Daily Times

Gohar Rasheed is making headlines everywhere – from ‘Mann Mayal’ to his upcoming film ‘Rangreza’, his hands have been full.

Get to know him a little better and he can surprise you with his candid, articulate charm -respectful, upfront and honest. I had a long chat with the actor.

You are one of the most promising actors of our industry. Tell us how your journey has been. How did it all begin for you?

I was motivated to prove to my parents that I could make a name for myself on my own and that I wanted to follow my passion. I always wanted to do something distinctive that no one in the family had done. My dad, who wanted me to get into our family business was hesitant about me in pursuing another career. He was concerned about me and thought that I wouldn’t be able to succeed as this was something completely different, but I am grateful that God has been extremely kind, so my journey up till now has been beautiful. I love my work; I enjoy being on set – especially film sets. Every day in this profession is a new beginning.

What do you do when not working?

I fly out to Lahore, spend time with my family and catch up on all the movies and TV series that I follow.

Where do you see yourself in the competition?

I am not being pompous at all when I say I don’t see myself competing with anyone. I don’t do mainstream work; if you look at the body of work I have done my choices are very different from others and have given different shades of my ability. I like taking risks. My competition isn’t with anyone; I am in my own league. The only thing that gives me sleepless nights is the thought that once I am done with a certain project, I want the subsequent ones to be of a greater level. This is the only thing that makes me nervous. I don’t like myself being compared to someone, which is something I come across quite often on social media – it’s morally wrong, in my opinion. There is no sense of out positioning each other because we all have enough going on for us.

Tell us a little about your upcoming film ‘Rangreza’. How excited are you about it?

I am very excited yet nervous about this project. The moment I heard the narration of this film, I was sure this was for me. Each and every character of the film has been well crafted. We’ve got some amazing veteran actors on board too, so I couldn’t miss the chance to work with such a brilliant mix of actors. The film is a musical rom-com, which highlights some of the major issues in our society in a polite way. I play the character of a dholak player, in a qawwal band, for which I had to grow my hair to an obnoxious length that seriously made me respect women – aap log patanai kaise manage ker leti hain! To play the part, not only did I learn to work the dholak but also gained weight and grew a moustache. It’s a one-of-a-kind movie, with ‘shudh khalis Pakistani content’. It’s a love triangle that hasn’t been witnessed before. The audience is in for a treat. Insha Allah, I hope all goes well!

What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

I am tremendously shy. When it comes to women, I cannot initiate a conversation. People see me as egotistical, arrogant and a big flirt but trust me that’s so not true.

Every actor has a niche – what sort of roles do you like doing most? Action, comedy, romance, drama?

I believe in entertaining audiences through different genres. I just have one criteria. Whenever I am reading a script, if I get connected to the character, I go for it. I do seek advice from people close to me but in the end, I follow my heart.

What do you like in a woman?

Everything about women is mesmerising – they are the best creation of God!

Who is your celebrity crush?

Aaminah Sheikh and Sanam Saeed.

What would you wear on a date?

Just to show her, how crazy I am about her, I would wear her favourite colours.

Are you a night owl or a morning person?

Creative people’s minds work best at night, so I am a complete night owl.

What is your favourite TV show?

These days, I am watching ‘The Night Off’ but my favourites are ‘Friends’, ‘Vikings’ and ‘Narcos’.

Who is on the guest list for your ideal dinner party?

Since I am a Punjabi, I love to feed people and I’ve been told that I am a great host. The list is always too long. From my childhood friends to the people I work with, I always invite everyone.