The heartthrob actor who took the entertainment industry of Pakistan with a blow!
From starting his career as a VJ to giving blockbuster drama serials with some of the leading Pakistani artists, Adeel Husain has ruled the hearts of many. Keep reading as Social Diary finds out more about the actor in this exclusive interview.
- You were started the career in media by becoming a RJ. How did the career transition to full time acting happen?
Well, I knew I wanted to balance my time between acting and working behind the camera. Radio was a good gig that gave me a lot of practice with vocals and speech and a specific kind of performance energy. I was never interested in being a VJ or hosting. As the acting jobs I did progressively started doing well, I pulled out of radio in order to focus on acting, photography and behind the camera work.
- Had you ever entertained the idea of working in the entertainment industry prior to your success in the dramas or was there something else you had wanted to do while growing up?
Yes before I was ever in a scene in a tv play I knew I wanted to be a director as well. But I didn’t want to get too rigid on the idea and wanted to discover how good I really am or cant be or perhaps maybe I would end up being terrible. I wanted to discover it for myself. I was doing photography and drawing / painting before I ever hit the screen as an actor. I have a strong visual arts background.
- We haven’t seen you on the television sets lately? Is there a personal reason or are you just looking for the right role?
Both. I was very happy and content with the success curve that went through a string of memorable and well received plays leading up to the two movies in 2016. I definitely wanted to spend more time with family, take some time off and consolidate. As actors we are always looking for the right role, but I also wanted to start momentum in developing projects with some friends and colleagues.
- How do you prepare to get into the mindset of a character for a film/drama?
Starts with the script. You read it over and over and you try to find the character’s identity , personally traits. It’s a process of discovering the character as conceived by the writer and adding your own acceptable layers to hopefully make the final outcome more believable, layered and interesting. Ive been doing it for a while now but I don’t have a set methodology, there is always something new to discover in the process.
- Is there any funny incident from on the sets that you find particularly memorable?
Lots of them, shooting in Colombia university, the hilarity that happens in the middle of serious scenes. There a lot of funny incidents including the water fights during ho man jahaan or shooting the song in the convertible of Dobara Phir Se. I find the whole process very memorable. And like to experience the work deeply from the perspective of the character and myself.
- Do you have any actors as role models- both locally and internationally?
Many. Daniel Day Lewis, Daniel Craig, Christian Bale, Tom Hardy Tom Cruise, Moin Akhter, Amir Khan, Naseeruddin Shah to name just a few. We are living in an era of learning from everyone so I don’t have specific role models. I look upto good work coming from a myriad of sources.
- What is your take on the current situation of Pakistan’s film industry? Do you think it is growing independently or there is still a struggle to mold an identity and repute?
Its growing fast, its growing in many different directions like a jungle. Hopefully we will continue specializing in a multitude of genres and keep giving our audience a healthy variety than some repetitive formula. There is definitely a struggle of identity and repute but with a honest process of self criticism we should get there.
- What is one thing you love most about acting and one thing you dislike?
I love it when as an actor you can serve the story completely, do the scene, hardly have any memory of how it was done and then come out of the process and look at it working. Conversely what is bothersome about acting is that It needs a whole bunch of other amazingly talented people to make the whole thing come together, its not like you belt out an epic monologue on stage and it works. You have to work in tandem with the lens and the visual aspects of storytelling which ofcourse is dominated by concerns of camera.
- Is there anyone in the industry who you would like to work with?
Im very excited to see the new generation of stars. Would be great to work with Shaz, Sheheryar and Ali Kazmi again. Mawra, Kubra , Iqra. If the actors work for the story, there’s no limit to the permutations. Im open to working with whoever is professional and passionate. I would love to do a feature with Sanam Saeed.
- You’re amazingly fit. Is it because of working out and gyms?
I try. Its an occupational hazard.
- You like photography or at least that’s what your insta tells us! Ever considered making it a full time career?
I love photography. And it is something I do for myself, to feed the aspiring director in me. Hopefully it’ll play a big role in me working successfully with cinematographers when I eventually direct. Its something I do, I don’t separate it in terms of creating a tangent career as a photographer. Lots of directors are superb photographers. Its something I love and want to keep on getting better at it even if nobody pays me a penny for it.
- What hobbies do you like to pursue in your free time?
Golf, motorcycling, reading, videogames and whatever I can fit in during bouts of travel.
- What advice do you have for aspiring actors who are trying to get into this field?
Do your thing. Face the consequences. Learn.
- Any message for your fans?
Love you all and a big thank you for being so fiercely loyal and loving.
Quick bits:
- Nutella or Peanut Butter?
Nutella
- Last person you got a text from?
Somebody on my PR team.
- Last book you read?
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
- All time celebrity crush?
Jennifer Connelly, Anne Hathaway Cate Blanchett
- Your favorite TV series?
True Detective, The Wire
- Tea or Coffee?
Tea - Acting for you is?
Being the role, serving the story
- Morning person or nocturnal?
Both as required but prefer to remain a morning person. the struggle is real.
- Your favorite city in Pakistan?
Karachi always but I think im starting to be seduced by the zen of Islamabad
- Ideal breakfast menu?
Im not that picky
- One thing on your bucket list this year?
Ill let you know when ive done it
One word for the following:
- Hareem Farooq
Natural
- Bilal Ashraf
Pleasant
- Sanam Saeed
Thespian
- Mahira Khan
Bright
- Sarwat Gillani
Sparky
- Shehreyar Munawar
Happygolucky
- Shaz Khan
Bud