Faysal Quraishi considers it a win that people don't know whether to love or hate Chinar Khan

Star spoke about importance of grey characters

Faysal Quraishi has been making waves in the entertainment industry with his portrayal of the complex character Chinar Khan in Khaie. Recently, Quraishi took centre stage in a Ramazan transmission, where he spoke about the intricacies of his character and addressed the mixed reactions it has garnered from viewers.

In a candid conversation, Quraishi tackled the criticism surrounding Chinar Khan's character. He recounted an encounter where someone expressed uncertainty about whether to love or hate Chinar Khan, highlighting the nuanced portrayal that has resonated with audiences.

Quraishi attributed the success of Chinar Khan to his desire to break stereotypes prevalent in Pakistani dramas, particularly the notion that characters must fit into rigid categories of hero or villain. "Yesterday I received a comment," recalled the actor. "They said that they couldn't understand whether to hate or love Chinar. I said that this is what I wanted and it's happening."

Quraishi emphasised the importance of portraying grey characters like Chinar Khan, who possess depth and complexity beyond traditional archetypes. He expressed his intention to challenge viewers' perceptions by crafting a character that defies easy categorisation. "Here, we have typical stereotypes that the hero must always do good things and the villain will always do bad things. We've broken that stereotype," said Quraishi. He added, "People think there is no grey character, villains aren't humans, or heroes are angels who are just humans. It's not like that."

For Quraishi, the beauty of acting and storytelling lies in the ability to provoke thought and evoke emotion, even if it means creating characters that may unsettle or challenge audiences. He highlighted that a character's capacity to elicit strong reactions, whether positive or negative, is a testament to the actor's skill and the strength of the narrative. "This is Saqlain's work, the writing, and Wajahat, who have worked so incredibly on the depiction that people are confused about who the villain truly is," remarked the star. He added, "If there's a character who is designed to offend, he obviously won't distribute rice in Ramazan. He is there to offend, and he will offend you. That is the character."

Throughout his portrayal of Chinar Khan, Quraishi has strived to imbue the character with authenticity and depth, refusing to adhere to conventional norms of heroism or villainy. Instead, he has embraced the shades of grey that define Chinar Khan, creating a character that is as captivating as he is enigmatic. In a previous interview with a local television network, Quraishi had addressed fan feedback and concerns regarding the storyline of the show. The actor shed light on the complaints of some viewers who expressed discomfort with the portrayal of certain communities, (such as the Pashtun community) in the show.

Quraishi began by acknowledging the feedback, stating, "I am receiving a lot of messages from people who told me, without mentioning the names of their tribes and areas, that they moved out from their native areas because of such rivalries. Their ancestors were indulged in rivalries, making it difficult for them to live in those areas. I received many such messages, and yes, they can connect to the story."

He continued, "A few friends were upset as well, wondering why Pathans are shown in such a light. The thing is that we did not specifically say they are Pathan. It's just the tone of speaking. Nowhere is anyone saying that they're Pathan." Quraishi stressed that director Syed Wajahat Hussain had clarified the nature of the storyline, highlighting its fictional and imaginative aspects. "Wajahat already told us that we're creating our own world, and it's a fictional story. Enjoy it," he remarked.

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