Daily Times

After how long are you making your comeback in a Pakistani performance?

It has been quite long. The last time I performed in Pakistan was in a serial titled ‘Samjhota Express’ directed by my brother Ali Tahir and that serial was released at least nine years ago.

Since you have been doing films and television series mostly, what kind of an experience did you have doing theatre?

Although I have done my share of films and television series, my master’s degree was originally in theatre and I have been fortunate enough to have done over 50 professional stage plays. Therefore, doing theatre was nothing new but something quite natural to who I am.

What made you adapt this play? Did you find strands relatable to our very own society?

One of the reasons for which I wanted to adapt this play was because it is a story of two brothers, and it gave me the temptation to work with my brother as my brother on stage, an opportunity which was too good to lose. Besides, it’s a play which delves deep into the brothers’ relationship. It has a universal storyline and I’m always drawn to such stories which go beyond cultural divides and societal bounds. That’s the other reason why I wanted to bring this play to Pakistan besides the desire to have fun on stage with my brother.

Adaptation is more difficult than creating an original piece because it brings a responsibility. Do you agree?

I think both activities bring responsibilities with them. An adaptation demands that the spirit of the original piece lives through your adaptation. You might change the location and the language but it should hold true to the intent of the author who originally came up with it. When it comes to creating your own piece, it has a very different kind of obligation. You have to bring a story with which the people can connect and the responsibility of the right kinds of language and treatment comes along. I, therefore, don’t think one of them is harder than the other. Each has its own challenges, to which one has to stay true.

How has the experience of working with Hina Dilpazir been?

Hina Dilpazir is a national treasure. My time spent with her has been extremely wonderful. The experience of having her as a friend, as a contributor to the production and as someone from whom one can learn has been really exciting.

You worked under Ali Tahir’s direction once and now you are directing him yourself. What do you think Ali is better at and suits him the best?

The thing that I most admire about Ali, whether he be acting as a stage director, a television director or an actor is that he is a brave artist. This opinion comes not from a brother, but from someone who has observed him in different roles; as a performer, as a director and as a producer. Ali puts in all of his efforts and skills into each of these roles and that is what makes a true artist. It’s an honour and privilege for me to call him my brother.

What kind of audience will this play cater? What strategies have been adopted to make it widely accessible?

We hope to attract all kinds of audiences irrespective of gender, age-group or background. It is going to be a wholesome, enjoyable experience, the desire being that it brings smiles to people’s faces. By presenting the play in Minglish, we’ll be able to make the people of Pakistan relate to it, for that is how we speak in our daily lives. We are also trying to reach the people through social media and advertisements.

How can your fans from Pakistan reach out to you and keep themselves updated with your upcoming projects?

I would love for people to reach out to me, for they are often confused about how to stay connected. I am available on Instagram by the name of @faran.tahir and also on Twitter by the name of farantahir123. They can also reach out to me through my official Facebook page. My fans in Pakistan have unfortunately not been updated with some of my projects which I have done in the United States. Now, with the help of social media, we can stay connected. I would appreciate online dialogues which will help both me and the audience to get to know about each other and will also provide me with an opportunity to share my work with my fans.

The writer can be reached at m.ali_aquarius85@yahoo.com

Published in Daily Times, January 27^th 2019.