This is home and I want to work with Pakistani talent: Faran Tahir

ISLAMABAD: Acclaimed Pakistani-American actor-director, Faran Tahir has had an illustrious career. With Hollywood blockbusters such as Iron Man, Star Trek and Escape Plan under his belt, Faran is one of the very few South Asian artists who have an extensive filmography overseas.

After a hiatus of nine years, he is returning to the fore in Pakistan with his own play, Bhai Bhai, adapted in Urdu from the dark comedy, True West by Sam Shepard. Starring alongside his brother, Ali Tahir, Aamir Qureshi and Hina Dilpazeer, the play is set to take the stage in Karachi from February 3 to February 17.

“I have come back to see my parents over the years, but the reason I couldn’t do anything in Pakistan was my own timing, there were projects I had to wind up and so those were shorter visits just to see family,” Faran tells The Express Tribune.

PHOTO: FILE

It all started when Faran and his brother, Ali, who is also an actor, realised how they hadn’t worked together in a while. “So we chose this play because it’s about two brothers, which is fun because talk about having chemistry with someone and getting two brothers in real life who actually get along,” he bursts into laughter.

Faran also felt that an adaptation of True West would be most relevant as it also reflects on ideas that transcend borders and are understood by a global audience.

“We saw that this was the kind of a vehicle which serves as a bridge between the kinds of theatre that go on in the rest of the world. We wanted to put this idea to test and adapt it, setting it in a different culture,” he adds. “That is why Shakespeare for me is who he is, you can set it anywhere and it works; the problems and conflicts of those plays are universal.”

Tahir recently wrapped up shooting for Prison Break. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

Faran has a Masters in Theatre from Harvard and has taken part in over 50 productions in the US. His most memorable or ‘bucket list’ roles as he puts it, include the main character in Shakespeare’s Othello (2016) and Richard III (2018). Theatre however has never been his claim to fame.

“Theatre comes very naturally to me, but I try to keep all the three mediums alive as much as I can; they have their individual challenges and rewards,” the Supernatural actor notes.

For an actor, the way to go is not to put all your eggs in one basket, just like a painter does, he or she might sometimes paint with watercolor, oil or sketch, and not because they’re not able to use one medium only but because they want to tell a certain story, a certain way. “I used to be a big theatre advocate and I still am, but I believe in focusing on what medium is the best to tell the story you want to tell.”

Tahir was last seen 2015’s Flight World War II. PHOTO: FILE

Having worked in both film and theatre, Faran feels that the sets in the original tinsel town are more structured considering the system has been worked-out, and you have to embrace it as you go.“As an actor, you should be able to adjust to different situations, I don’t like it when people call it a ‘solid performance’, and I love it when it’s called a ‘fluid performance’. I consider one or the other better or worse, but you have to approach it with that spirit, to not judge, but be part of it.”

Faran is all praises for the Pakistani media industry; the versatility is amazing and he is looking forward to being a part of it, if not sooner than later.

“With the explosion of social media, there’s new and more exciting stuff happening in Pakistan. There is a kind of bravery I see in Pakistani media right now, which I’m hoping is harnessed and we don’t let the beast ride us, but put a saddle on it,” he expresses his fondness for the new-age artists.

PHOTO: FILE

“We are exploring newer topics and genres so it’s an interesting time to be part of the Pakistani scene. To me, first and foremost, I have to connect to the script and work with a good team, everything else is logistical and that can be worked out. There’s some great stuff that’s come out of Pakistan recently and our industry is surely expanding.”

Hollywood, on the other hand, has had its fair share of struggles when it comes to representation. While the #MeToo movement has given voice to the victims of sexual harassment, actors and film-makers of colour are also opening up about a lack of inclusivity.

Faran prefers to “personalise” his characters, even when they don’t stem from non-propaganda. Which he finds understandable given the entertainment platforms have just started to explore global markets and diversity is seeping in, in accordance the viewership.

“When I started off, first of all, there weren’t too many of my kind in it. As time has gone on, there is a surge of talent from different parts of the world that is now being explored. Sometimes, you could probably fall into a more stereotypical role-playing, whether it’s a terrorist or whatever, so I see myself as my own best guide,” he says.

PHOTO: PUBLICITY

If there are three projects that are similar, it becomes an obligation for him to change it up, and that has very little to do with the monetary aspect of things. Faran believes well-rounded storylines are becoming more frequent in the Western industry also; the artists just have to guard against being stereotyped.

Sometimes, you also have to challenge the makers, not because they’ve written something with a notorious intent, but because they don’t know our story, sometimes they realise how it can bring a whole other layer to the story or the character. “I’ve been very fortunate that such conversations have mostly gone very favorably.”

Apart from Bhai Bhai, Faran has produced and acted in Iram Parveen Bilal’s upcoming feature film, Forbidden Steps. The actor will also voice an upcoming animated film that narrates the journey of a Syrian refugee who meets Rumi in her dreams when she returns to California from Karachi.

‘Iron man’ actor set to stage Urdu adaptation of Sam Shepard’s ‘True West’ in Karachi

For now, he hopes that Bhai Bhai goes well, so it can be turned into a regular offering that is eventually taken to Lahore and Islamabad as well. “God knows I don’t want to wait nine-years to work in Pakistan next. This is home, and I want to work with Pakistani talent, so I can learn from them and share my experiences too.”

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