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Pride of Pakistan : Shaan Shahid
In lieu of Independence Day on August 14, all of August, the Daily Times will highlight individuals who continue to make Pakistan proud. Our fourth interview is with the film industry stalwart - Shaan Shahid
Your career spans more than two decades and you’ve done more than 500 films! Tell us, was being an actor always your goal instead of wishlist?
Well, as a teenager, finding a career is the last thing on one’s mind. I was 16 when I did my first film ‘Bulandi’ but for me it was getting back to New York... That was more important; not knowing the destiny awaiting me in Pakistan. It was never on my wish list to become an actor.
You have established yourself as one of the most popular and leading actors of Pakistan. Tell us about some of your initial struggles and challenges on the road to success.
The challenges never go away even if you are the prime minister of the country. Challenges are what keep us on our toes. They make us stronger. I had a vision that one day Pakistani cinema will rise so all the Punjabi films I did were a challenge for me as I didn’t know anything about them but I didn’t want to give up. My hope for a better future for Pakistani films was stronger than the challenges.
You have won many awards including Pride of Performance, National Film Awards, Nigar Awards, LSAs, Pakistan Media Award as well as ARY Film Award. Which, according to you, has been your greatest honour/achievement till date?
My biggest achievement? I’m still waiting for that. But on a personal note, my daughter Bahisht’s swimming medals as she swims for WAPDA. I hang those medals on my father’s portrait.
“I cried when I saw ‘Khuda Ke Liye’. Mansoor, the character I played; sitting in the hall watching that film, I was not him but I could relate to his pain”
What role have your parents played in encouraging your acting career?
My mother is the source – and driving force – of my career as she convinced me to stay in Pakistan and join films. She has been a beacon of hope. She is a father and a mother to me. As a single mother, she worked in films to support us and gave us the best education and guided me to who I am today. I thank the Almighty for giving me a mother who is there for me in every step of my life.
What are some things that you learned the hard way in the industry?
Everything comes with a cost. When you are down nobody cares but once you are up the whole world is your friend. So it took me a while to understand the dynamics when I went through some turbulent times in my career but I thank the Almighty for that also... because that time taught me everything.
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on ‘Arth’. It’s a cult Indian film directed by Mahesh Bhatt in the early ‘80s. Bhatt sahib was kind enough to give me the rights to remake it with my own twist on things. So I wrote the film myself. Humaima Malick, Uzma Hassan and Mohib Mirza are a part of it. It will be the first Indo-Pak collaboration in cinema and paves the way to work on equal grounds. The second film I’m doing will release in 2017. It’s an action flick with Kiran Malik and a project of Jehan Films. It’s going to be the most expensive action flick of all time and I’m shooting both films in London this month. ‘Arth’ is 95 percent complete. It’s the last spell in London. The second spell will start after we send ‘Arth’ to post production.
Being a celebrity like yourself is not easy. You read about yourself in the papers and on TV. How do you deal with constantly being in the public eye? What about tackling negative publicity?
Negative publicity I don’t deal with at all. I throw my anger and my focus in my work. I have lost 20kg for ‘Arth’ as I had to play a depressed husband and a musician. So I focused all the negativity in the gym to make a positive physical change. It helps as anger is fire! You can burn somebody with it or you can bake your own bread.
What is your vision for Pakistan? Would you, at any point, want to join politics?
I will join politics as you cannot escape from it even if you are not a part of it... It becomes a part of you. Either one can ask for justice or be in politics and provide it to the people. There are serious things wrong in Pakistan. The distance between the public and the government has widened. The education system, the health sector, they are all on a decline. Either you can just give small donations and shrug off your responsibility or you can try to change the system. Systems cannot be changed from outside. They have to be changed from inside. The constitution of Pakistan has been amended by all in power. But the section that has the people’s rights have never been amended for their good. I want to serve my people who have loved me, my family, my craft and have given me respect. It is my responsibility to do any good that I can for them and to do any major good in Pakistan one has to be in power to make new laws that protect the people of Pakistan.
What are some attributes/ingredients that make a successful actor?
Hard work, focus, a family that supports you and crazy timings.
You have done Punjabi, Urdu and bilingual films based on romance, comedy, terrorism, feudal issues, family values, etc. Which genre of film do you enjoy doing the most and why?
The genres doesn’t matter, the character does... as that character lives on screen for all eternity but one must remember to let go once you have taken another character in you. For example, I cried when I saw ‘Khuda Ke Liye’. Mansoor, the character I played; sitting in the hall watching that film, I was not him but I could relate to his pain. As an actor I love the craft of transforming into another character, living him and then letting him go.
When do you think you’ll retire?
I’m 45 now. I will retire when all the wars in the world will end.
When are you at your happiest?
When I’m around the most important women in my life! My mother, my wife and my little angels! I can’t get enough of them. I want to spend so much time with them that is why I have cut down my work load. I never did TV plays as they have a lot of scenes and require so much time. I respect the TV medium and enjoy it as a viewer but as an actor I feel it requires a lot of time and maximum time I want to spend with my little ones, see them growing up every step of the way. I also want to grow as a person with my love, my wife Aminah as she was kind enough to trust me enough to spend her life with me, be my partner and my soulmate.
Which film of yours have you been the proudest of?
I’m proud of all the characters I have portrayed because I do them with complete honesty. ‘Bulandi’ changed the ‘90s and ‘Waar’ changed and carved the industry we see today – so I love them all.
We, at Daily Times, consider you one of our national heroes. Who are some of yours?
Well, everybody and anybody who has made Pakistan proud in any medium – arts, sports, science, are my heroes as they are the green of my flag; the unsung heroes are my heroes!
Achievements
Multifaceted Talent
Shaan Shahid is not just a skilled actor but his love and passion for films have made him an acclaimed director as well as a producer and a screenwriter.
Started Young
Shaan Shahid was only 16 when he debuted on the big screen with his film ‘Bulandi’. He became an overnight star and the film was a massive hit at the box office.
National Icon
Shaan is a renowned star and has been recognised in his home country with the whopping number of awards he’s won. Some of them include a Pride of Performance award bestowed by the Pakistani government, four National Film Awards, 15 Nigar Awards, five Lux Style Awards, one Pakistan Media Award as well as the coveted ARY Film Awards.
Not Stopping Now
It was always Shaan’s dream to direct a film. He achieved this dream of his by directing his ambitious project ‘Guns & Roses - Ik Junoon’ in 1999, followed by ‘Moosa Khan’ in 2001.
The Face Of Many Brands
Shaan has been and is the ambassador for many top-selling international brands, that include Unilever, Pepsi, Mobilink and McDonald’s.
Social Worker
Shaan was the Goodwill Ambassador for ‘One Pack = One Vaccine’, a campaign launched by UNICEF, Procter & Gamble and the Ministry of Health in a bid to eradicate tetanus from Pakistan. Shaan has committed himself to the cause and has been visiting many areas and cities across the country, including malls and stores in Karachi and Lahore, to bring awareness amongst parents, especially mothers, about this deadly disease and how one can fight to eliminate it.
http://dailytimes.com.pk/life-and-style/04-Aug-16/pride-of-pakistan-shaan-shahid
@django @The Sandman @Hell hound @Moonlight @Vapnope @Winchester @unleashed @PaklovesTurkiye @Musafir117 @Akheilos
In lieu of Independence Day on August 14, all of August, the Daily Times will highlight individuals who continue to make Pakistan proud. Our fourth interview is with the film industry stalwart - Shaan Shahid
Your career spans more than two decades and you’ve done more than 500 films! Tell us, was being an actor always your goal instead of wishlist?
Well, as a teenager, finding a career is the last thing on one’s mind. I was 16 when I did my first film ‘Bulandi’ but for me it was getting back to New York... That was more important; not knowing the destiny awaiting me in Pakistan. It was never on my wish list to become an actor.
You have established yourself as one of the most popular and leading actors of Pakistan. Tell us about some of your initial struggles and challenges on the road to success.
The challenges never go away even if you are the prime minister of the country. Challenges are what keep us on our toes. They make us stronger. I had a vision that one day Pakistani cinema will rise so all the Punjabi films I did were a challenge for me as I didn’t know anything about them but I didn’t want to give up. My hope for a better future for Pakistani films was stronger than the challenges.
You have won many awards including Pride of Performance, National Film Awards, Nigar Awards, LSAs, Pakistan Media Award as well as ARY Film Award. Which, according to you, has been your greatest honour/achievement till date?
My biggest achievement? I’m still waiting for that. But on a personal note, my daughter Bahisht’s swimming medals as she swims for WAPDA. I hang those medals on my father’s portrait.
“I cried when I saw ‘Khuda Ke Liye’. Mansoor, the character I played; sitting in the hall watching that film, I was not him but I could relate to his pain”
What role have your parents played in encouraging your acting career?
My mother is the source – and driving force – of my career as she convinced me to stay in Pakistan and join films. She has been a beacon of hope. She is a father and a mother to me. As a single mother, she worked in films to support us and gave us the best education and guided me to who I am today. I thank the Almighty for giving me a mother who is there for me in every step of my life.
What are some things that you learned the hard way in the industry?
Everything comes with a cost. When you are down nobody cares but once you are up the whole world is your friend. So it took me a while to understand the dynamics when I went through some turbulent times in my career but I thank the Almighty for that also... because that time taught me everything.
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on ‘Arth’. It’s a cult Indian film directed by Mahesh Bhatt in the early ‘80s. Bhatt sahib was kind enough to give me the rights to remake it with my own twist on things. So I wrote the film myself. Humaima Malick, Uzma Hassan and Mohib Mirza are a part of it. It will be the first Indo-Pak collaboration in cinema and paves the way to work on equal grounds. The second film I’m doing will release in 2017. It’s an action flick with Kiran Malik and a project of Jehan Films. It’s going to be the most expensive action flick of all time and I’m shooting both films in London this month. ‘Arth’ is 95 percent complete. It’s the last spell in London. The second spell will start after we send ‘Arth’ to post production.
Being a celebrity like yourself is not easy. You read about yourself in the papers and on TV. How do you deal with constantly being in the public eye? What about tackling negative publicity?
Negative publicity I don’t deal with at all. I throw my anger and my focus in my work. I have lost 20kg for ‘Arth’ as I had to play a depressed husband and a musician. So I focused all the negativity in the gym to make a positive physical change. It helps as anger is fire! You can burn somebody with it or you can bake your own bread.
What is your vision for Pakistan? Would you, at any point, want to join politics?
I will join politics as you cannot escape from it even if you are not a part of it... It becomes a part of you. Either one can ask for justice or be in politics and provide it to the people. There are serious things wrong in Pakistan. The distance between the public and the government has widened. The education system, the health sector, they are all on a decline. Either you can just give small donations and shrug off your responsibility or you can try to change the system. Systems cannot be changed from outside. They have to be changed from inside. The constitution of Pakistan has been amended by all in power. But the section that has the people’s rights have never been amended for their good. I want to serve my people who have loved me, my family, my craft and have given me respect. It is my responsibility to do any good that I can for them and to do any major good in Pakistan one has to be in power to make new laws that protect the people of Pakistan.
What are some attributes/ingredients that make a successful actor?
Hard work, focus, a family that supports you and crazy timings.
You have done Punjabi, Urdu and bilingual films based on romance, comedy, terrorism, feudal issues, family values, etc. Which genre of film do you enjoy doing the most and why?
The genres doesn’t matter, the character does... as that character lives on screen for all eternity but one must remember to let go once you have taken another character in you. For example, I cried when I saw ‘Khuda Ke Liye’. Mansoor, the character I played; sitting in the hall watching that film, I was not him but I could relate to his pain. As an actor I love the craft of transforming into another character, living him and then letting him go.
When do you think you’ll retire?
I’m 45 now. I will retire when all the wars in the world will end.
When are you at your happiest?
When I’m around the most important women in my life! My mother, my wife and my little angels! I can’t get enough of them. I want to spend so much time with them that is why I have cut down my work load. I never did TV plays as they have a lot of scenes and require so much time. I respect the TV medium and enjoy it as a viewer but as an actor I feel it requires a lot of time and maximum time I want to spend with my little ones, see them growing up every step of the way. I also want to grow as a person with my love, my wife Aminah as she was kind enough to trust me enough to spend her life with me, be my partner and my soulmate.
Which film of yours have you been the proudest of?
I’m proud of all the characters I have portrayed because I do them with complete honesty. ‘Bulandi’ changed the ‘90s and ‘Waar’ changed and carved the industry we see today – so I love them all.
We, at Daily Times, consider you one of our national heroes. Who are some of yours?
Well, everybody and anybody who has made Pakistan proud in any medium – arts, sports, science, are my heroes as they are the green of my flag; the unsung heroes are my heroes!
Achievements
Multifaceted Talent
Shaan Shahid is not just a skilled actor but his love and passion for films have made him an acclaimed director as well as a producer and a screenwriter.
Started Young
Shaan Shahid was only 16 when he debuted on the big screen with his film ‘Bulandi’. He became an overnight star and the film was a massive hit at the box office.
National Icon
Shaan is a renowned star and has been recognised in his home country with the whopping number of awards he’s won. Some of them include a Pride of Performance award bestowed by the Pakistani government, four National Film Awards, 15 Nigar Awards, five Lux Style Awards, one Pakistan Media Award as well as the coveted ARY Film Awards.
Not Stopping Now
It was always Shaan’s dream to direct a film. He achieved this dream of his by directing his ambitious project ‘Guns & Roses - Ik Junoon’ in 1999, followed by ‘Moosa Khan’ in 2001.
The Face Of Many Brands
Shaan has been and is the ambassador for many top-selling international brands, that include Unilever, Pepsi, Mobilink and McDonald’s.
Social Worker
Shaan was the Goodwill Ambassador for ‘One Pack = One Vaccine’, a campaign launched by UNICEF, Procter & Gamble and the Ministry of Health in a bid to eradicate tetanus from Pakistan. Shaan has committed himself to the cause and has been visiting many areas and cities across the country, including malls and stores in Karachi and Lahore, to bring awareness amongst parents, especially mothers, about this deadly disease and how one can fight to eliminate it.
http://dailytimes.com.pk/life-and-style/04-Aug-16/pride-of-pakistan-shaan-shahid
@django @The Sandman @Hell hound @Moonlight @Vapnope @Winchester @unleashed @PaklovesTurkiye @Musafir117 @Akheilos
