I always wanted to work with Saba Qamar: Bilal Abbas Khan

Actor spills the beans on upcoming projects and what the future holds

DUBAI: 2018 was an unforgettable year for Bilal Abbas Khan. His TV serials Rasm e Dunya and O Rangreza brought him the fame and recognition that any rookie in the industry would dream of.

The rise was sudden and meteoric. However, it seems like the actor has hit a plateau of late. Perhaps his lead role against the starlet Saba Qamar in Cheekh will help him resurface and make a mark once again.

PHOTO: BILAL ABBAS KHAN/INSTAGRAM

ET: Tell us about your life post O Rangreza. The plays haven't had the kind of a success as O Rangreza. Do you find yourself comparing the projects or you've just moved on?

BA: O Rangreza's Qasim will always be dear to me because both the content and the character were very different and I got so much love so early in my career. Having said that, it has been over a year and I have moved on from Qasim. Balaa (which is now ending) was the first step towards discovering my range as an actor, but I do feel it's my role in Cheekh that will add a lot to my acting portfolio.

ET: What kind of a role you are playing in Cheekh?

BA: Wajih is a man without morals; he is selfish and can’t see right from wrong. It’s completely different from anything I have done before. Wajih is a character that Bilal Abbas the actor wanted to play and Bilal Abbas the human wanted to sport, in order to highlight the evil that lurks in our society.

PHOTO: BILAL ABBAS KHAN/INSTAGRAM

Cheekh is a thriller and surely something the small screen has never witnessed; it's contemporary and completely out of the box! I really wanted to stress on the importance of taking a stand in the society. If you witness an act of violence or are a victim of any sort of wrong doing – try speaking up instead of suppressing your emotions.

ET:  What factors do you keep in mind before choosing a script?

BA: Lot of things to be honest. For starters the story itself and whether the script excites me or not. Then I look at the character I am supposed to play and whether I will be able to do justice to it. Then I look at the team - the director, the co-actors, etc - because I also believe that if you and your team are on the same page then it makes the journey a lot simpler and fun. I am in no hurry professionally - and I really want to be associated with projects I can add value to!

PHOTO: BILAL ABBAS KHAN/INSTAGRAM

ET:  Who is an actress you'd like to work with?

BA: I always wanted to work with Saba Qamar and that's happening now. If I could, I would work with her again just because how professional and how serious she is when it comes to the craft; she inspires you to work even harder. I also feel that all our heroines are hardworking and I would love to work with each one of them.

ET: Would you take a role that was mired in controversy?

BA: I am generally a low key person, and I don't foresee myself ever walking into a controversy consciously. But having said - who knows what the future holds?

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