Fawad Khan turns 42: 4 reasons why the Pakistani heartthrob will always be a fan favourite

What would Pakistan be without Fawad Khan? One cowers to ask the query, given the bevvy of achievements the superstar has under his wing. Stardom is often transient and a race for relevance has become the norm. You're only as good as your last project, they say.

Unless you're Fawad Khan.

Easily one of the biggest names in the local entertainment industry, Fawad has proven that one needn't constantly update their social media, or star in multiple projects to stay relevant. No, there's something about the man that keeps everyone hooked. His audience range is as diverse as his skillset, and he can proudly boast of a global following. Yet, Fawad seems to have found comfort within the shadows, which is why his rare stepping out becomes all the more significant.

As the star celebrates his birthday, let's take a look at four reasons why he will always be famous:

Unforgettable performances

A quick look at the actor's filmography alone makes one fully fathom the scope of projects undertaken by Fawad. The star was a part of Khuda Kay Liye in 2007. While that performance alone was riveting in its own way, the star did not do another film for seven years. Instead, he leapt back into the world of drama, becoming a pivotal part of the extraordinarily impactful offerings that were Daastan, Humsafar, and Zindagi Gulzar Hai.

In 2014, after a seven-year gap of being missing in action on the silver screen, he starred in a film - in India. That year, Fawad broke into Bollywood with a rather Khoobsurat debut. Our neighbours were blown away by his sheer beauty and on-screen presence. The dam burst forth and would have flooded the star with projects, had political tensions not proved to be insurmountable obstacles. Even so, Fawad left his mark on Bollywood with Kapoor & Sons and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, overshadowing today's Bollywood giants in the process.

2022 was the year The Legend of Maula Jatt dropped and changed the game. Released on October 13 2022 in 25 different territories with 500+ screens - making it one of the biggest releases to come out of Pakistan - the project became Pakistan's first offering to hit the PKR150 crore mark. The Bilal Lashari directorial garnered over PKR150 crores combined at the Pakistani and international box office, as mentioned in a November 2022 press release. But that wasn't it.

The craze was back. The frenzy had been renewed. Merchandise was being auctioned. Fawad was in the news again - not because he wanted to be, but because fans did. His Ms. Marvel role furthered this, propelling him into a grander spotlight.

The star's body of work reads like a rollercoaster ride, weaving in and out of big and small screens, and it's a ride both he and his fans have thoroughly enjoyed.

Upcoming projects

The ride's not over. Fawad is all set to join hands with Mahira yet again, for the upcoming Pakistani film Neelofar. Additionally, they will collaborate on Netflix's first Pakistan-themed original series, Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo, based on Farhat Ishtiaq's bestselling novel. The series, produced by Waqas Hassan and Shailja Kejriwal for Zindagi, also features Sanam Saeed, Ahad Raza Mir, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Bilal Ashraf, Maya Ali, and more. A project titled Aan is also one that fans can look forward to.

Another project in the pipeline for the star is Barzakh, where he will join forces with Sanam Saeed. The family drama revolves around an elderly man's pursuit of love, delving into intergenerational trauma amidst a fantastical world of supernatural elements. Fawad will portray a single parent haunted by guilt, while Sanam takes on a central female role, promising abstract beauty and narrative complexity for an international audience.

Multiple talents

In the late 1990s, two Lahore-based rock bands, Ahmad Ali Butt's Entity and Fawads Paradigm, collaborated on the title track of the television sitcom Jutt and Bond. This collaboration led to the merger of the bands, forming Entity Paradigm. Although they lost in the finale of Pepsi Battle of the Bands in 2002, Entity Paradigm gained critical acclaim with their debut album Irtiqa in 2003.

The band disbanded in 2007 but reunited in 2010 for Coke Studio's third season. Khan left the band in 2012 to focus on his acting career. He later appeared as a judge on Pepsi Battle of the Bands in 2017 and reunited with Entity Paradigm for a performance in the show's finale. While Entity Paradigm may not be an eternally promised treat, videos of Fawad headbanging to Hamesha surely are.

Wit, charm, and vulnerability

Fawad is a charmer. When he talks, one listens. And the more he talks, the more one works towards unravelling the mysteries of his mind that have led to the aforementioned rollercoaster that is his body of work. For instance, whilst in conversation with Film Companion, the actor tried to explain the reason behind his absences.

"I think I have overcome my fear of anonymity. Or at least it's not surfacing. The only thing I fear is when I put in a lot of hard work into something and that doesn't turn out to be good enough. I was always clear that showbiz is a complicated career and there will be ups and downs and all these phases must be accepted and cherished," stated the star.

Rightfully claiming, "the rat race mess was never for me," he continued, "As you grow older, your preferences change and you stay away from the unnecessary noise. At the end of the day, I am not running for elections here. It's an entertainment industry and I need to ensure that I focus on the quality and not quantity."

In other interviews, he has boldly spoken up about the challenges he faced when he was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes at the age of 17. Whilst in conversation with FreeStyle Middle East, he spoke about managing diabetes with insulin for the past 24 years, not letting it limit his ambitions or dampen his determination. He also vulnerably shared the emotional toll it took on his father, who struggled with the news more than he did.

The star also told Film Companion that "life is kind of different after 40 but, in a good way." He said, " I don't worry about it anymore. I have become more accepting in nature What's going to happen, will happen. It's not like I am really keen to die, but I am positively aware that health will fail and one day I am not going to be here anymore." Despite this, the star stated, "God has been kind and my focus is to do my best for my family."

All in all, Fawad is a national treasure that must be celebrated every day. On his birthday, we wish him nothing but the absolute best, and extend a prayer hoping he will continue to colour the lives of his fans and followers with his plethora of talents for years to come.

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