Don't mix friendship with work: Fawad Khan on working less with Mahira Khan

Almost two weeks into the new year, it is too early to predict 2024’s trajectory - unless you are a Fawad Khan fan. From new releases and artistic ventures on the line to one candid two-part interview that has taken the internet by storm, the celeb’s admirers can expect to see more of him. 

Generating a fresh wave of excitement, Fawad sat down with actor-host and old friend Ahmad Ali Butt on his podcast for an almost two-hour-long session, offering a fun and honest commentary on his personal and public life. The walk down memory lane animated the conversation with recollections of Fawad’s music career as a lead vocalist in the rock band EP. 

Fawad's favourite EP hits

In the interview’s first part, the celebrity had shared a consensus with Butt, a former member of EP, on the remarkable production of their song Aur Shor Macha. Further praising the track, Fawad declared, “Its final mix could have been improved to accentuate it but it is an elaborate song.” 

Another song that drew passionate praise from the celebrity was Satrangi, composed and sung by Fawad as an OST for the 2008 eponymous drama series. “I get shocked that that is a song that I made completely by myself in one week…recorded the vocals as well,” he recalled. 

On-screen chemistry with Mahira

However, Fawad’s real claim to fame was propelled by the successful reception of his 2011 drama series Humsafar. Elevating him to cross-border stardom, a major attraction of the romantic drama series was his on-screen chemistry with Mahira Khan. After years of fans harbouring hopes for their reunion, the two starred together in the 2022 film The Legend of Maula Jatt. 

While Fawad is all set to join hands with Mahira yet again, for the upcoming Pakistani film Neelofar, Butt voiced the question lingering on everyone’s minds: Do the on-screen pair intentionally limit their projects together to avoid overdoing it? As per Fawad, that is indeed part of the thought process. “Yes, this is definitely taken into account because otherwise, you kill the novelty of it,” he explained.

However, the bigger reason why the two celebs share the screen less is to ensure their off-screen camaraderie does not adversely impact their professional relationship. Fawad contended, “With people whom you grow close with, the more you work with them, the more complicated your relationship gets. Don’t mix friendship with work.” Elaborating on his reasoning, he clarified that he is not against working together but tries to remain vigilant.

Health and work balance

Showering more praise on his friend, Fawad commended Mahira’s work ethic. “She is a machine. She works round the clock…And she’s got the patience to go with it,” he said. Conversely, the Khoobsurat star likened himself to “a disgruntled child” if made to stay at work for long hours. “I start getting annoyed,” Fawad revealed.

“Diabetes is a factor…I think you should consider your physical limitations,” he delved into finding a balance between his health concerns and work. “It can’t be happening every night that I go above and beyond…and there is such a thing called diabetic rage,” he alluded to his temper fluctuations in mutual understanding with Butt as the latter added, “Let’s not go there.”

Remembering partition with 'Ms Marvel' 

Addressing the hype around the 2022 miniseries Ms Marvel, Fawad relayed his experience of playing the supporting character Hasan, Kamala’s great-grandfather and how he suggested some changes to his role. The celeb recounted a speech initially scripted for Hasan where the character cites both Gandhi and Iqbal. “I said I find it a little difficult that you’re giving both references in the same speech because then the character is left neither here nor there,” Fawad recalled his input.

He added, “You need to lean towards one person, like the way it is in Dastaan. Partition broke apart families, friendships turned into enmities in some cases. In Dastaan, you would either lean towards the Muslim League or Congress. So I asked [Ms Marvel creators] to define that one thing.”

Fawad’s addition to Ms Marvel cast heightened the series’ appeal for many despite his minor role. As per the man himself, his character’s impact on the series is still profound as a protagonist in an episode dedicated to the 1947 partition. Underscoring the need to remember the partition, Fawad insisted, “The way the Holocaust is recurrently shown in cinema…this [Partition] is a story that is worth telling and it can be told in 10,000 ways…There are so many stories attached to the partition, even in this room. Whoever you ask will have a different story.” 

On co-stars and celebs

In a Q/A segment, Butt asked Fawad to suggest an alternative career for Mahira. In response, the latter called the Razia actor a “Marilyn Monroe” and asserted that she was meant to be an actor. “She has a certain charm, you know when people say, built for…I know it’s very limiting to say that but Mahira possesses a Marilyn-like charm. She charms everyone.”

Later in the segment, Fawad called Sanam Saeed “a gifted actor” and “a controlled performer” while naming Faris Shafi as his current favourite musical artist, describing him as the “voice of hip-hop.”

Co-producing 'Neelofar'

As fans anticipate the release of the actor’s upcoming Neelofar, Fawad, who is also a co-producer on the film, tentatively hinted at a December release this year. Stepping into the producer’s shoes for the first time, the actor reflected, “Production excites me, action not so much. It is tense, it will reduce your life by ten years for sure. But the fun you have in running a whole world…it’s a make or break.”

This new experience also reflected in his assessment of Money Back Guarantee, the 2023 comedy film starring Fawad in lead role. “I just wanted to play Bux,” he explained his reason to do the film that received mixed reviews. 

“The approach is right. The problem is that we don’t have soundstages in Pakistan…If you want to make films that are nice and adventurous and actually have efficient shoot schedules then you need a soundstage for it…” he contended.

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