serials is something I don’t enjoy anymore, but since I’m running my own company and I have a sellable name as an actor, I do a few to sustain my business. Last year we produced over 20 odd serials including Koi Nahin Apna, Arranged Marriage, Mera Hamrahi, Tootay Huay Taaray and we’re currently working on Aashiq Hussain featuring Faisal Qureshi. Producing these serials was the first step for us towards films because television is the only well-functioning, thriving entertainment industry we have. I now have plans to produce my own film also called Band Kab Bajay Ga which will start production around end August this year and will hopefully be released end of this year.
“Something funny that happens is when girls come up on stage and whisper to me that they want to hug meâ€
You are now more inclined to act in and produce films? Why?
Film is a larger medium where you can focus more, it’s less time and fewer scenes than television and you can develop characters far better than in television. 500+ scenes in a serial, and 60, 65 scenes in a film, which do you think would be done better, where would you be able to focus more on, say, art direction and character development? For most actors, drama serials are where they began and that’s what has shaped their identities. Like I said, the drama industry is the only industry that we have, the film industry has only just started and everything is based on wishful thinking. Let’s hope and pray that it will grow and prosper but it still has a long way to go. Somebody like me who’s doing and has done so much can maybe afford to do films now but someone who’s just started out can’t afford to take such a big risk and opt to do films only.
Has your star status changed since Jeeto Pakistan? And how?
I’m hosting the number-one show in the country called Jeeto Pakistan. I’m enjoying it very much, it’s a different kind of stardom that I’ve seen through this show. Whether it’s a rikshaw waala or a rairdy waala, someone from the elite class or from the corporate sector, everybody knows me now. Before, it used to be just the people who were following dramas. Now all of a sudden, I’ve become a public figure and that’s a really different sort of experience for me and I’m really enjoying that.
“While films about the war on terror are important, people in Pakistan also want to laughâ€
Tell us about your experience hosting such a widely viewed morning show as Jeeto Pakistan
When I started hosting the show, everybody asked me why I had agreed to do this show and why a morning show? Now, every child in Pakistan is watching it. And honestly, I just go up there and have fun, I don’t even host, I just go and have a few laughs, make a few jokes, I get two hours of relaxed fun time in the morning. And I think people see that and enjoy the show for that reason. I think it’s because I don’t pretend to be what I’m not, I just go on the show and be myself. You can’t pretend on television for a very long time, especially if you’re hosting.
Any funny occurrences on the stage of Jeeto Pakistan?
Something funny that happens to me on the show is that when girls come up on stage, they whisper to me that they want to hug me. Unfortunately on our television screens, this is considered rather odd, a girl giving a boy a hug. But I think that perhaps I’m the only exceptional case that I oblige the audience members by hugging them and the viewership at large does not take offence to it either. The producers have also chided me at times and told me not to hug these girls on stage but, come on, it’s not like that. When people appreciate you as a television personality, they just want to touch you, and I think there’s nothing wrong with that. Sometimes, I oblige just to tick off the people at the channel!
“You can’t pretend on television for a very long time, especially if you’re hostingâ€
Tell us about Na Maloom Afraad and the rise of the entertainer film.
We’ve made an entertainer film which is new for our recent wave of Pakistani cinema. We were stuck in the rut of making films about war and mujahedeen so it’s heartening to hear that, currently, in production, are 30 odd entertainer films. While films about the war on terror are important, people in Pakistan also want to laugh. I say show them something they are used to and can relate to, not just jihadists and war. My own film that will be coming out later this year will be a romantic comedy. Whether or not it does well at the box office is a separate concern. I think it’s great to take the initiative to entertain people rather than making people sadder about their circumstances. I’m an optimist and I believe that the conditions in our country will get better and we will be the ones who will make that happen.
Was it as much fun to film as it was to watch?
Filming Na Maloom Afraad was a blast. Each day was so much fun with so much happening. My director had specifically instructed me not to work out as he wanted me playing this average Joe complete with a saggy body. And to top it off, most of the time, on screen and on set, I was not wearing a shirt, a towel mostly. And in the winter too! And when you’re showering and the whole crew is watching you, it’s too much! I just got used to it after a while. There was a scene in which my towel falls off which was immensely difficult to shoot, lots of boo boos there! I think the actors’ chemistry and positive energy on set shone through. No one was bored.
Photography | AB Lakhani
Noor Fatima Sultan Khan talks to Farida Khanum about her favourite place to relax
As I entered the TV lounge I saw Farida ji wearing a turquoise linen shalwar kameez. She had draped a beige shawl around her shoulders. The persistent glimmer in her eyes, her rosy complexion, as well as the poise and grace that sends hearts reeling, was accompanied by an extremely warm greeting. As I drew my diary out of my bag she looked at me with affection and prayed: May you get success. I stood up and kissed her forehead. Farida ji is one of those who makes everyone around her feel happy, no matter the difference in age or background.
Noor Khan: Farida ji, you have so many windows in your house. But every time I’ve seen you in your home, I’ve seen you sitting here. Is there something special about this window?
A five-second pause after which Farida ji intones Munir Niazi’s ghazal: Chaman main rang-e-bahar utra tau mainay daikha, nazar se dil ka ghubaar utra tau mainay dekha
Farida Khanum: Every crack of dawn when I wake up, I come and sit here. Outside this window is the tree that my mother sowed with her own hands. Once I told her to axe it and she said, “Farida, don’t ever chop this tree!” This tree is 48years old. It was my mother’s beloved mango tree. Every time I sit here, I feel close to my mother because all the flowers and plants in my garden were planted by her. Every time I eat mangoes off this tree, I miss her. In the early days, when she would cook a meal, I would stand beside her and learn how to cook. She’d often say: “Farida, first stir fry onions till they are golden and add the masala in the end only, otherwise it will burn.” This window and the sight outside this window is a mirror image of my mother’s memories.
“Often I observe a squirrel on my mango tree. I laugh when I see how the squirrel dodges the cat and runs up the tree with foodâ€
NK: You’ve talked about flowers in your garden, which flowers are you fond of?
FK: Rose and nargis. I love heavily-scented flowers. We have raat ki rani outside this window. In my childhood, I used to like its smell and used to inquire which flower or plant it was. I was told, “Aye jee raat di rani aye.” Since then I have it planted. I get upset if any plant of mine gets scorched. I have always wanted to have a garden in my house where I could plant flowers myself. I’m very grateful to Allah that He has blessed me. I find nature and nature’s blessings in flowers.
NK: People go and things remain. You must value this tree a lot.
FK: I deeply value this tree and all those things that are related to my mother. May Allah bless her with Jannat ul Firdous. Ameen.
“Outside this window is the tree that my mother sowed with her own hands. Once I told her to axe it and she said, ‘Farida, don’t ever
chop this tree!’â€
NK: Which recollections jog your memory when you sit here?
FK: I miss my mother and my sister when I sit down here. When I relax here, I think about them. My sister had great qualities. She found for me Ustaad Ashiq Ali Khan sahib and made me take riyaaz from him. She used to compliment me for having a melodious voice. I remember my childhood riyaaz with Ustaad Ashiq Ali Khan sahib when I look out the window, I remember how during the practice I used to play with the matchstick box. Sometimes I played with my dupatta and when Ustaad sahib used to tell me off I’d put my dupatta under his shoe!
NK: Why does this window, particularly, draw your attention?
FK: This window and the sight outside this window relaxes me, it brings me near to nature. Often I observe a squirrel on my mango tree. I laugh when I see how the squirrel dodges the cat and runs up the tree with food. I like watching the squirrel. In early days, I used to hope to have a garden with flowers of different sorts, I’d think of planting such and such flowers. And now, when I look out my window and see my garden, I feel very joyful.
“I remember how during practice I used to play with the matchstick box. Sometimes I played with my dupatta and when Ustaad sahib used to tell me off I’d put my dupatta under his shoe!â€
NK: Which old memories do you remember sitting here?
FK:Â Childhood days, old talks. Once I drove to a Picture house with my kids to watch a 3pm movie. It was so hot that my youngest daughter’s nose started bleeding. After this incident, I never took them to watch a 3pm movie. Also, my son would never sleep unless I’d take him around in a car. After a round, when we used to come back home, he’d be sleeping in the car.
NK: What time do you sit here and do you also rehearse here?
FK: Beta, I sit here most of the time, this is my most preferred place. Whenever I’m stressed, I come here and think and ask for Allah’s help. I was doing riyaaz before you came.
