From taking bus to I.I. Chundrigarh road to acing in Pakistan's biggest film, Gohar has seen it all

The face behind the widely-appreciated role of Maakha Natt from the 2022 blockbuster film The Legend of Maula Jatt, Gohar Rasheed’s rise to fame was neither easy nor instant. The actor is currently stealing the show with two TV productions simultaneously on air: Jindo and Jannat Se Aagay. In a heartfelt chat with host Hassan Choudary on Express Entertainment’s The Talk Talk Show, Rasheed delved into his journey from working menial jobs to embracing his acting talent.

Highlighting the social stigma that surrounds performing arts in Pakistan and extends to both young men and women, Rasheed had similar differences with his father. “My father firmly stated that if you insist on doing this, do it on your own. I won't support you.”

Baby steps to success

Coming to Karachi with meager funds to target a competitive field was no less than a herculean task Rasheed contended, he said he even sold cigarettes to gather enough funds to move to the metropolis.

“All I knew was that there’s an I.I. Chundrigar road in Karachi where all mainstream media houses have their head offices. Every day I would take the bus from Boat Basin, where I was living back then, to I.I. Chundrigar to drop my CV and showreel at every channel,” the Maula Jatt actor said.

The celebrity described his first job as involving “donkey work,” managing technical operations on set, which was starkly different from working as an actor.

“I never thought I’d be an actor,” he confessed, citing his reservations about his facial scars that didn’t fit the conventional hero look that dominated the scene back in the day. “I wasn't the quintessential ‘pappu’ larka with flowing hair and fair skin,” Rasheed said, referring to his earlier “defeatist” approach that many young boys share.

The actor further explained that young people entering the entertainment industry are liable to internalise harsh judgments and rejections, but despite such pervasive industry stereotypes, consistency is the key. “You cannot give anyone the right to define you. No one can dictate what you can or cannot doThere’s no one else like you and you proceed from acknowledging that.”

Revealing his own “leap of faith” that finally brought him in front of the camera, Rasheed discussed his first acting performance for a theatre adaptation of Moulin Rouge in Karachi that prompted an encouraging response from Vaneeza Ahmed, his superior at Style 360, before he scored a minor role through the producer, Wajahat Rauf.

Embracing the scars

One instance that Rasheed can never forget is how a young boy who reached out to him on Facebook, told him that he also has scars on his face but seeing Rasheed on screen encouraged him to believe that he also has a chance. The actor termed this interaction a “changing point” in his life that fueled his commitment to prove that anyone can make it in this field on the basis of sheer talent.

From Digest Writer to Manmayal to Rangreza, Rasheed listed down a number of roles that he thought would catapult him into overnight fame but stopped short of doing so. “When Digest Writer became a hit, that’s when I first felt recognised. No one knew my name; they used to call me Shaukat, the name of my character. Then I hit a downfall,” he said.

Talking about the short burst in his popularity with the 2017 romantic film Rangreza, Rasheed added, “The trailer was very popular with people and then I was all proud that this was finally my moment but thank God that film flopped because if it hadn't, it would have extremely inflated my pride.”

“That was an epiphany for me that hit or flop, these are matters better left to fate,” he furthered. The actor also commented on his success with The Legend of Maula Jatt, stating, “I spent ten years on Maula Jatt from the genesis of the idea to its release. The key is consistency - who could have predicted then that such an expensive film would take off in a small market?”

Taking a question from the audience about his plans to marry, Rasheed dispelled rumors of a potential romance with co-actor Kubra Khan, whom he called his ‘best friend’ and ‘family’, insisting that not all relationships need a romantic future to stay legitimate.

The Jannat Se Aagay star also commented on rejecting an offer from Bollywood for the 2016 film Neerja, starring Sonam Kapoor. “I declined because the role was of a terrorist,” he explained. “Art and craft and cultures have no boundaries but at the end of the day, you are representing your country. That representation comes with a responsibility that should be felt and handled well.”

Taking a stand

Speaking about expressing political views online, Rasheed said, “In today’s time when social media is so influential, everyone should speak up for what they believe is right.” The celebrity also reiterated his support for Palestine and insisted on the importance of using your platform.

“Most people aren't talking about Palestine,” he observed, adding, “This is rather unfortunate so I urge everyone to take a stand. Don't think about what impact your voice will have, the outcome is not your responsibility. Your responsibility is to raise your voice.” He also condemned the rise of disinformation and the media’s ‘irresponsible’ coverage of the Palestine-Israel issue.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.