I try to add a human element to my characters: Adnan Shah Tipu

The actor worked on his skill to make it big without having the chocolate-hero-looks .

KARACHI: Few actors in Pakistan have smoothly transitioned from television to film. Even fewer have avoided being typecast as performers and amongst those few is Adnan Shah Tipu. Starting off from Azfar and Mani’s famous sitcom Sab Set Hai, the actor mushroomed into the most multifaceted actor for both TV and film. If his successful big-screen-outings with Khamosh Pani, Josh, Kajra re and Ramchand Pakistani weren’t enough, the actor is now all set to say hello to Welcome to Karachi.

He will be seen playing the role of an underworld gangster and like always he has tried to keep things as real as possible. “As an actor, I try and ensure that I add a human element to all of the characters that I play. Similarly, I have tried to approach this character in the same way to make him more relatable and believable,” Tipu tells The Express Tribune.



He had been approached by a casting director who had asked Imran Abbas about whether he knew any versatile actors in Pakistan and he told him about Tipu. After which the actor was asked to audition for the part in India.

Welcome to Karachi boasts of an ensemble cast comprising of actors from both sides of the border such as Arshad Warsi, Jackky Bhagnani from India and Ayub Khoso, Adnan Shah Tipu and Kubra Khan.

But, despite sharing screen space with reputable actors, Tipu did not let himself become overawed by their reputations.

“I am impressed by the work, not by the name of an actor. It is true both (Jackky and Arshad) are good actors but even if I end up appearing in the same frame with legendary actors like Marlon Brando, Al Pacino or Dilip Kumar I will not let myself become overawed by their presence but will instead try to do what I do best and give my best performance,” stated Tipu.

Having started his career through comedy with Sab Set Hai, Tipu believes that he is among a handful of actors who have been able to avoid being typecast to a particular genre.

“Despite starting my career through comedy, I have been lucky to shed the tag of being a comic artist and have gone onto do proper serious roles in both film and television.”

In an earlier interview with The Express Tribune, Tipu had spoken about his humble beginning with Mani and Azfar and how all of them have gone their separate ways.

“We are still friends, but I think we have all gone in our own separate directions and are all doing very well. Mani is a host, Azfar is a director and I have been working as an actor. I think we have all become responsible in our own ways. Hence, life’s journey continues” Tipu had said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th,  2015.

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