Humayoun Ashraf, an actor we all know for being immensely versatile and modest despite being a stalwart, has more than fifty-five single plays and two forth coming films, apart from a stream of outstanding serials to his credit. Who can forget his memorable portrayals as cunning Sohail in Rang Mehal to love-stricken Nabeel in serial Hasil, emotional romeo Rehan in Ishq na Kariyo koi, stifled and confused son Ayyan in Kaisa Yeh Pyar Hai. Recipient of the Best Soap Actor Award (2013 ) for Ishq hamari gali mein, Humaoyun aims to flex his dramatic muscle through films now. On the flip side, he also remains engaged in modeling rendering TVCs and ads for a stellar lineup of brands from time to time.
In an exclusive tete-e-tete with Social Diary, he talks at length about his upcoming films and changing trends in media.
SD: Your fans are super excited about your upcoming films. What is their current status?
Humayoun: I’m also waiting with bated breath. Dhai Chaal directed by Taimoor Sherazi is completely ready and producers are waiting for the right time to release it. Whereas the other film Jinna Teri Marzi, directed by Zufiqar Sheikh & Prem Jeet Singh is going through the process of dubbing and after editing, it will be ready.
Humayoun: I’m also waiting with bated breath. Dhai Chaal directed by Taimoor Sherazi is completely ready and producers are waiting for the right time to release it. Whereas the other film Jinna Teri Marzi, directed by Zufiqar Sheikh & Prem Jeet Singh is going through the process of dubbing and after editing, it will be ready.
SD: After a successful television career, how do you sum up your transition to the big screen?
Humayoun: It turned out to be a very platonic yet utterly different experience. It’s a whole new world where each scene counts and every frame matters.
Humayoun: It turned out to be a very platonic yet utterly different experience. It’s a whole new world where each scene counts and every frame matters.
SD: Tell us something about the storyline of your films.
Humayoun: Both films are poles apart in terms of content and making. Dhai Chaal is an action-packed film that depicts the situation of our province Balochistan where in order to maintain peace and harmony, people have to really struggle hard due to the conspiracies of our enemies and foreign agents. The other movie, Jinna Teri Marzi, is a purely commercial Punjabi comedy rom-com and fun gig.
Humayoun: Both films are poles apart in terms of content and making. Dhai Chaal is an action-packed film that depicts the situation of our province Balochistan where in order to maintain peace and harmony, people have to really struggle hard due to the conspiracies of our enemies and foreign agents. The other movie, Jinna Teri Marzi, is a purely commercial Punjabi comedy rom-com and fun gig.
SD: Wasn’t uttering dialogues in Punjabi difficult for you?
Humayoun: When the offer came my way I felt highly honored due to the fact that with so many Punjabi actors available they considered me for the role. So I took it as a challenge. It was shot in the UK and I get amazed to see the craze, fan following, and demand of our Punjabi artists abroad.
Humayoun: When the offer came my way I felt highly honored due to the fact that with so many Punjabi actors available they considered me for the role. So I took it as a challenge. It was shot in the UK and I get amazed to see the craze, fan following, and demand of our Punjabi artists abroad.
SD: Who are the female leads in your films and how has your experience been working with them?
Humayoun: Ayesha Omer and Areej Chaudhry were there in Dhai Chaal and to my utter surprise Areej was my co-lead once again in Jinna Teri Marzi. Since we had a wonderful working relationship in the first film; we both had a ball in the second film shot in the UK. Areej is the winner of the beauty pageant Miss Pakistan World 2020 and it was so overwhelming to see her dabbling with acting with ease and elan. I found her extremely talented and the way she handled her two different yet diverse roles in both movies, is praiseworthy.
Humayoun: Ayesha Omer and Areej Chaudhry were there in Dhai Chaal and to my utter surprise Areej was my co-lead once again in Jinna Teri Marzi. Since we had a wonderful working relationship in the first film; we both had a ball in the second film shot in the UK. Areej is the winner of the beauty pageant Miss Pakistan World 2020 and it was so overwhelming to see her dabbling with acting with ease and elan. I found her extremely talented and the way she handled her two different yet diverse roles in both movies, is praiseworthy.
SD: Isn’t your transition towards films quite later than usual?
Humayoun: No, I had done a film in the past for which I even disappeared from the small screen and refused plenty of good serials. I even carved a real tattoo to meet the demand of the role but the project got shelved.
Humayoun: No, I had done a film in the past for which I even disappeared from the small screen and refused plenty of good serials. I even carved a real tattoo to meet the demand of the role but the project got shelved.
SD: You didn’t have any connections in the industry; how difficult was it for you to take off?
Humayoun: Initially, I developed an interest in modeling and it took me a while to get into acting. I started with supporting roles and things kept going in my stride. Courtesy of God’s blessings and my hard work, the industry started considering me for the main leads.
Humayoun: Initially, I developed an interest in modeling and it took me a while to get into acting. I started with supporting roles and things kept going in my stride. Courtesy of God’s blessings and my hard work, the industry started considering me for the main leads.
SD: Which serials do you think gave your career a new lease on life?
Humayoun: There are a few projects which enabled me to prove myself i.e. Ab dekh khuda kiya karta hai and Teray bina where I played a negative role.
Humayoun: There are a few projects which enabled me to prove myself i.e. Ab dekh khuda kiya karta hai and Teray bina where I played a negative role.
SD: How much social media contributes towards stardom?
Humayoun: Stardom doesn’t exist now. Those days have gone when fans would line up to catch a glimpse of their favorite artists like Waheed Murad, Madam Zeba, Babra Sharif, Shabnum, Muhammad Ali, and Nadeem Saheb. Stars used to be the mystery at that time and their rare exposure used to be the key rule but now with this social media invasion, artists are too vulnerable. These days’ fans get feeds, posts, stories, and reels about their stars on a minute-to-minute basis. In old times, getting an autograph book signed by a favorite star used to be a feat, but now a fan can just walk up to the star with a cell phone camera ready to click a selfie for which he doesn’t even say thank you and walk away while posting it to their status.
Humayoun: Stardom doesn’t exist now. Those days have gone when fans would line up to catch a glimpse of their favorite artists like Waheed Murad, Madam Zeba, Babra Sharif, Shabnum, Muhammad Ali, and Nadeem Saheb. Stars used to be the mystery at that time and their rare exposure used to be the key rule but now with this social media invasion, artists are too vulnerable. These days’ fans get feeds, posts, stories, and reels about their stars on a minute-to-minute basis. In old times, getting an autograph book signed by a favorite star used to be a feat, but now a fan can just walk up to the star with a cell phone camera ready to click a selfie for which he doesn’t even say thank you and walk away while posting it to their status.
SD: How do you refrain from getting typed-cast with that magnitude of workload?
Humayoun: It won’t be wrong if I divulge here that I rediscovered myself as an actor through negative roles. I was pretty apprehensive initially about the role I was offered in Rang Mehal but courtesy of a very gripping script I somehow agreed to do it and later the serial broke many records of success.
Humayoun: It won’t be wrong if I divulge here that I rediscovered myself as an actor through negative roles. I was pretty apprehensive initially about the role I was offered in Rang Mehal but courtesy of a very gripping script I somehow agreed to do it and later the serial broke many records of success.
SD: In terms of content, our dramas seem highly compromised, so doesn’t monotony irritate your artistic urge?
Humayoun: I’m very picky about my projects and only challenging roles attract me. So I wait for the right roles instead of going on a signing spree.
Humayoun: I’m very picky about my projects and only challenging roles attract me. So I wait for the right roles instead of going on a signing spree.
SD: How do you compare our old writers with the new lot?
Humayoun: I think our old writers are unparalleled and our new writers lack that punch that has remained our legacy. If our old writers are brought back to write once again; they would not face any difficulty getting adapted and syncing with this contemporary set-up.
Humayoun: I think our old writers are unparalleled and our new writers lack that punch that has remained our legacy. If our old writers are brought back to write once again; they would not face any difficulty getting adapted and syncing with this contemporary set-up.
SD: To bring change to the stereotype scripts, haven’t you ever delved into script writing?
Humayoun: Aesthetically, I am very sound and focused on the technical side of my work. I sometimes customize scripts through my improvisation and after seeking approval from the team, I change it for good.
Humayoun: Aesthetically, I am very sound and focused on the technical side of my work. I sometimes customize scripts through my improvisation and after seeking approval from the team, I change it for good.
SD: Are you in favor of collaborations?
Humayoun: I’m utterly in favor of it, as it augments the exposure of an actor and viewers get a different visual flavor.
Humayoun: I’m utterly in favor of it, as it augments the exposure of an actor and viewers get a different visual flavor.
SD: Who falls amongst your favorite set of co-actors?
Humayoun: In my list, Sania Saeed, Amna Sheikh, Sarwat Gilani, Sanam Baloch, Saba Qamar, Nauman Ejaz and Marina Khan.
Humayoun: In my list, Sania Saeed, Amna Sheikh, Sarwat Gilani, Sanam Baloch, Saba Qamar, Nauman Ejaz and Marina Khan.
SD: What more do you wish to unravel in the world of entertainment besides acting?
Humayoun: I want to write, produce and direct, and it’s not like that I haven’t tried it as yet. I wrote a story having two unique sisters’ tale with poles apart personalities, giving it a logical ending that took four years. I also went into production but the team experience wasn’t good. So I want to get into these areas with more time and focus.
Humayoun: I want to write, produce and direct, and it’s not like that I haven’t tried it as yet. I wrote a story having two unique sisters’ tale with poles apart personalities, giving it a logical ending that took four years. I also went into production but the team experience wasn’t good. So I want to get into these areas with more time and focus.
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