'Money should not be a privilege to flaunt'

For actor Shamoon Abbasi, playing morally complex characters comes with a challenge that extends beyond the screen: convincing audiences that the person they see in a drama is a fictional character, not a reflection of the actor himself.

Speaking to The Express Tribune about his role in the 16-episode crime drama Shaandaar, Abbasi said actors often face misconceptions when they take on controversial or negative roles.

"The biggest challenge in playing such roles is that the audience starts thinking that the person acting is actually the same as shown in the dramas," he said. "They don't understand that I pick these roles because someone has to portray them."

Directed by Wajahat Rauf, Shaandaar takes inspiration from several real-life roadside killing cases that have sparked public debate in Pakistan. Rather than dramatising one particular incident, the series draws elements from different cases involving violence, privilege, power and influential individuals.

For Abbasi, the relevance of the story to contemporary society was one of the reasons he agreed to be part of the project.

"The first thing that attracted me was Wajahat Rauf, because we had never worked together," he said. "The role also seemed very relevant to today's issues. Wajahat is a great director and producer, with all the necessary elements in line."

The drama moves away from the conventional family conflicts that frequently dominate Pakistani television. Instead, it places crime, privilege and the consequences of unchecked power at the centre of its narrative.

Abbasi's character is also connected to a younger generation portrayed as privileged and reckless, raising questions about how wealth and upbringing can influence behaviour.

Asked whether society is creating a generation that takes wealth and privilege for granted, Abbasi said parents have an important role to play.

"I absolutely think that parents need to be aware of the activities of their children and keep an eye on how they are growing up," he said.

He pointed out that the consequences of reckless behaviour can extend far beyond the family home.

"Outside their houses, these privileged, reckless children take such actions that later they become news highlights nationwide," he said. "Money should not be a privilege to flaunt."

The series features an ensemble cast including Abbasi, Shahzad Sheikh, Areeka Haq, Ali Dayan, Laila Wasti and Ahsan Afzal Khan. Its fast-paced treatment combines the tension of a crime thriller with elements drawn from incidents that have already entered public consciousness.

As Shaandaar unfolds, the drama seeks to examine a difficult question: what happens when privilege, power and recklessness collide and whether influence can continue to shield people from the consequences of their actions.