Acing the game like Adeel

Actor talks career trajectory, finding his life partner

The committed showbiz fan will have no trouble identifying Ghair actor Adeel Husain, ("Husain with one 's'," as he takes pains to point out) despite the relatively low profile he says he prefers. A single man of good fortune, as it were, and with a shrewd eye for projects, Adeel sat down for a candid chat on the Nadaan Maizban YouTube show to discuss everything from friendships to films to potential life partners.

"I struggled a lot at the beginning," muses Adeel, reminiscing about his career trajectory. "The biggest hurdle was entering showbiz in the first place – I completed all my studies first because I needed a backup. Once I entered showbiz, I decided to give myself five years."

As someone who lost his father at a young age, Adeel credits the invaluable support structure he received from friends along the way – not just in his profession but, in life in general. "If you lose a father when you're young, in any culture, you become very vulnerable," he remarks as he touches upon his decision to live abroad between the ages of 19 to 26. "You seek advice from friends, and they get an insight into your family structure. You get a lot of support from different places. I have no qualms about asking friends for help, financial or otherwise."

Having begun his career in 2007 with the drama Dunya Goal Hai, Adeel has gone on to feature a selection of projects, ranging from Jackson Heights (2014) to Pyari Mona (2023) to his current show, Ghair. His one takeaway from his time in front of the camera? Learning to value the hard work behind the scenes.

"I always check to see what I can learn from others," he maintains. "I was abroad and saw people working, so I appreciate people's hard work, like the cinematographers and everyone else involved. I am more impressed by the whole product, rather than just one individual. I don't have a favourite actor. I like the content more. I am more excited by an excellent film than individual actors. Things only come together when there's a good script and good direction – and an actor on screen alone can't pull off a project. Maybe in theatre, but not on screen."

Radiating this wholesome approach, Adeel reflects warmly on his fans, whom he says are 'the best' and entirely understanding of his desire to not bombard his schedule with projects. "I have the best fans," he says fondly. "I just wanted to do one drama a year, one ad a year – and my fans get it. It's about quality over quantity."

Adeel's career may be about appearing in quality dramas or films, but his figurative glasses are not rose-tinted enough to disregard a sensible financial decision. When put on the spot about choosing between a film with an excellent script, an ad that pays handsomely, or the chance to appear in a drama with his favourite heroine, Adeel does not have to ponder too long about the answer.

"I would have to pick the ad!" he insists. "It's a very difficult economy! Or maybe I'll do both the ad and the film and ask the heroine to forgive me because there will be other dramas! I'm renting, and rent is expensive!"

Adeel's rent may be expensive, but that has not stopped him from hiring a cook. As a single man who chose to give up his room to his brother in the family home when he was getting married, Adeel has set things up so that he has someone cooking three times a week for him in his rented home. "I can cook," he adds. "But I get someone to do it."

As for whether marriage is on the cards? There is nothing yet – although as far as Adeel is concerned, his parameters for a future spouse are wide open. "All I care about is that we should be able to accommodate each other," he says. "I don't care about her profession – she can be in the media or be a doctor or whatever. It doesn't matter to me."