Muneeb Butt watched 'Fifty Shades of Grey' to prepare for his upcoming role

Actor explained how his character for ‘Mohabbat Aik Saza’ is different from his past performances

Pakistani actor Muneeb Butt sat down for a candid discussion with host Uzair Hasan on the podcast Sapiens Experience where he delved into his motivations, family life, and political beliefs. The episode, which sought to engage Muneeb’s life outside the showbiz world, unsurprisingly ventured into his versatile acting experience on television including his upcoming drama Mohabbat Aik Saza.

While the actor has taken on diverse characters such as an intersex commissioner in Sar e Raah or embodying an ambitious young man in Qalander, he channeled the unique character of Christian Grey from the Fifty Shades franchise for his latest acting endeavour.

During the discussion, he disclosed how the director suggested he watch Fifty Shades of Grey to prepare himself for Mohabbat Aik Saza. “When the character was offered to me and I was talking to the director who told me this is a very mature character, unlike anything I have previously played," said the actor.

Muneeb shared how his past roles ranged from a university-going boy to his character in Qalandar where he also portrayed a 25-26 year old young man. “If you recall my dramas, I have mostly played the ‘hero age’ between 25 and 28," the actor shared.

With Mohabbat Aik Saza, the lead actor is somewhere between 35 and 37, the actor said, pointing out the different attitudes required to depict that age. “In actuality, I am younger than this character by three to four years. It’s easier to take on a role younger than you because you’ve already been through those years.”

He furthered, “To act above your age is comparatively tougher because you don’t know how you will be a few years from now.” Revealing how the showrunners were initially confused as to whether or not he would be able to pull it off, Muneeb explained how he watched a lot of films and shows to practise.

“The director recommended that I watch Fifty Shades of Grey,” he shared with a laugh, recalling his puzzlement regarding the adult romance film. “I started watching it and halfway through, I called him and asked ‘Do I have to do this?’” he said.

In response, the director encouraged him to observe how the actor in the film portrayed their character with a specific grace and advised him to incorporate that into his own performance. “He told me to focus on the performance, not the act. Then I watched the film from that perspective.”

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