Aksbandh cast interview
The cast of the first Pakistani found-footage horror film, weigh in on each other, their scariest moments
The cast of the first Pakistani found-footage horror film, Aksbandh, directed by Emran Hussain, weigh in on each other, their scariest moments and what happens when you have to ad-lib dialogues
Saud Imtiaz
Favourite Aksbandh co-star?
Ayaz Samoo.
One thing you learned on set?
Movies are a new medium for me, so I learned a lot about everything.
How was your experience with the cast of Aksbandh?
It was good. We became really good friends and will continue to be.
Favourite dialogue in Aksbandh?
“Ayaz, Aliya ke samne tu bara bol raha tha mein swimming champion, ab boat nahi laa raha?”
The scariest movie you’ve ever seen?
The Evil Dead.
Why should audiences go see Aksbandh?
Aksbandh is the first found-footage horror movie in Pakistan, so everyone should try new things at least once.
Bilal Yousufzai
Favourite Aksbandh co-star?
To be honest, the entire team is my favourite because we all had a lot of fun being together but Ayaz, Shehzeen and Saud are my all-time favourites.
One thing you learned on set?
Teamwork. Everyone was so supportive and co-operative — spending 12 days in the middle of a jungle is not easy, but those days were made memorable by the entire team.
Three words to describe your character in Aksbandh?
He is the youngest amongst them, he’s nerdy and the chooza of the gang.
The scariest movie you’ve ever seen?
The Exorcist.
The scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
The time Saud and I had to return from the jungle. It was late at night, everyone else had left and we were the last ones left behind. It was quite scary to travel from the jungle to the place we were staying, since the only light we had was a torch.
Favourite catchphrase used on set?
Ye dunya alag hai, wo dunya alag hai.
Ayaz Samoo
Favourite Aksbandh co-star?
They are all my friends, but I’d say Danial, since we’ve been friends since college.
Most hilarious moment on set?
There was a prank we played, Saud and Danial had to pretend they were fighting and our make-up artist was completely hysterical.
Two words to describe your character in Aksbandh?
I basically played myself: fun loving and a prankster.
The scariest movie you’ve ever seen?
As Above, So Below, another found-footage movie.
The scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
We were shooting in an abandoned jungle with no population at all. Nothing particularly scary happened but there were some signs of paranormal activity there.
Favourite catchphrase used on set?
Aye!
Why should audiences go see Aksbandh?
This is something new to revive Pakistani cinema and break the stereotype. We haven’t made a found-footage movie yet. This is what’s unique about the film, its something new for the audience.
Shehzeen Rahat
Favourite Aksbandh co-star?
Danial.
One thing you learned on set?
I would say, how to interact with new people when you’re traveling, and while you’re working with them. That was a very important lesson.
Favourite dialogue in Aksbandh?
Since it is a found-footage movie, we were only given situations and had to come up with the dialogues ourselves. As such, after every dialogue we would add “yaar”. “Yaar yeh karlo, yaar tum ne yeh nahi kiya”. When you watch the movie you’ll hear way too many “yaars”!
Three words to describe your character in Aksbandh?
Bossy, blunt and tomboyish.
The scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
I’ve actually experienced a paranormal incident myself. It was three or four years ago when I was at home alone, around 11pm or close to midnight. I could see a shadow in the gallery and when I opened the window and went outside, there was nothing.
Danial Afzal Khan
Favourite Aksbandh co-star?
Ayaz.
What was your first impression of each other?
Ayaz and I were in college together so its been a while since our first impressions. At first, I thought Bilal was slightly introverted but it turns out he isn’t, Shehzeen was friendly and happy-go-lucky, I thought Marukh was arrogant, and Saud is slightly moody.
Three words to describe your character in Aksbandh?
Arrogant, snobbish, and a jerk.
The scariest movie you’ve ever seen?
The Grudge.
The scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
When we went to shoot our first sequence, a horror sequence, the wind was blowing and there were bats everywhere — that was the scariest experience ever!
Favourite catchphrase used on set?
Mera guru kahan hai?
Saud Imtiaz
Favourite Aksbandh co-star?
Ayaz Samoo.
One thing you learned on set?
Movies are a new medium for me, so I learned a lot about everything.
How was your experience with the cast of Aksbandh?
It was good. We became really good friends and will continue to be.
Favourite dialogue in Aksbandh?
“Ayaz, Aliya ke samne tu bara bol raha tha mein swimming champion, ab boat nahi laa raha?”
The scariest movie you’ve ever seen?
The Evil Dead.
Why should audiences go see Aksbandh?
Aksbandh is the first found-footage horror movie in Pakistan, so everyone should try new things at least once.
Bilal Yousufzai
Favourite Aksbandh co-star?
To be honest, the entire team is my favourite because we all had a lot of fun being together but Ayaz, Shehzeen and Saud are my all-time favourites.
One thing you learned on set?
Teamwork. Everyone was so supportive and co-operative — spending 12 days in the middle of a jungle is not easy, but those days were made memorable by the entire team.
Three words to describe your character in Aksbandh?
He is the youngest amongst them, he’s nerdy and the chooza of the gang.
The scariest movie you’ve ever seen?
The Exorcist.
The scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
The time Saud and I had to return from the jungle. It was late at night, everyone else had left and we were the last ones left behind. It was quite scary to travel from the jungle to the place we were staying, since the only light we had was a torch.
Favourite catchphrase used on set?
Ye dunya alag hai, wo dunya alag hai.
Ayaz Samoo
Favourite Aksbandh co-star?
They are all my friends, but I’d say Danial, since we’ve been friends since college.
Most hilarious moment on set?
There was a prank we played, Saud and Danial had to pretend they were fighting and our make-up artist was completely hysterical.
Two words to describe your character in Aksbandh?
I basically played myself: fun loving and a prankster.
The scariest movie you’ve ever seen?
As Above, So Below, another found-footage movie.
The scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
We were shooting in an abandoned jungle with no population at all. Nothing particularly scary happened but there were some signs of paranormal activity there.
Favourite catchphrase used on set?
Aye!
Why should audiences go see Aksbandh?
This is something new to revive Pakistani cinema and break the stereotype. We haven’t made a found-footage movie yet. This is what’s unique about the film, its something new for the audience.
Shehzeen Rahat
Favourite Aksbandh co-star?
Danial.
One thing you learned on set?
I would say, how to interact with new people when you’re traveling, and while you’re working with them. That was a very important lesson.
Favourite dialogue in Aksbandh?
Since it is a found-footage movie, we were only given situations and had to come up with the dialogues ourselves. As such, after every dialogue we would add “yaar”. “Yaar yeh karlo, yaar tum ne yeh nahi kiya”. When you watch the movie you’ll hear way too many “yaars”!
Three words to describe your character in Aksbandh?
Bossy, blunt and tomboyish.
The scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
I’ve actually experienced a paranormal incident myself. It was three or four years ago when I was at home alone, around 11pm or close to midnight. I could see a shadow in the gallery and when I opened the window and went outside, there was nothing.
Danial Afzal Khan
Favourite Aksbandh co-star?
Ayaz.
What was your first impression of each other?
Ayaz and I were in college together so its been a while since our first impressions. At first, I thought Bilal was slightly introverted but it turns out he isn’t, Shehzeen was friendly and happy-go-lucky, I thought Marukh was arrogant, and Saud is slightly moody.
Three words to describe your character in Aksbandh?
Arrogant, snobbish, and a jerk.
The scariest movie you’ve ever seen?
The Grudge.
The scariest thing that has ever happened to you?
When we went to shoot our first sequence, a horror sequence, the wind was blowing and there were bats everywhere — that was the scariest experience ever!
Favourite catchphrase used on set?
Mera guru kahan hai?