Daily Times

One of the finest actors of his generation, Ahmed Ali Akbar has proven his mettle as a thespian on stage, in television and in films, during the short period of a few years. Known for leading a private, almost reclusive life, away from the glitz and glamour of the world of show business, the talented young actor is singularly focused on the craft of acting and eschews to trappings of stardom with studied determination. In an exclusive interview for the Daily Times, he talks to Ally Adnan about theater, television and cinema in Pakistan, the culture of gossip in the country, his current projects, his plans for the future, and a lot else.

Working in television plays and commercials is more lucrative financially than doing films. Yet, Pakistani actors always seem to want to do films. Why does cinema hold such allure for actors?

Growing up, all of us had a preference for cinema over television. A certain prestige is associated with being called a film actor. It is true that in Pakistan, films do not pay as much as television does, but they help in other ways; films help one secure endorsement deals and commercials which are usually the highest paying jobs for celebrities. Moreover, the idea of working in a film seems much more rewarding than television in terms of career as well as the craft. Executing a 1000 page story in 60 days, instead of a 100 page story in forty days, shifts focus from rehearsing and performing to meeting deadlines. For an actor, there is a big difference between filming three scenes in a day and twelve. Cinema affords a greater opportunity to prepare, rehearse and perform.

You have worked on stage, in television and in films. Which is your favorite medium?

It is definitely the ‘stage’.

After studying and being a part of all three media, I have concluded that the three are very different. Theater is an actor’s medium, where there is no film or screen or illusion of real time between the actor and the audience. It is as real as it gets. Film is magic and an art of illusion. It is truly a director’s medium. Television has the potential to be the greatest medium for writers; American television shows are a proof of the fact. Special effects and computer-generated imagery is now commonplace. Audiences all over the world are focusing on the basics and demanding powerful stories with great story arcs.

Pakistani cinema is certainly evolving and moving in the right direction. For a very long time, I used to think that we were far behind other countries. We are not, and we have the ability to tell great stories. We have the resources, the skill set, and the talent to make good films. We have countless stories to draw inspiration from

You did very well as the host of the Hum Style Awards in 2016. Why did you not host the show in 2017?

I was in talks with the producers for doing the 2017 show for quite a while and really wanted to host it but had unsurmountable issues with my availability and dates. At the time, I was traveling heavily and greatly occupied with work. I did not want to take on the show and not have the time to properly prepare for it. I strictly believe in rehearsals and preparation.

Do you enjoy hosting shows?

Yes, but it depends on the show. I had never thought I would enjoy hosting a show until I hosted the Hum Style Awards in 2016. I am really not a host and do not plan to become one, but feel that hosting shows, as theatrical as the one I did, is a lot of fun.

How has life changed for you since you joined show business?

I get recognized on the streets, which is cool. I get to travel more frequently, which is even cooler. I also get to meet a lot of interesting people. I like that. Other than that, nothing else seems to have changed. I have always lead a simple life. It is pretty much the same now as it was before I joined show business.

Has it made it easier to find girls?

No, not at all. If anything, it has made it more difficult the find ‘the’ girl.

Why are you single?

I believe I already answered the question.

Do you enjoy the culture of show business in Pakistan?

It may be hard to believe but I am hardly a part of the show business world in Pakistan. I like to lead my life away from it, as much as possible. I am more at home in the world of theater even though it is small in Pakistan. A lot of my friends are from theater. I enjoy the communal feel of the theater world. I feel like an outsider at large show business events and parties.

Show business in Pakistan, probably more so than in other countries, is the hotbed for gossip. Does the tittle-tattle bother you?

I am not sure about the rest of the world but gossip starts at home in our country. It is everywhere. In show business, there is just a lot more material to gossip about; hence, we see gossip a lot. Fortunately, I have managed to stay away from gossip and negativity, all my life, both at work and outside of it. I believe that gossiping is a sign of insecurity and an inability to talk about more substantial things. It boggles my mind that people enjoy gossiping when there is a whole lot more in the world to talk about than the lives of others.

My film, Parchi, will be released on the fifth of January. It is a crazy, fun film. I am about to begin work on a new film with a very talented team of people. It will go into production early next year. The film is going to be a vastly different experience for me, as well as for Pakistani filmgoers

A lot has been and continues to be said about the resurgence of cinema in Pakistan. What do you think of Pakistani films?

Pakistani cinema is certainly evolving and moving in the right direction.

For a very long time, I used to think that we were far behind other countries. We are not and have the ability to tell great stories. We have the resources, the skill set, and the talent to make good films. We have countless stories to draw inspiration from. We really have no excuse to make bad films.

Do you like Pakistani television plays?

Acting is my livelihood and working on television helps me make money, improve my craft and grow as a person. I, however, do not watch much television since I have other interests that take up the little free time I have. I used to watch a lot of Pakistani television plays as a child. Tanhaiyan, Sunehray Din, Ainak Wala Jin, and Ankahi were among my favorites. Over the years, I all but stopped watching the plays. Nowadays, I enjoy watching films and theater.

How did you learn acting?

I never received formal acting training, except a couple of workshops and some studying on my own, but I have been analyzing movies since I saw The Terminator and Jurassic Park. I was six years old, at the time, by the way. And not only did I know the names of the directors but also the names of those who had given the film scores, because I adored films, even as a child. As I grew older, my interests expanded to acting and the art of storytelling. Working in a number of theater, television and film productions helped me learn acting. I hope there is much more in the future that I can learn.

What projects do you have in the pipeline?

I am currently promoting my film, Parchi, which will be released on the fifth of January. It is a crazy, fun film. I am about to begin work on a new film with a very talented team of people. It will go into production early next year. The film is going to be a vastly different experience for me, as well as for Pakistani filmgoers. It is a decidedly ‘different’ film. I am praying for the smooth and steady progress of the film. It is one to watch out for.

What are your plans for 2018?

I will start the year with the film that I mentioned earlier. I plan to write a film in 2018. I also plan to take courses in filmmaking at an international institution. I will also be doing some television. I expect 2018 to be a busy, productive and fulfilling year.

Ally Adnan lives in Dallas where he works in the field of telecommunications. He writes about culture, history and the arts. He tweets @allyadnan and can be reached at allyadnan@outlook.com

Published in Daily Times, December 13^th 2017.