If you want a hit Bollywood film, you must abuse Pakistan: Faysal Quraishi

In a heartfelt and revealing interview on the FWhy Podcast with host Frieha Altaf, beloved superstar Faysal Quraishi opened up about his journey in the entertainment industry, personal experiences, and his passionate advocacy for child protection. With remarkable honesty and candour, Faysal shared pivotal moments in his life, from childhood crushes to his relentless pursuit of success and the challenges he faced along the way.

Faysal, known for his exceptional acting talent, described his upbringing as the only child of a family where his father briefly ventured into showbiz but left due to a lack of patience. He shared, "He did not have the patience. To be an actor, patience is required." Urdu-speaking from his father's side and Memon from his mother's, Faysal recalled being exceptionally spoiled.

Early life

Born, bred, and raised in Lahore, the actor started his acting career in the city itself. He remembered coming to Karachi for a while, given that his grandparents on both sides lived there. However, he also recalled having to return. "The time was such that we had to run back," revealed the actor.

Faysal entered films in 1992, and did a whopping 19 films till 1996, in a shockingly tiny span of four years but his personal life was affected by his father’s running health."When my first film was released, he was on the bed in a coma. I kept telling him, 'Please wake up. Come see my film.' When I talk about these things, people say that I shouldn't. I ask, 'Why not?' People should know...You know, when we used to do films, we got Rs200 as conveyance. I would save that somehow thinking that it'd be used at home," he shared.

The actor also shared stories of dealing with financial difficulties, including being thrown out of a rented house due to rent payment issues, illustrating the harsh realities he faced on his path to stardom.

A star in the making

Discussing his breakthrough role in the iconic drama serial Boota from Toba Tek Singh, Faysal noted, "Boota was Boota," to which Frieha added, "Superhit." Faysal continued, "After that, I never looked back." The serial achieved immense popularity and significantly contributed to his recognition as a leading actor.

During the podcast, Faysal also shared his childhood crush, revealing, "It's a long time ago. Yes, in childhood, my first crush was Babra jee (Babra Sharif). Mother tells me that I went to a shoot and just sat there saying that I want to marry her." He also talked about his children, describing his daughter Aayat's interest in reading and writing while calling his son Farman a "typical boy."

The famed star also discussed his strong bond with fellow actor Aijaz Aslam, who audaciously declared at a LUX Style Award ceremony to Humayun Saeed that the award belonged to Faysal. This act initially left Faysal stunned. A shopping spree the next day ended up bonding the two forever. He also acknowledged the valuable business advice he receives from Adnan Siddiqui, stressing the significance of seeking counsel and mentorship in the industry.

On Bollywood

Faysal candidly expressed his reservations about working in Bollywood, noting the contentious nature of some Indian teams that portray Pakistan negatively. He highlighted the importance of promoting harmony and understanding between the two countries. When asked if he's done any Bollywood work, he refused. "We don't get along there. I say whatever is in my heart. My fans get upset too, but what can one do? At this point, if you want a hit Bollywood film, you must abuse Pakistan."

He continued, "Open Netflix, pick up an Indian serial or film - recently, everyone from Pakistan was supporting Shah Rukh's film - in the end, he did the same thing. Make Pakistan look bad, ISI look bad, and make your name in your country in such a manner. It hurts to watch and hear. We're talking about harmony. Even now, when Bilawal Bhutto Zardari went - if we had a visitor from Hindustan and we treated them as such, show me a single instance. We open our hearts saying, 'No, they are home. Let it be.' What kind of things are they saying there?"

Towards the end of the podcast, when asked to give a message, Faysal said, "Lies work on the internet. Understand this. Inculcate patience within yourself. Understand things first, then talk about them - that's better."

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