You get stamped here if you're doing comedy: Ahmad Ali Butt opens up on new 'Gunjal' avatar

Star spoke in detail about character, journey towards fitness, and more

Ahmed Ali Akbar and Ahmad Ali Butt, two cast members from the recent release Gunjal, graced the Talk Talk Show couch, sitting across from host Hassan Choudary. As Butt tackled the line of queries, Choudary complimented the star for looking fit. "To be fit, you have to spend money on a lot of things," responded the actor with a smile. "You need a good doctor, nutritionist." He added, "It took time to become this model, about two, two-and-a-half years."

The host also praised Butt for his different avatar in Gunjal, calling it the "shock element" of the trailer. "I'm playing a politician, it's a very grey character," Butt explained. "He's not the villain, he's a businessman...And in Pakistan, you know a businessman is not a villain, he's helpless." The actor also shed light on how challenging it was to step into the shoes of such a character.

"It wasn't a challenge as such, but I was interested because the director was very clear." He then expressed appreciation for Shoaib Sultan's observation skills in a comedic manner. "He did his homework thoroughly. Everything was very well planned. So he made my job very easy. He knew exactly what he wanted. I would suggest things. He'd entertain some, shoot down others. He was very clear about that. The more a director does his homework, the easier an actor's job becomes."

Choudary then outlined how Butt finds his soft spot in big-budget films that become high-grossers, with a specific set of people. The host then questioned the star about how he navigated a diverse kind of role with a first-time director that lay outside his comfort zone. "You've answered it yourself," responded Butt. "An actor should remain out of his comfort zone. I'm fortunate I've done those films, because they came after one another and there wasn't the kind of to do something different. And you know you get stamped here that if you're doing comedy, you're doing comedy. If you're serious, you're serious."

The actor went on to say, "I didn't choose (Gunjal). This film chose me." He called it his good fortune to be a part of such a project, with names like Resham, Amna Ilyas and Akbar attached. Akbar, too, heaped on the praise, saying, "I have always wanted to work with him. He's a hero of mine." Butt also recalled the first time he saw Akbar, placing him during the Shakar Wandaan Re dance sequence. He revealed that he had let Akbar know at that time, "InshAllah, you will see," implying that great things were to come. 

During a fun rapid Q&A, Akbar chose Butt as one of the people he'd like dancing at his wedding. The star termed Yumna Zaidi a "performer," Hareem Farooq a "dancer," Ahad Raza Mir an "actor," and chose the adjective "grace" for Wahaj Ali. To Osman Khalid Butt, he ascribed "versatility." When asked about one thing that he has which other actors don't, he said, "Ahmad Ali Butt's half-name," much to the disappointment of the host and co-guest. 

Butt then combated the line of rapid questioning. Choudary asked the actor what he'd like to change about himself. "Learn to say no," said Butt assertively. When asked about what he missed about being single, he said, "I actually don't miss being single. I'm a very family-oriented man." However, he did admit that he and his wife have disagreements over his inability to spend enough time at home. The star also refreshingly accepted that he's "insecure," stating that every person tends to carry that trait. 

In another interview, the cast of Gunjal sat across from host Vasay Chaudhry. An audience member asked Akbar if he was opposed to marriage, given that his character in Idiot is. "No, no. I think it should happen...But I can't do it alone," responded the star. Amna jokingly stated that she has been told her proposal is "on the way," even though she claimed to have no idea as to how it would arrive. 

Resham said that for her, more than marriage, her mental state being unaffected is of the utmost importance. "I don't want to get married and become mad," said the veteran star. She added, "I've seen this around me, with my friends. The marriages are not working out. They're breaking off rapidly. It makes me apprehensive." 

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