People really hate you: 'MBG' producer Shayan Khan sheds light on nepotism and industry politics

The 'Money Back Guarantee' actor and producer did not hold back

Shayan Khan, a Pakistan-born actor and producer, recently spoke with Hindustan Times about his latest film, Money Back Guarantee. He also discussed various topics related to the Pakistani film industry, including nepotism and censorship.

Money Back Guarantee, which stars Wasim Akram, Fawad Khan, and Mikaal Zulfiqar, is a comedy about a group of people from different ethnicities who are tired of being wronged and robbed by the wealthy. According to Khan, the film is not meant to be against the government but is instead a commentary on tyranny and inequality. He also noted that there are some very funny moments in the film and that it is the first Pakistani film to be released in Sri Lanka.

In discussing his role in the film, Khan revealed that he plays a character named Ilyas Kashmiri, who has never been to Kashmir but is passionate about freedom. Kashmiri is a misfit in the group - someone who doesn't need the money but gets involved with the wrong people.

Khan also commented on the recent controversy surrounding Javed Akhtar's visit to Lahore. He suggested that hate on both sides of the border could lead to words being misconstrued. He emphasized that he was more interested in making love than war.

"I am not very familiar with what has happened," recalled Khan. "I vaguely remember reading some of it but obviously when there is hate being bred words could be misconstrued, right? On both sides of the border. Here, they can take it as ‘ok we got hit’, in India, they can be like ‘We punched them.’"

He further continued: "The fact that Javed Akhtar sahab came over here, he didn’t come here to hate. He came here to the cultural event to talk. Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, people can say things and some people can misconstrue them. It can become a problem. I am more about making love than war."

When asked about Pathaan, a recent Bollywood release, Khan stated that it was a decent film but not the greatest. He noted that it was still a milestone for Bollywood.

One topic that stood out in Khan's interview was his comments on nepotism in the Pakistani film industry. He stated that he believed 90% of the people seen on TV in Pakistan were children or relatives of known people. He praised actors like Fawad Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui for making a place for themselves in the industry and emphasized the importance of being a self-made entrepreneur.

Khan stated, "Recently I was telling Kiran Malik that 90% of the people that you see on TV in Pakistan are children or relatives (of known people). There’s a lot of nepotism here. I am a self-made entrepreneur. I wanted to be an actor at a young age but we weren’t super well off."

"I figured and thought I will make money and then chase my dreams," he continued. "This is what I like about Mikaal. He is independent. Even Fawad made a place for himself. I appreciate Nawazuddin Siddiqui a lot."

Khan also discussed his own experiences in the industry, noting that looks matter and that there is a lot of jealousy and hate. He suggested that one had to be strong and passionate to succeed in the industry. " I think it's a kind of industry where looks matter. There’s jealousy. People really hate you. They want you to the point you cry, give up and leave. You have to be strong if you are passionate about it."

He went on to add, "When I started in the industry, I got a lot of hate. But I felt that the fact that they are hating on me means they are interested in me. Their interest is going to make it easier for me. That's exactly what happened."

Finally, Khan addressed the issue of censorship and the recent ban on Joyland. He argued that censorship should be used for age restriction and not for banning films entirely. He suggested that banning something showed fear of it and that the most successful people in the world are those who face their fears. He urged society to become more tolerant and accepting of different ways of life.