Giving it straight from the shoulder

Actor Sajid Hasan takes a look back at his career trajectory, talks about his stint in the upcoming film Downward Dog.

KARACHI:

Only a few actors possess the ingenuity to pivot the audiences towards themselves, all the while staying away from the limelight. One such artiste is Sajid Hasan, whose decades-long career solidifies his status as an arbiter of acting.

From his tryst with the stage to his stints on the screen, he has emerged to the fore as one of the entertainment industry’s finest. As Sajid is set to be seen in Jami Mahmood’s upcoming film Downward Dog, The Express Tribune speaks to the virtuoso to get a sneak peek into his life as an artiste.

“I have a simple role in the movie, which tells a dark story that revolves around the lives of two people,” says Sajid about the Joshinder Chaggar-starrer film. “Jami started working on the project about two years ago. It’s presently in limbo. He is the reason why I did [the film]. The way it has been shot... it is sure to be another feather in my cap,” he adds. The actor has previously been lauded for his roles in films, such as Salakhain and A Mighty Heart, which featured Angelina Jolie.



Having tried his hand at both film and television, Sajid feels that the ‘ultimate’ medium for an actor is film. “Those who deny this are lying to themselves. Film is what an actor wants to do. As a young actor, one may begin from the stage but films are what one ultimately wants to do,” he says. His career seems to have followed a similar trajectory.



“I began working with Rahat Kazmi [in theatre] and later, we initiated our company called Theatre Walley. That’s where I started from,” he shares. He made his television debut with Khalij, which didn’t bag him due recognition. But that didn’t stop him from attempting to gain ground as an actor and director-producer Sahira Kazmi from casting him in her plays. “It was truly her benevolence. She was the one who saw that I could act and then, of course, Haseena Moin [saw potential in me].”

Credited with delivering a riveting performance of a comic character in Dhoop Kinaray, Sajid portrayed a serious lead role in Sitara Aur Mehrunnissa and supporting roles in Tansen and Nijaat.  “After Dhoop Kinaray, I wasn’t being offered serious roles. Sitara Aur Mehrunnissa changed all that for me... with a bald guy performing the leading role,” he quips. On how he was able to depict such diverse roles, he states, “I understood the art of portraying different characters. It’s about doing your job and doing it remarkably well.”

Reminiscing about the good ol’ days of PTV, he comments, “It hoodwinked me into believing that I could act.” However, he laments, “PTV is essentially for the people of Pakistan, but sadly, it is a tool of the state. It is too restrictive. Also, it is considered as a propaganda machine for whoever the ruling party is. It needs to serve the people. [Somewhere, deep down,] I really want to belong to PTV.”

With ascent in private TV channels, the number of dramas being aired has increased, which could compromise the quality of content being churned out. “We didn’t prepare ourselves for this. With growing lawlessness and security issues, people don’t want to see such [gruesome] realities on TV. Plus, the drama industry has been hijacked by India and Turkey. There are re-runs of these foreign dramas, which are available at a throwaway price,” says Sajid.

As the new wave of actors comes to the fore, it can be challenging for veteran actors to sustain their throne. But Sajid remains undeterred by this development, focusing solely on his art and not worrying about losing relevance. “I don’t know if I was ever a ‘relevant’ actor. I came from a background where we never used to project ourselves. I just tried doing my own thing. Neither do I judge people nor do I want to be judged,” he shares. Of his future plans, he says, “I would love to direct a film one day. However, it is my acting that stands out and is what I’m known for.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2014.

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