After six years: Back to the salt mines

Veteran actor Tauqeer Nasir says comeback drama serial ‘Namak’ will become as popular as PTV’s ‘Waris’

LAHORE: Veteran television actor Tauqeer Nasir will soon be returning to the screens after a gap of six years. The actor – who has successful plays like Dharti, Thakan, Parwaz and Dehleez to his credit – will be seen playing the role of a feudal lord in the upcoming drama serial Namak.

The television industry has evolved substantially during Nasir’s absence, but the Lunda Bazaar star remains hopeful about his comeback. “Pakistani dramas are still in a league of their own; we’ve got people who are doing some great work. When it comes to acting and production, the sky is the limit for our industry,” Nasir told The Express Tribune. “What has actually changed is the viewership. Nowadays, people want to watch and get over with serials quickly. Similarly, those who work in the industry want to accomplish a lot in a short time. But this is a creative field and quality work takes months to produce.”

With Namak, Nasir plans to follow the same approach that he has always had throughout his 38-year-long career. “My focus will remain creative and quality work. Like I said, the Pakistani drama industry still has both senior and junior artists doing some excellent work, as well as proficient writers and producers,” he stated. “I feel very lucky to be given the opportunity to work in Namak, despite having been gone for so many years. I now have ample time to focus on my acting career once again. In fact, if the opportunity to work in films also happens to come my way, I will gladly avail it, provided that the script I am offered is worth it.”

A product of the golden era of Pakistani entertainment, Nasir’s popularity has withstood the test of time. Not only has the actor served as the Director General of the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) but his work in serials like Panah, Samander and Reza Reza also earned him Pride of Performance and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz from the government of Pakistan. Namak will be Nasir’s way of doing his part for the country which has given him so much.

According to Nasir, Pakistanis  have their own set of problems and there is a dire need for these to be shed light upon, so that they may be rectified. “Therefore, I think my role is very important as it will show how people live under feudal lords,” he explained. In this connection, the shooting of the drama will take place in the outskirts of Lahore and Kalabagh to make the situation seem as real as possible.

Considering Nasir’s background in journalism — he graduated with a Masters in Mass Communication from Punjab University in Lahore in 1981 — it is hardly surprising that he wants to make a social impact through his work. “I believe Namak will become as popular as Waris was back in the day,” Nasir claimed. “Its story revolves around a group of people who work in a salt factory and their pain and sufferings. Through this, we hope to highlight some of the social issues people in Pakistan face on a daily basis.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2016.

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