RESOLUTE: Humayun Saeed says he is unlikely to do films in Bollywood on a regular basis even if opportunities arise because many people in Pakistan are counting on him. Right: EID RELEASE: The film has had a worldwide release.
By Muhammad Asad Ullah
Thanks to his buoyant personality, Humayun Saeed can still give young actors a run for their money. Riding a high following the success of Mein Hoon Shahid Afridi (I Am Shahid Afridi) and the release this week of Bin Roye (Without Crying), an intense romantic drama under the banner of Momina Duraid Productions, he leads a star cast that includes Mahira Khan, the reigning queen of Pakistani TV and film industry, and Armeena Rana Khan.
The film released in Doha on Eid day as well.
With nearly two decades in the Pakistani television and film industry, Humayun Saeed talked to Community about the prospects of Bin Roye, Pakistani actors working in Bollywood and the pillar of his strength at home.
Bin Roye is a genre unusual for Pakistani films, but Saeed is quietly confident about the success of this female-oriented film released worldwide.
“All films released in the Pakistani industry hitherto belonged to the action, comedy, sports or thriller genres, but there have been no releases in the industry which families can relate to specifically.
I’m already very excited with the response we’re getting at the promotional events of the film and it makes me believe it’s the kind of film that’ll receive a decent opening worldwide,” says Saeed.
Striving to revive the once moribund film industry, Saeed keeps himself busy with films, eschewing the small screen. So strong is his intuition that he even bought equipment two years prior to the making Mein Hoon Shahid Afridi, which, as the title suggests, revolves around the celebrated Pakistani cricket star Shahid Afridi — in the film, a boy goes through trials and tribulations to follow the superstar and make it big in cricket-mad Pakistan.
“I want the revival of our film industry and this is the reason why I haven’t done any TV serial for the past four years,” Saeed says, as he hails the initiative of Momina Duraid-CEO Hum TV’s Production House. Hum TV is one of Pakistan’s biggest home entertainment TV channels.
Drawing inspiration from the success of renowned filmmaker Shoaib Mansoor, Saeed says, “Usually it happens that one starts thinking if he can do it why not us, and that’s what happened with Momina Duraid, who decided to jump the fray after the release of my very first film. (But) Shoaib Mansoor makes one film after four years.
Momina is a brilliant drama producer and director, but has given her best for this film. I’m extremely happy to be part of Momina’s first initiative for the film and whenever I’m the part of someone’s very first project I feel very responsible, too.”
When it comes to making the cut, few actors can boast of going from being actors to producers but Humayun Saeed is certainly one of them. The 43-year-old released his first commercial film Mein Hoon Shahid Afridi (2013) and is busy in the production aspects of Jawani Phir Nahin Ani (Youth Will Not Return) which is rumoured to be a Bollywood inspired comedy film, but Saeed denies this.
“It’s not Bollywood inspired; rather, it’s about the kind of genres you choose. If I would’ve opted for drama — I would’ve made the film just the way Bin Roye is done, but I chose comedy.
When you shoot abroad, mix songs and release the music, it somehow gets linked to Bollywood because they’ve made a film on every genre. It’s a misconception… initially, people used to refer to Mein Hoon Shahid Afridi as the Pakistani Chak De (Lift The Game) — a Shah Rukh Khan-starred Bollywood flick — but once they watched the film… I didn’t find a single person saying that.”
About future film ventures, Saeed says, “I’ve earmarked a couple of people for biopics.” He drops a hint about one pertaining to Younis Khan, Pakistan’s batting mainstay, whose heroics, Saeed says, have not received the kind of recognition it deserved. There’s certainly a story here because the phenomenal struggle of Khan — with a typical rags-to-riches mien — is the stuff of Pakistani legend where cricket is concerned.
About his role in Bin Roye, Saeed says it is the kind of character he used to essay a decade ago, suggesting how every woman “would like her husband to be like it.”
Working in Bollywood — as some of Pakistan’s current stars are doing with notable success — brings out the thinking man in Saeed.
“If you ask me particularly, I have very different responsibilities in terms of taking our film industry forward. If I get a very good offer I might do it keeping in mind my responsibilities, but I don’t think I’ll go and start doing films there on a regular basis because many people here are counting on me. I’d also like to advise them (those who have taken to Bollywood) not to leave Pakistan because these days once a Pakistani actor achieves success there, he or she keeps on doing their films and don’t have the time to be a part of films where their roots really are.”
A few years ago it would have been inconceivable for people in India to watch Pakistani TV dramas with the same enthusiasm Pakistanis display for theirs. However, it’s almost a year now since the screening of Pakistani dramas in India began receiving popularity and critical acclaim.
“It’s been almost 20 years since we began watching Indian dramas and films and I used to be extremely unhappy when I used to go there and didn’t get enough recognition. It’s for the first time we’ve got an opportunity like this — the best example is Fawad Khan, who’s making it big there and, that too, is owed to his stellar work in TV serials like Humsafar and Zindagi Gulzar Hai. So overall, I think this has brought us recognition worldwide.”
Saeed doesn’t find himself juggling between family pressures and career. He credits success to his wife working as a TV producer. “Initially, my family never wanted me to be in this field because of the conservative thinking we used to have about the media, but once there’s respect (for it), there’s support. My family has supported me a lot, especially my wife — in productions. Initially, she had to forego a lot of things,” admits Saeed.
In conclusion, Saeed thanked all his fans in Doha, and the readers of Community for their love and support. “I’d like to request all the Indians, especially to watch Bin Roye. For Pakistanis, I’d say start owning your films now! We’ll make some mistakes, we’re going through the learning process but believe me, we’ll do better with time.”
l Bin Roye is being screened at Royal Plaza Cinema, Doha.
