Faran Tahir Archives

Faran Tahir’s career spans diverse roles, from Shakespeare’s Othello to a concerned Syrian father seeking refuge with his family, a playboy arms dealer, and the iconic Captain Nemo. As one of the few Pakistani actors in Hollywood, Faran is known for his humility, compassion, and drive. Transitioning from theater to the big screen, he shares insights into life in Hollywood, his early career journey, aspirations for the future, and his latest role in
the Pakistani film UmroAyyar.

HOW DID YOU FIND THE TRANSITION BETWEEN WORKING IN HOLLYWOOD AND PAKISTAN’S FILM INDUSTRY? WERE THERE ANY MAJOR DIFFERENCES IN YOUR EXPERIENCES?

Of course there are many distinct differences between working in Hollywood and working in Pakistan. Hollywood industry being way more established and having a much larger history has more resources and bigger budgets for these ventures. And to be able to work with those people who are the crème of the creme and learning from them was a wonderful opportunity. But at the same time working in Pakistan which is a very different industry, one has to honour the rules and regulations of any industry that you work in. Although Pakistan has fewer resources but I think the creativity in Pakistan is beyond imagination and because of that working with people and trying to find solutions together is a wonderful learning experience.

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND REWARDS OF WORKING IN BOTH INDUSTRIES?

Both industries have their own challenges. For me the biggest challenge of working in Hollywood was to keep trying to find roles that showed me in a diversified way. And I’m not stereotyped which can happen in an industry which has limited offerings for characters and people like me. On the other hand in Pakistan the challenge is always been structural things. USA is way more structured. To be able to make your way through and have enough focus on what you’re trying to do has always been a challenge for me.

WE HAVE HEARD YOU TALK BEFORE ABOUT BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE GLOBAL MARKET CONTENT AND DOMESTIC MARKET CONTENT NOW THAT YOU HAVE WORKED IN PAKISTAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS TO EXPAND YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN PAKISTANI ENTERTAINMENT?

Having working in Pakistan I was very encouraged by Pakistan film industry. I think it’s high time we share our stories with the global market. Keeping that in mind I’m setting up my own company. Which is a production house make Pakistan which is my home my base. And keep a foot in both industries and push the envelope and
see if we can do some meaningful work. I would like to keep both the careers alive at the same time.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE IN UMROAYYAR AND HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE CAST AND CREW?

My experience of working at UmroAyyar was nothing short of being absolutely wonderful. The cast and crew became a family. We were trying to do something that was new and original. And because of that there was such camaraderie between the crew. And I will take this with me a jewel of a memory for the rest of my life

CAN YOU SHARE A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE OR ANECDOTE FROM WORKING ON A HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTION VERSUS A PAKISTANI PRODUCTION?

One of the funniest annectodes of my work life in Hollywood was when a director got up and decided to show me how to act like a Pakistani. It was hilarious, frustrating and maddening at the same time. On the Pakistani side, I was once asked to come and direct a high fantasy project and I was sure there would be a studio for me to do it. After getting to Pakistan, I was told that the studio that the studio had not even been constructed yet.
Which created a lot of problems. It was hilarious and very frustrating at the same time.

HOW DO YOU APPROACH ROLES DIFFERENTLY BASED ON CULTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HOLLYWOOD AND PAKISTANI CINEMA?

I think regardless of which cinema or industry you’re working in, each character is unique and therefore we
must stay honest to what the characters requirements are. I always approach a character from a unique perspective. Sometimes my Pakistani culture my heritage plays a big part in it. Sometimes it plays a small part in it. And yet it is always a part of of me. So when I work in Hollywood, that uniqueness of my Pakistani experience is a part of my rendition and my approach to the character. But when I work in Pakistan some of my experience
from the US also trickles into my characters.

WHAT DO YOU THINK EACH INDUSTRY CAN LEARN FROM THE OTHER IN TERMS OF FILMMAKING TECHNIQUES OR STORYTELLING?

I think both industries have a lot to offer to each other. Obviously because the west is more advanced in the technology I think Pakistani industry will benefit from learning the technique and ways that are now being used in global story telling. By the same token we Pakistanis have some unique stories which need to be shared with the world and I think it would be a wonderful addition to the world art scene if we can also bring our stories to the forefront.

HOW HAS YOUR BACKGROUND INFLUENCED YOUR ACTING STYLE AND THE ROLES YOU CHOOSE TO PLAY?

I have been very fortunate to have had a wonderful education and training in performing arts. Which always helps me in crafting my characters. On the technical side that is a wonderful blessing, on the artistic side I think my acting style has a lot to do with my heritage and my own experience. I always try to bring something new something different, something more human to every character that I play.

ARE THERE SPECIFIC GENRES OR TYPES OF ROLES YOU PREFER IN ONE INDUSTRY OVER THE OTHER?

I actually focus on story telling and therefore to me all roles are wonderful challenges as long as the story requires it. I don’t make no distinction between roles or industries. I always look for the best story that we can tell.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF PAKISTANI CINEMA EVOLVING, ESPECIALLY IN RELATION TO ITS INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE?

I think Pakistan has a lot to offer. The problem that we have had so far is that we have only explored limited genres of story telling. In order to have a more global presence we would expand our exploration into other genres, other issues and other kind of movies. The strength of any industry is the variety of content that they product and I think we are at the right time and right moment to do those explorations in Pakistani cinema.

ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR DIRECTORS OR ACTORS FROM EITHER INDUSTRY THAT YOU PARTICULARLY ADMIRE OR WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH IN THE FUTURE?

There are some wonderful creators in this world and I make it a point to work with people who elevate my
craft. There are wonderful directors and actors across the world and I hope I can get the chance to work
with as many as I possibly can.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING ACTORS LOOKING TO WORK IN BOTH HOLLYWOOD AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL FILM INDUSTRIES?

My advice to all aspiring actors is to always dream big but never shy away from the hard work that goes into achieving those dreams. If our Pakistani actors want to work outside it would be to our benefit if we keep the training and have all the skills and tools that we might require to work in an international industry.

offering films television documentaries events short films and commercials. We’re hoping that by doing so we can elevate pakistans industry and bring more of an international viewership to our content. We will be in operation in about three months and we’re hoping we can take this industry to the next level.

AFTER YOUR RECENT PROJECT, HOW DO YOU ENVISION WHAT TYPES OF CHARACTERS WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLORE IN PAKISTAN ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY?

Having worked in Pakistan I would like to explore more varied characters than what we have currently being offered on screen. I would like to focus more on issues and storylines that are different than just domestic issues. We can bring light to other issues and other kind of characters and people will identify with these kind of
characters and story lines.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERFECT SCENARIO IF YOU COULD BALANCE YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE TWO INDUSTRIES?

I would really like to explore wonderful challenges in both industries and if I could have my choice I would much rather

Photography: MOHSIN KHAWAR

Makeup: PARAGON SALON

Location: ANDAZ RESTAURANT

With roles ranging from Shakespeare’s Othello, to a concerned father trying to escape Syria with his family, to a playboy arms dealer, to the legendary Captain Nemo, Faran Tahir’s career seems to be bursting at the seams. One of the only Pakistani-actors in the world’s top film industry, Faran comes across as humble, caring and motivated. A trained and seasoned actor who moved from the theater stage to the silver screen, Faran talked to Kamil Chima about life in Hollywood, his journey starting out and his aspirations for the future

How were you introduced to the world of acting? Did you have any mentorship in your early days?

My family in Pakistan has been involved with the performing arts for three generations so my introduction was a natural one. I guess the mentorship also came from there by default as I grew up being part of a family of very talented people.

Over a long career you have now worked with so many of the top actors in the world. But everyone has to start somewhere. What was a fan moment for you starting off?

I started off in theatre and then moved on to film and television therefore I would not call one specific moment as the turning point. It has been a gradual expansion into different mediums and I have appreciated every step of my journey because it gave me the chance to learn a lot.

When was the first time somebody recognized you on the street and how did you react?

It was probably after one of my first stage plays. To this day, it is a humbling feeling. Espe-cially for someone to take time out of their day to say a kind word.

Which actor or director have you most enjoyed working with and why?

I have been lucky enough to work with some wonderful actors and directors throughout my career. All of whom have made me grow and I am very grateful. I always enjoy my work and have never faced a situation where I have not liked working with anyone.

What is it like working in Hollywood and rubbing shoulders with the who’s who of American society?

It’s funny but when you are working together all that does not matter. Everyone is so focused on trying to give all they have to the project. Of course I feel blessed to be a part of the Hol-lywood fraternity and my experience has been a positive one. Everyone I have met and worked with in Hollywood has been talented and I have found good in all.

You’ve performed at an international level and you also possess a trans-cultural identity. How does this figure in your acting?

Your own experience with life, culture, society gives you the ability to draw from all of these aspects. I certainly have tried to use all these as my resources to enrich the characters that I play.

Do you feel you are typecast due to your ethnicity? If so, do you feel it holds you back in any way?

Sometimes one is offered roles of a similar nature. One just needs to be careful not to keep on repeating similar roles too much or it becomes artistic suicide. I try to bring as much diversity in my roles as I can. For example, this year my roles have ranged from Shakespeare’s Othello, to a concerned father trying to escape Syria with his family, to a playboy arms dealer, to the legendary Captain Nemo. Variety is the spice of life.

With mainstream shows such as ‘The Night Of’, ‘Quantico’, and ‘Master of None’ all with South Asian leads, do you think American audiences are ready for a South Asian lead in a mainstream feature?

Audiences are smart. They want to watch content that is interesting, fresh and captivating. If that comes with a South Asian lead then so be it.

What movies do you find yourself watching on a Sunday evening after a hard week?

I think the little boy in me is still alive so anything that will get my adrenaline pumping. The last movie I watched was Jason Bourne.

What do you specially like about Pakistan?

The ability we all have to be hospitable and generous.

What are your future aims and aspirations? Any projects in Pakistan that we should know about?

I would like to keep finding diversity and challenges in my work. There have been instances when I have been offered projects from Pakistan. Would love to work in Pakistan provided it’s a good script and the logistics can be worked out.

And we look forward to seeing farhan play the lead in a Pakistani production!

Faran Tahir

In conversation with FARAN TAHIR the UmroAyyar Star

Faran Tahir: The Pakistani-American actor talks about his life in Hollywood