Imran Ashraf talks favourite projects, ‘competition’ in the industry

Actor Imran Ashraf recently made an appearance on Wajahat Rauf’s talk show, speaking candidly about his feelings towards fellow actors, as well as his favourite drama serials to film. The Raqs-e-Bismil actor shed light on how he believes in camaraderie among actors, asserting that they "have to be good to each other”.

When questioned by Rauf over his feelings towards Farhan Saeed and Feroze Khan, and whether he considered them as “competition”, Ashraf responded, “They aren’t my competition as such. They are my friends, for sure.” He added, explaining that wanting to outdo his fellow actors is part and parcel of the job, saying, “We work with each other so we try to put out better performances.”

Highlighting the importance of working together, the Ranjha Ranjha Kardi actor continued, “We have to be good to each other. We’re a team. You need 11 members for a match. I can’t play all the characters by myself. I need other actors.”

When the host asked the actor about his thoughts on a recent incident at an awards show where Khan defended Ashraf in his absence after there were jokes made at the latter’s expense by comedian Vasay Chaudhry, Ashraf responded explaining that he’s grateful to Khan for standing up for him. He said, “I am very thankful to Feroze bhai. If he is ever absent and someone tries to speak wrongly about him, I will also stand up in his defence.”

During a rapid-fire round in which the actor was asked to respond to prompts presented by the host, Ashraf shared about Ranjha Ranjha Kardi, “It was the path that God set out for me when there were no other paths in sight.” Speaking about Raqs-e-Bismil, the actor said that it was his “most favourite character”.

When asked to pick between acting and writing, Ashraf explained that writing is something he turns to when he can’t find any good scripts. Responding to a question on what he feels his hardest project has been, the actor answered, “I don’t think I’ve ever had a project that I would consider easy.”

Conversely, when asked about a project he’s had the most fun with, Ashraf shared three names. He said, “I had the most fun in Lashkara. We shot it in Androon Lahore. Raqs-e-Bismil was also a lot of fun…. and Alif, Allah Aur Insaan.”

After the host asked whether, had he not been married, Ashraf would have been a playboy, the actor disagreed. He explained, “The love I had in my heart, I would have given it to acting. Being married or not wouldn’t have mattered. The most beautiful feeling, which gives me butterflies in my stomach, is a good scene.”

When Rauf cheekily referred to his wife, Kiran Ashfaq, with whom he tied the knot in 2018, he responded, “She’s my wife. That’s already a done deal. I’m imagining what it would have been like had I not been married, an impossible scenario. When I thought of myself as a single man, acting is where my mind went.”