The summer of 2021 saw Pakistanis go gaga over a teen web series by the name of Midsummer Chaos. The coming of age story, set in Islamabad, became one of those guilty pleasures; the one show that lured you in for various reasons, ranging from sheer cringe to a story about Islamabadi elites that actually had a lot of potential if done right.
While the high-school student drama gave us memes for the century, it also tapped into talent that we, the mainstream audience, were not aware of and Khushhal Khan tops the list without an ounce of doubt.
When the project had to be re-shot given the creative differences between actors and the production team, writer Ahmed Sarym was bummed about the delay. But once they got their auditions rolling and a new cast was finalised, Sarym was the first to announce Khushhal as a “brilliant” actor who is the "next big thing" for the industry.
And he wasn’t wrong because Midsummer Chaos, his acting debut, landed him a Hum Style award for Best Emerging Talent and there was no looking back for him. Not only did Khushhal manage to bag projects with bigwigs like Mahira Khan, Sanam Saeed, Fawad Khan, Mawra Hocane and Saboor Aly, he also worked hard on his craft and proved that he is more than just a pretty face with a “burger” accent.
So in case you are obsessed with him, don’t judge yourself, we know where you are coming from! And if you’re not there yet, here’s a fair warning: scrolling ahead might get you there.
Oh, that walk!
Of course, a pair of dreamy brown eyes and a chiselled jawline works in his favour in the modelling business but what Khushhal brought with him to shoots was his playful, and mind you very Gen Z personality, and it shows!
A major breakthrough, and a proud moment in terms of cross-country collaborations, was when Indian designer Abhinav Mishra featured Khushhal in his 2021 formal/wedding wear campaign titled Mastana.
Not surprising at all, the campaign made him dubbed as the “national crush” here while he also became a hit in India. Wearing a mirror work kurta, the ad sees him shimmying around with the other models dressed in the designer's garb. In conversation with Times of India about the overnight fame, Khushhal said, "The shoot happened in full Bollywood style and I enjoyed every moment of the shoot. Little did I know that the shoot is going to go viral and I have been getting messages on my Instagram inbox from so many Indians, and reading those messages makes me blush.” Humble and cute? We love it!
Fast forwarding to 2022, after their drama Mushkil together, Khushhal went viral once again, this time for his his steamy shoot with Saboor.
Singer Aima Baig also couldn’t stop herself from praising the young talent and commented, “Alrighty mate” with a fire emoji on his post on Instagram.
Acting gigs
Khushhal made his television debut with the highly acclaimed Qissa Meharbano Ka that starred Mawra and Ahsan Khan in lead roles. The drama was touted to raise awareness against marital rape and it’s impressive to see Khushhal start his acting career with projects that have a strong storyline and message to follow.
Another important project where he shone through was the telefilm Aik Hai NIgar, a biopic of General Nigar, where he essayed the role of Shahid, Nigar’s brother. Since Mahira headlined the project, he became quite close with the “superstar” he calls her and their selfies on Instagram are proof of it.
In conversation with a local publication, Khushhal opened up on working with the Raees star. “It was amazing. She’s one of the sweetest, kindest people and very humble. She has changed everything for me, in a very good way. She’s a superstar for a reason.”
Jump to 2022, and the model-turned-actor is no longer a side character, we now see Khushhal headlining a Marina Khan directorial titled Mushkil with Saboor and Zainab Shabbir in the lead roles.
His Instagram feed saw some shots from a project for which he thanked director Asim Abbassi. Not revealing what project the stills are from, our guesses are that it's the one with Fawad and Sanam in it since his next post is a selfie with the two actors and Fawad’s wife. Nevertheless, we’re pumped to see him on screens again!
Sunglasses and mirror selfies
Keeping aside his work in the industry, can we take a moment to appreciate how aesthetic the 22-year-old’s Instagram feed is? It definitely is one of the reasons that makes you go ‘aww’ all over again. Mastering the art of mirror selfies and hypnotic stares, his feed showcases his modelling gigs, candid behind-the-scenes shots with his *ahem* co-stars.
Oh and also, the young boy also has an incredible taste in sunglasses. From yellow tinted narrow glasses to classic black Raybans, he knows how to carry it well.
Making fashion statements on the go, his wardrobe is a mixture of casual solids and fancy prints– and also, he quotes song lyrics from the classic romantic Shah Rukh Khan movies as well. Funny, good looking and romantic, he's a straight 10/10!
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