The approach of August 14 and the obligatory popping up of green flags may whip up latent patriotic sentiments within the nation, but TV and theatre veteran Rashid Mehmood appears immune to all of them. Having taken to social media to lambast his staggering electric bill last month, the actor said in a recent interview that he would never live in Pakistan if he had the chance to relive his life.
“If I could live my life all over again, I don’t want to spend it in Pakistan,” said the Dhuwan actor in a sombre tone as he spoke candidly to Wasi Shah on Zabardast. “That is my wish.”
To anyone who feels the acting legend was exaggerating, Mehmood added, “It is coming from the heart. It pains me to say it. But it is not just me. The whole nation feels it. Maybe I can be spared the trauma of living in Pakistan in the next life.”
Mehmood’s weary conclusion was not borne in the heat of the moment or solely on the back of one electricity bill. Rather, it comes after giving years of his life to the showbiz industry in Pakistan and being disappointed with what he got in return. However, despite his views now, Mehmood pointed out that like most patriotic Pakistanis, there was a time when he could never imagine living anywhere else.
“Many years ago, I was given the opportunity to work abroad,” revealed Mehmood, also known as a one-take artist (referring to his uncanny ability to record a scene in one take.) “I said I didn’t want to go, because I knew at the time that my identity is linked to my country.” With a wry smile, Mehmood added, “Maybe if I had gone, I could have been talking about my electricity bill with Voice of America.”
Referring to himself as “an old man from the time I was ten years old”, Mehmood caught the eyes of netizens in June as he took to social media to slam his electricity bill, which he felt was outrageous. “I raised my voice on behalf of everyone,” he remarked during his interview. “This is something that everyone is going through. I only made the video after I paid my bill! I don’t need financial assistance, but I want to be a voice for the people.”
During his earlier four-minute video, where he split the screen so viewers could see his shocking electricity bill, Mehmood, who revealed he had already survived four heart attacks, lamented, “Was I kept alive just so I could endure this?”
Without taking any names, Mehmood went on to accuse those in power of money-laundering and depleting the country’s resources. Feeling hard done by the crippling inflation gripping the nation, the “heartbroken” actor had said in his video that he regretted not leaving the country when he had the chance. “Our country has been left to endure this pain,” he said. “I am depressed. I was born in the wrong country and served my country all these years for no reason. I believe that millions of people might be saying similar things.”
Mehmood embarked on his career in the showbiz industry in the late 1970s. In the ’90s, the actor became a household name and earned critical acclaim for his performances in Dhuwan, Dasht, and Ainak Wala Jin. Throughout his long and fruitful career in all aspects of the industry, from television to film to theatre, Mehmood has become highly regarded for his powerful performances and ability to portray a wide range of characters.
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