I had already recited the kalma: Faysal Qureshi recalls 2021 accident

Actor stresses the importance of being a good role model during Ramazan in an interview

Known for playing notable roles across Pakistani television, actor, producer and host of his own Ramazan transmissions Faysal Qureshi has had no shortage of accidents in life. Speaking to host Nadia Khan on her show Life Green Hai, the Bashar Momin star recalled his near-lethal car crash in November 2021 after a burst tyre.

“I had already recited the kalma,” said Faysal as he remembered the crash that reduced his Honda Civic to the size of an Alto. “If I hadn’t been wearing a seatbelt, I’d have gone flying through the car.” Amid billowing smoke, onlookers extracted Faysal from the wreckage, which caused a cervical break. With a laugh, Faysal added that even in such a mangled state, someone managed to ask him which drama he was currently shooting for.

Following a strict routine and balanced diet to keep fit, and remaining cheerful in the face of adversity is a state of being Faysal has worked on over the years, a trait he attributes to his deep faith. “People ask me why I’m always so happy in Ramazan,” remarked the actor. “To them, I say, this is a month of bonuses from Allah. Wouldn’t you be happy if you got a bonus at work?”

Calling upon Muslims to be more tolerant whilst fasting, Faysal, a father himself, lamented how being short-tempered can have toxic consequences for the next generation. “You need to be a good role model to your children,” he urged. “If a kid always has to walk on eggshells around stressed fasting parents, what kind of example are you setting? If your kids see you making a more active effort to be tolerant, they’ll be happy and want to fast. Fasting is supposed to reset your body and teach you tolerance.”

Acknowledging that overcoming stress is not always easy, Faysal maintained that obstacles are the stepping stone to success.

“Failures are important,” he reminded his viewers. “Without failure, you can’t progress. There was a time when I had only Rs200 for transport allowance when I started work, but I would walk to where I needed to and save that money, and now look where I am.”

In a field abundant with critics, Faysal lauded new dramas that were moving past traditional family storylines and exploring new boundaries. Wishing that viewers in Pakistan would be more tolerant, much like the international audiences he encountered on a recent trip to Dubai, Faysal mused, “Everyone in our country just criticises us. This is absolutely wrong. Criticising us will get us nowhere. We need to have conversations that will help us grow. We just went to Dubai, and I saw that everyone who understands Urdu around the world, be it from India or Nepal, is watching our dramas. People are crazy for Pakistani television.”

With audiences committed to being crazy for Pakistani television, it is clear that Faysal’s time in front of the cameras will hopefully continue for years on end.

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