Won’t get married in this industry, I hardly have any friends here: Rabia Butt
Actor Adnan Siddiqui recently made an appearance on Time Out with Ahsan Khan along with supermodel-turned-actor Rabia Butt. The duo spoke about their experiences in the entertainment industry, sharing plenty of laughs throughout the show.
Siddiqui, who has been active in showbiz since the 90s and has an extensive list of acting credit to his name, has donned the producer’s hat for an upcoming project with director Mohammed Ehteshamuddin. Speaking about the project, the Meray Paas Tum Ho actor shared, “I just produced a film, but I’m not really acting in it. I just have a small role in it. I won’t classify it into a genre but I will say that it’s a masala film. I haven’t really done any experiments.”
He added further, “Amar [Khan] has written the script, and she’s written it beautifully. [Mohammed Ehteshamuddin] has directed it wonderfully. It’s about dreams. What happens when your dreams come true and what happens when they fall apart. It’s the story of a Lahori launda and an inner-city girl and is a rom-com musical.”
On her transition into the world of acting, supermodel Rabia Butt explained that she wasn’t always interested in pursuing an acting career. The Aangan actor, after cementing her name in the world of Pakistani fashion, has now built up an impressive portfolio when it comes to acting as well. On her switch, she commented, “You either have acting talent or you don’t. But there’s the fact that if you work with focus and dedication, then you can do anything. You can fly planes, this is still just acting.”
Siddiqui also commented on acting talent later on in the interview, “A person can either be an actor or they can’t, it really depends on how good they are at it. There are no big or small roles. Actors are big or small. A bad actor can ruin a larger role, and a good actor can elevate a smaller one. This is very important.”
When questioned about what kind of roles she would like to bag in the future, Butt explained that she wasn’t really sure. “I haven’t really thought about the kind of characters I’d like to play in the future. I don’t even know if I’ll continue acting,” she revealed. She added later on in the interview, “I choose dramas that have some substance to them. They should be more than about me just showing my face. The project should have potential.”
Speaking about getting back into acting after a brief pause, Siddiqui explained that he feels out of practice. “I’m working on a serial after two years, and I feel very rusty. It feels like I’ve forgotten. But I know the more I practice the easier it’ll get.”
The Maat actor has worked in both Bollywood and Hollywood over the course of his career. When questioned about the difference in the work environment, Siddiqui shared, “All producers are the same. All they want is to save money and make sure everything is happening in a timely manner, which is very normal. I believe in Pakistan, we have a lack of homework and the lack of time put into the work. It goes for the whole team. We mostly have issues like these with actors, but I don’t want to place the blame on any one person.”
He elaborated further, “When I talk about Hollywood, Saturday and Sunday are off. That’s a labour law. They have an eight-hour shift, and if they go over time, everyone on the team will be compensated for it. Bollywood wasn’t as organised, but they’re still better off.”
The actor explained that while the situation abroad was better, the Pakistani industry has managed to produce stellar content despite the roadblocks. He said, “However, Pakistan deserves credit when it comes to the kind of environment we have to work in, and how we are still producing so much. I don’t think anyone in the world makes dramas like ours. We have managed with limited resources and so many restrictions.”
On the topic of making friends in the industry, Butt revealed that she doesn’t believe in forming deep relationships with anyone in the entertainment fraternity. After the host asked the Pehli Si Mohobbat actor which person in the industry she’d tie the knot with if they weren’t already married, she shared, “I wouldn’t get married to anyone in the industry. I don’t even believe in making friends in the industry. This is why I don’t have friends in this fraternity. It’s one thing to be an acquaintance and another to be a friend. The people in the fraternity fit in the space between friends and strangers.”
Speaking about people that she gets along with well in the industry, Butt said, “Lately I’ve worked with Maya Ali and I find her to be a great human being. Other than that there’s really no one that comes to mind.”
When asked whether Siddiqui had ever had any serious issues with anyone he’s worked with, the actor revealed, “I usually don’t have any fights with my co-workers, but when they happen they are pretty serious. That’s really only happened once.”
Elaborating on greatest fears, Butt explained, “My greatest fear is to have any kind of fear at all. I don’t want to live in fear. To lose someone you love very dearly was one of my greatest fears, and I ended up going through that. So, at the moment, I don’t have any fear since I understand that I can control it.”