With five televisions serials – Kisay Apna Kahain, Mere Meherban, Rasam, Ghar Aik Jannat and Jhooti airing currently, two – Taan and Bakhaira – in post-production, and three on set, Hassan Niazi is a busy actor.
You star in five television serials that are currently on air. Two more are ready to be aired and three are on set. Do you find time for anything besides acting these days?
I don’t; but this is a dream come true for me. I worked very hard for a very long time to find big success in acting. Now that I have it, I am enjoying it. I have had to learn how to manage my time efficiently and to remove unnecessary clutter from my life. The real challenge, when busy as an actor, is to maintain continuity and character in each one of the television plays one works in. Karachi’s traffic helps a lot in this area. While driving to work, I spend my time thinking about the role that I am playing and getting into character. Commute times are long in the city and, by the time I get to the set, I am fully immersed in the character I am playing. Acting has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I like being busy as an actor.
Are you enjoying your life as one of Pakistan’s most successful television actors?
Yes, every single second of it. It took a lot of hard work, energy, time and effort to find success in show business but the rewards have been great. I no longer have to accept all the roles that come my way. I get to pick and choose. I get a lot of time and attention from writers, producers and directors. And I get to work with people that I enjoy working with. I couldn’t ask for more.
Does celebrity come with a lot of benefits?
It sure does. The financial benefits are huge. One can make a good amount of money as an actor and as a model. A lot of major fashion designers want me to wear their designs, and now that I have the money to afford their clothes, I get to dress up well. I get to hang with interesting people and am treated with a certain amount of respect wherever I go. It is nice to be recognized in public and get a little special treatment. As an individual, I enjoy everything that I just listed, but the real benefit of celebrity for me is having the luxury of living the way I want to live. I get to do what I like to do – acting and modeling – and I do it with dignity and pride. I live where I want to live, I spend time with people whose company I enjoy, and I get to do things that bring me happiness. It may sound as if I am high on success but the truth is that I am. And I am very grateful to God for everything.
[quote]It is a challenge to convince landlords that I won't turn their homes into dens of male depravity[/quote]
What is the downside of being an actor in Pakistan?
I have only experienced one – not being able to find a home to rent easily. No one seems to want to rent to a young unmarried actor. It is a challenge to convince landlords that I won’t turn their homes into dens of male depravity.
What was childhood like?
I was a sensitive child and used to get hurt very easily. I enjoyed solitude. People, particularly elders, found it easy to love me and I used to enjoy entertaining them. As a child, I had very few friends. I was always afraid of being betrayed in friendship. I still am.
How did you get your first break in acting?
Acting always came easily to me. It was something I enjoyed. A few friends of mine helped me secure roles in a couple of television plays that worked well for me. Television producer, Raheel Rao, recognized the actor in me and guided me every step of the way. Each small success in acting led to a bigger one, and here I am today, staying very busy as an actor.
The world of show business is known for abusing and taking advantage of people trying to get their first break. Aspirants are often forced to trade sexual favors for an entry into the field. Did you have any negative experiences while trying to enter the industry?
I suppose I am an attractive man. A lot of people, both men and women, wanted to sleep with me but I decided to take the long route of using hard work and talent to move ahead.
On a much-needed serious note, I must say that I was lucky not to have to sleep my way to success but the casting couch problem in Pakistan is real; a lot of people are abused – not just sexually, but also emotionally and financially, by those who wield power in the world of show business. It is a sad situation.
Can the abuse be stopped?
It can and it must be stopped. I have to believe that it can be stopped. Otherwise, I wouldn’t want to be in this field.
How can it be stopped?
A lot has to be done and a lot has to happen to stop the abuse we are talking about.
We need an actors’ union or association in Pakistan to safeguard the interests of actors, both junior and senior. We need to have well-defined rules and regulations for casting calls and auditions. Laws need to be put in place to prevent the abuse of actors. People need to be educated about sexual harassment and abuse of power. We also need agents in Pakistan to represent actors and make sure that they are treated fairly and equitably. We also need schools for the performing arts: institutions where artists are not only taught their craft but are also educated about their rights and responsibilities.
There is a lot of gossip about certain photographers, directors and “powerful persons” who are known to abuse the young and the gullible; yet there is a revolting amount of tolerance for their behavior. The people I talk about belong to the crème de la crème of modern Pakistani society. They need to be exposed and forced to pay for their deeds. They should be ostracized both socially and professionally. Knowing about the abuse committed by these people but still engaging with them socially and professionally is the height of hypocrisy. In my opinion, it is tantamount to being a party to the abuse. We need to name names.
The one thing that will make a huge dent in this world of abuse, is focus on talent, craft and skill. Once the standard of cinema and television in Pakistan has risen significantly, no one will be able to hire people in exchange for sexual favors. All selection will be on merit. That is my hope but, while we seem to be on our way, we are far from achieving excellence in the field in Pakistan. We cannot and should not wait for the utopian reality of excellent Pakistani cinema and television. Steps must be taken today to curb the abuse of young entrants into the field of show business.
How did you learn to act?
I always knew that I was born to be an actor and enjoyed acting. I watched a lot of good cinema in my youth which helped groom me as an actor. I have always been a keen observer of human behavior and have used my observations to polish my acting skills. Early on in my career, I was coached by a number of senior actors. The list of those who helped me with acting is long but, at the risk of missing someone’s name, let me go through it. Muhammad Qavi, Badar Khalil, Shaan Shahid, Shafi Muhammad Shah, Talat Hussain, Nauman Ejaz and Sania Saeed did a lot for me when I was new in the field. I will always be grateful for their coaching, guidance and advice. I also studied acting techniques, particularly Stanislavski’s system when I was new in the industry. I still use the method to draw authentic emotions in my performances. I could not attend a proper acting school but used all other means of learning – books, individual coaching, videos, and workshops – at my disposal to learn my craft.
Have you considered a career in cinema?
Yes.
A lot of Pakistani actors are now working in India. Have you been approached by anyone from Bollywood?
No.
Do you have an interest in cinema?
Yes, I have a tremendous interest in cinema. I will not consider myself to be successful in the field of acting until I have worked in feature films. It is the one dream that remains to be fulfilled.
I am in talks with some people in the United States about working in an English language feature film that is loosely based on the folk tale of Heer Ranjha and set in rural Pakistan. The role is a daring one and I hope to be able to play it well. Unfortunately, the project keeps getting delayed due to the law and order situation in Pakistan. I have studied the script and have been preparing for the role for a few months now. I can’t wait to start work on the film. I believe it will be my best project as an actor thus far.
You are a single and handsome young man. Does acting make it easy for you to hook up with ladies?
Not as much as I would like it to.
[quote]Good girls do not trust young male actors[/quote]
Are you romantically involved with someone at this stage?
No. I want to be but I am not. Now that I think about it, this is another downside to being in show business. Good girls do not trust young male actors. This is almost as painful as not being able find homes to rent easily.
When you are not acting what do you do?
It is not often that I am not on set, but when I am free, I try to catch up on my sleep.
Ally Adnan lives in Dallas, Texas, where he works in the field of mobile telecommunications and writes about culture and the arts. He can be reached at allyadnan@outlook.com
You star in five television serials that are currently on air. Two more are ready to be aired and three are on set. Do you find time for anything besides acting these days?
I don’t; but this is a dream come true for me. I worked very hard for a very long time to find big success in acting. Now that I have it, I am enjoying it. I have had to learn how to manage my time efficiently and to remove unnecessary clutter from my life. The real challenge, when busy as an actor, is to maintain continuity and character in each one of the television plays one works in. Karachi’s traffic helps a lot in this area. While driving to work, I spend my time thinking about the role that I am playing and getting into character. Commute times are long in the city and, by the time I get to the set, I am fully immersed in the character I am playing. Acting has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I like being busy as an actor.
Are you enjoying your life as one of Pakistan’s most successful television actors?
Yes, every single second of it. It took a lot of hard work, energy, time and effort to find success in show business but the rewards have been great. I no longer have to accept all the roles that come my way. I get to pick and choose. I get a lot of time and attention from writers, producers and directors. And I get to work with people that I enjoy working with. I couldn’t ask for more.
Does celebrity come with a lot of benefits?
It sure does. The financial benefits are huge. One can make a good amount of money as an actor and as a model. A lot of major fashion designers want me to wear their designs, and now that I have the money to afford their clothes, I get to dress up well. I get to hang with interesting people and am treated with a certain amount of respect wherever I go. It is nice to be recognized in public and get a little special treatment. As an individual, I enjoy everything that I just listed, but the real benefit of celebrity for me is having the luxury of living the way I want to live. I get to do what I like to do – acting and modeling – and I do it with dignity and pride. I live where I want to live, I spend time with people whose company I enjoy, and I get to do things that bring me happiness. It may sound as if I am high on success but the truth is that I am. And I am very grateful to God for everything.
[quote]It is a challenge to convince landlords that I won't turn their homes into dens of male depravity[/quote]
What is the downside of being an actor in Pakistan?
I have only experienced one – not being able to find a home to rent easily. No one seems to want to rent to a young unmarried actor. It is a challenge to convince landlords that I won’t turn their homes into dens of male depravity.
What was childhood like?
I was a sensitive child and used to get hurt very easily. I enjoyed solitude. People, particularly elders, found it easy to love me and I used to enjoy entertaining them. As a child, I had very few friends. I was always afraid of being betrayed in friendship. I still am.
How did you get your first break in acting?
Acting always came easily to me. It was something I enjoyed. A few friends of mine helped me secure roles in a couple of television plays that worked well for me. Television producer, Raheel Rao, recognized the actor in me and guided me every step of the way. Each small success in acting led to a bigger one, and here I am today, staying very busy as an actor.
The world of show business is known for abusing and taking advantage of people trying to get their first break. Aspirants are often forced to trade sexual favors for an entry into the field. Did you have any negative experiences while trying to enter the industry?
I suppose I am an attractive man. A lot of people, both men and women, wanted to sleep with me but I decided to take the long route of using hard work and talent to move ahead.
On a much-needed serious note, I must say that I was lucky not to have to sleep my way to success but the casting couch problem in Pakistan is real; a lot of people are abused – not just sexually, but also emotionally and financially, by those who wield power in the world of show business. It is a sad situation.
Can the abuse be stopped?
It can and it must be stopped. I have to believe that it can be stopped. Otherwise, I wouldn’t want to be in this field.
How can it be stopped?
A lot has to be done and a lot has to happen to stop the abuse we are talking about.
We need an actors’ union or association in Pakistan to safeguard the interests of actors, both junior and senior. We need to have well-defined rules and regulations for casting calls and auditions. Laws need to be put in place to prevent the abuse of actors. People need to be educated about sexual harassment and abuse of power. We also need agents in Pakistan to represent actors and make sure that they are treated fairly and equitably. We also need schools for the performing arts: institutions where artists are not only taught their craft but are also educated about their rights and responsibilities.
There is a lot of gossip about certain photographers, directors and “powerful persons” who are known to abuse the young and the gullible; yet there is a revolting amount of tolerance for their behavior. The people I talk about belong to the crème de la crème of modern Pakistani society. They need to be exposed and forced to pay for their deeds. They should be ostracized both socially and professionally. Knowing about the abuse committed by these people but still engaging with them socially and professionally is the height of hypocrisy. In my opinion, it is tantamount to being a party to the abuse. We need to name names.
The one thing that will make a huge dent in this world of abuse, is focus on talent, craft and skill. Once the standard of cinema and television in Pakistan has risen significantly, no one will be able to hire people in exchange for sexual favors. All selection will be on merit. That is my hope but, while we seem to be on our way, we are far from achieving excellence in the field in Pakistan. We cannot and should not wait for the utopian reality of excellent Pakistani cinema and television. Steps must be taken today to curb the abuse of young entrants into the field of show business.
How did you learn to act?
I always knew that I was born to be an actor and enjoyed acting. I watched a lot of good cinema in my youth which helped groom me as an actor. I have always been a keen observer of human behavior and have used my observations to polish my acting skills. Early on in my career, I was coached by a number of senior actors. The list of those who helped me with acting is long but, at the risk of missing someone’s name, let me go through it. Muhammad Qavi, Badar Khalil, Shaan Shahid, Shafi Muhammad Shah, Talat Hussain, Nauman Ejaz and Sania Saeed did a lot for me when I was new in the field. I will always be grateful for their coaching, guidance and advice. I also studied acting techniques, particularly Stanislavski’s system when I was new in the industry. I still use the method to draw authentic emotions in my performances. I could not attend a proper acting school but used all other means of learning – books, individual coaching, videos, and workshops – at my disposal to learn my craft.
Have you considered a career in cinema?
Yes.
A lot of Pakistani actors are now working in India. Have you been approached by anyone from Bollywood?
No.
Do you have an interest in cinema?
Yes, I have a tremendous interest in cinema. I will not consider myself to be successful in the field of acting until I have worked in feature films. It is the one dream that remains to be fulfilled.
I am in talks with some people in the United States about working in an English language feature film that is loosely based on the folk tale of Heer Ranjha and set in rural Pakistan. The role is a daring one and I hope to be able to play it well. Unfortunately, the project keeps getting delayed due to the law and order situation in Pakistan. I have studied the script and have been preparing for the role for a few months now. I can’t wait to start work on the film. I believe it will be my best project as an actor thus far.
You are a single and handsome young man. Does acting make it easy for you to hook up with ladies?
Not as much as I would like it to.
[quote]Good girls do not trust young male actors[/quote]
Are you romantically involved with someone at this stage?
No. I want to be but I am not. Now that I think about it, this is another downside to being in show business. Good girls do not trust young male actors. This is almost as painful as not being able find homes to rent easily.
When you are not acting what do you do?
It is not often that I am not on set, but when I am free, I try to catch up on my sleep.
Ally Adnan lives in Dallas, Texas, where he works in the field of mobile telecommunications and writes about culture and the arts. He can be reached at allyadnan@outlook.com