Noman Ijaz is one of the most sought after actors of Pakistan’s television industry. He started his career in television and films in the late 1980s. His realistic performances have caught the imagination of the audience and the industry. As we chatted, I found myself laughing out loud – Noman was charming and quick with one-liners! I asked him about his journey so far. How did it all begin for you? “It’s been a roller coaster ride. I have had my ups and downs but then, I learned so much from all that experience – especially about people’s behaviour. My past experiences have contributed to my development as a better person.”
We chatted about how he scheduled his daily routine. “I focus on one thing at a time. I don’t like distractions,” he said. He has won numerous awards for his performances; I asked him what he believes has been his greatest achievement to date. “Everything! I have been lucky to have always been praised for all the diverse roles that I have played and the appreciation that I have received, has been more than enough for me to call an achievement.”
He is renowned for the very distinct portrayals of the characters he has played. When asked to describe his acting style, Ijaz said, “I don’t act – I behave as an actor!”
He told me about the troubles he faced in his initial years, as an actor – “In the beginning, I did not face any difficulties. Nowadays, the directors, script writers, actors are uneducated and not up to the mark. The industry is in a bad shape, it’s all about the money – the producers care about the volume, not the overall growth.”
Still a favourite amongst the ladies, I asked him, how he adjusts to the limelight in public. What’s the weirdest thing a fan has ever done for you?
“Whatever I am, it’s because of the people of Pakistan. It feels great to be recognised, and that people look up to you and that they relate to your work. However, I must say that a lot of these people are not civilised and fail to realise that I am also a human being, just like them. But I always comply because I don’t want to seem rude. For instance, once, when I went to a wedding, the bride’s brothers just randomly asked me to escort the bride to the stage with them, despite the importance of this action to their family.”
In 2011, Ijaz was honoured with a Pride of Performance award from former president Asif Ali Zardari. How did that feel? I asked. “This prestigious award is of the highest recognition and it was a great honour for me to receive it. But then again, there are some people, who don’t deserve this award receive it and this in my opinion, damages the integrity of the award.”
When not working, Ijaz just gives time to himself, because he feels that, it’s the most important thing for a person to do. He is not fond of social media, even though he has a Twitter account, but follows no one. He considers social media a huge distraction and a complete waste of time.
I asked him, who his favourite actor was and barefacedly he said, “Myself!” The final question I asked him was, what he thought being a Pakistani meant. “Allah has been very kind and has blessed me. It feels great to be a Pakistani – the freedom that you have in this country is available nowhere else in the world. You can damage people’s property and get away with it, without facing the consequences,” he said.