It's important to get validation: Director Sarmad Khoosat on success of 'Humsafar'

In a recent interview, the director-cum-actor spoke of the need to trust the process

Renowned Pakistani actor and director Sarmad Khoosat recently released his passion project, Zindagi Tamasha, earlier in the month of August. Now, Sarmad has taken the chair as a guest for an interview with the Directors Guild of Pakistan. As he speaks of his work, the famed storyteller recalls the projects that helped create a defining moment for him in the industry. 

In a conversation with Rafay Rashdi and Misbah Khalid for a series titled, The Director’s Chair, Sarmad sits down to speak of his journey as director for widely different projects and how Humsafar was responsible for paving the way for bigger projects like Manto. 

As a guest, the Pardes actor spoke of the importance of the journey one must take to become an established storyteller in the local industry. Specifically citing the need for proper educational degrees and programs to get young directors started, Khoosat said, “The freedom you will achieve from an educational degree is not something you would get in the practical field. Starting off in the field runs the risk of young talent wanting to live up to a certain directorial style, or to measure success based off of Youtube likes, or who makes the most money.” 

When asked about the project that has been closest to his heart, the director cites two projects; Humsafar and Manto  -but interestingly for two completely separate reasons. According to him, both projects have been successful but against completely different avenues of comparison. While the mainstream nature of the Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan serial may not have been his most passionate work, the Baaghi sensation was adamant about how its success allowed him to continue on with more controversial projects. He expressed, “It is important to get that kind of validation, but what you do with that validation [matters]; I used that validation to earn the freedom to make Manto.” 

Manto, according to the star, is the project that remains closest to him. While the actor reportedly did not even make 50% of the earnings he gathered from his serial, especially considering working on this project as an actor, director, additional screenwriter, editor, and sometimes project manager. However, he explains, “I think the project is close to my heart because I had established an emotional connection with it. So, when today I look back at it, of course, it gave me financial damage, of course it gave me a lot of heartache [and] trauma, but it is very close to my heart and when I think of its success, of course, I think of Hamsafar.” 

In a 30-minute-long discussion, the Zindagi Tamasha director ultimately attributes his success to understanding the importance of believing in the power of the story one wishes to tell. At the end of the interview he is quoted to have said: “Storytellers are dreamers. They might believe that their story is very good, but that belief is very important. To be that foolish, to be a dreamer, to take that leap of faith, I feel, is very important to telling stories … and it will perhaps keep our individual voices and styles alive.”