Daily Times

In a career spanning fourteen years, Sami Khan has worked in more than eighty (80) television serials and appeared in a large number of shows. The recipient of the Tamgha E Imtiaz, and many other awards, the talented young man is known as much for his looks and histrionic talent as he is for his professionalism and disciplined style of working. Popular with directors, producers and writers, Sami Khan has a huge fan base spread all over the globe and is one of Pakistan’s busiest actors today. He is currently hosting a program for Ramzan on GEO Television and shooting for Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s upcoming film, Kaaf Kangana. In an exclusive interview for the Daily Times, Sami Khan talks to Ally Adnan about his career, the world of show business, his current and upcoming projects, family, the problem of child sexual abuse, and many other things.

You have been in show business for almost fourteen (14) years and, although you are amongst Pakistan top actors, you have not embraced stardom as enthusiastically as some of your colleagues. Why?

It is a matter of priorities. I am interested in acting and not in celebrity. I do not relate to stardom. It does not do anything for me. I am a very private – almost shy – person. I do not enjoy being in the limelight. I became an actor because I enjoyed the vocation and treat it just as I would have treated a career in any other field. I do not believe in using an acting career to secure fame, renown and stardom.

I value my privacy. I am not very active on social media. I give very few interviews. I try to avoid morning and talk shows. I stay away from industry events and parties. There is, however, a lot of pressure on me to embrace stardom, if you will, and I am, consequently, trying to change myself and my behaviour. That being said, I do not think that I will ever become a superstar in the true sense of the word and start enjoying the perks, benefits and trappings of stardom.

You are an electrical engineer. Why and how did you make a move to show business?

Show business had always been on my mind but I was more interested in becoming a television host than an actor. During the final year of my studies in engineering, I auditioned and got selected for hosting a program. During the process, I was noticed by a few people who asked me to work in the film Salakhain. It was pure happenstance but acting came naturally to me and I enjoyed it immensely. I knew that I had found my true calling in life and decided to pursue a career in show business instead of one in engineering. I did complete my education but never worked as an engineer. Show business has since been, and will always be, my life.

Do you feel that a career in show business is a viable one in Pakistan?

A career in show business is viable but comes with a lot of risk and uncertainty. Talent, hard work and perseverance do not guarantee success in the field of show business. Luck plays a major role in one’s success in the industry. Fortunes change both rapidly and unexpectedly. The money is good but its flow is never regular. The competition is fierce and one is always under intense pressure to produce hits. A lot of grit, resilience and patience is needed to hold a successful position in the industry. Show business is risky business. It is not for everyone.

What pleasures does acting afford you?

Acting is rewarding and fulfilling for me. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and makes me feel good about myself. And, it helps me pay the bills.

How did you learn to act?

I learnt, and continue to learn, on the job.

What are the attributes of a good actor?

A good actor is sincere, committed and hardworking. He has solid screen presence. He is able to make viewers feel that nothing is more important than the story at hand and hold them captive throughout his performance. He is intelligent, observant and insightful, and uses these qualities to completely inhabit and become one with the characters that he plays. Education and formal training are helpful but truly great actors are born with a natural flair for acting. One can improve his acting skills with proper training but can never become a good actor if he was born without innate acting talent. You either have it or you do not.

What brings out the best in you as an actor?

Good writers and directors bring out the best in me as an actor. They need to be intelligent, capable and talented. And, they need to be available to help me understand, develop and inhabit the characters that I play.

What have been your best performances?

I am merciless when looking at my own performances and always able to find shortcomings in my performances. I am not content with just imitating a character, an emotion or a behavior and am satisfied only when I add depth, authenticity and nuance to the roles that I take on. I am happy – though not fully satisfied – with the work that I did in Aisi Hai Tanhai, Be Inteha, Ghar Ki Khatir, Tau Dil Ka Kia Hua, and a few other television plays.

You worked in a whopping number of serials –Aisi Hai Tanhai,BeInteha, Harib, Khudgarz, Mushrik, Rasm E Duniya, Tere Bina, and Tau Dil Ka Kia Hua, and in 2017. How did you manage to make time for so much work?

I managed to pull off doing eight serials in a single year because of careful planning, a lot of discipline and the tremendous support of my family. The number seems very high, in retrospect, but the work was spread rather evenly over the year and not as difficult to do as one would think. I like being busy and am grateful that I get a lot of work. Not all actors are that fortunate.

Does your busy schedule allow you to give time to your family?

Yes, fortunately, it does. As an actor, I have considerable control over my schedule. I can work non-stop for several months and then take a couple off to spend with my family. I greatly value family time. Vacations and outings with my family are the greatest source of joy in my life; I work very conscientiously to make time to take several during the year.

You are happily married currently and the father of a lovely young girl. Do you enjoy being a husband and a father?

Yes, I do, and a whole lot. A good, sincere and supportive wife is a true blessing. The only thing better than being happily married is being the father of happy, healthy and beautiful kids. My wife and daughter mean the world to me. I try to spend as much time as possible with the two of them. My family lives in Lahore and most of my work is in Karachi. During long spells of work, I travel very frequently to Lahore to be there for my family, to participate in family activities, and to spend time – sometimes, just a few hours – with my daughter.

How would you rate yourself as a husband?

I think I am a good husband even though my wife, probably, deserves better.

Does the attention and adulation of female fans and admirers make marriage difficult for popular actors like yourself?

Not at all. Neither me nor my wife take the attention and adulation very seriously. I do not let it go to my head and she does not allow it to raise suspicion.

Are you a good father?

I try my best to be one.

The topic of child sexual abuse has been at the forefront of news in recent months. How serious is the problem?

It is a very serious problem. I am shocked by the preponderance of child sexual abuse problems that are being reported, almost on a daily basis. A society that is unable to protect its children is doomed. The young and the innocent represent our future. If they are unsafe, our future is unsafe.

What do you think parents need to do to protect their children from abuse?

Parents need to take a keen interest in the day-to-day lives of their children. They should listen to what their kids say, pay attention to their behavioural patterns, and be on the lookout for signs of sexual abuse. They should choose servants, maids and nannies with great care, and get to know all the people in their children’s lives. They should not be afraid to take action, however uncomfortable and difficult, when abuse is suspected. They should also study the problem and educate themselves, and their children, about the epidemic of sexual abuse. Most importantly, they should push their legislators to pass, implement and enforce effective laws to combat child sexual abuse.

Do you believe celebrities need to work to raise awareness of the plague of child sexual abuse?

I believe that everyone needs to work to raise awareness of the problem of sexual abuse but, since their profiles are higher and because people tend to emulate them, celebrities have a greater responsibility in the area.

How have you used your celebrity to help others?

I am a helpful person and work hard to do the best that I can. I will, however, admit that I can, and should, do more. I have been bestowed with fame, fortune and glory; the three need to be used to help others.

You do not seem to have a great interest in cinema. Is television all you want to do?

No, not at all. I have a great interest in cinema and plan to do a lot of films in the future. I started my career in acting by working in a film and love the power, glamour, scope, and scale of the medium. I recently worked in Kanza Zia and Ammar Lasani’s feature filmGumm. It is doing very well in the festival circuit. I am shooting for Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s upcoming film Kaaf Kangana. Ayesha Omar, Eshal Fayyaz and I play the lead roles in the film, which is scheduled for release on Eid Al Azha.

What other projects do you have in the pipeline currently?

I am in talks with two filmmakers and expect to sign on to do their films in the near future. Currently, I am hosting Ittehad Ramzan on GEO Television and shooting for Kaaf Kangana. I will start work on other projects after Ramzan and once my work in Kaaf Kangana is done. My hands are full at the moment.

What do you plan to accomplish in 2018?

I wish to become a better Pakistani, a better Muslim and a better human being in 2018. That is all.

The writer lives in Dallas and writes about culture, history and the arts. He tweets @allyadnan and can be reached at allyadnan@outlook.com

Published in Daily Times, May 21^ST 2018.