Mikaal Zulfiqar says he's open to Bollywood return, only if invited 'respectfully'

Actor recalls working with Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, reflects on frozen cross-border collaboration

Actor Mikaal Zulfiqar, in a recent interview, made clear that he hadn't shut the door on working in India again, but emphasised that he would only do so if invited respectfully.

When asked about a potential Bollywood comeback, Zulfiqar stated, "I am open to the idea of returning, provided I am invited respectfully and treated on equal footing without being misused." He added, "I am not desperate for work in Bollywood; I am very happy with my career in Pakistan, but I would consider good opportunities if the circumstances were right."

Zulfiqar also noted his frustration with the freeze on cross-border collaboration between Pakistan and India, which he called "childish and ridiculous."

"Unfortunately, politics often overrides everything in the relationship between Pakistan and India. An individual is never bigger than the political situation or regional conflicts," he said. He added, "The current situation and bans on Pakistani actors are childish and ridiculous. An actor needs to be a peacemaker, not part of political games."

Zulfiqar's Bollywood journey began early in his modelling career before he transitioned to acting, starting with 2006's Godfather, a Pakistan-India co-production shot in Dubai and Bulgaria, where the actor worked alongside Indian actors Vinod Khanna and Arbaaz Khan.

The role opened the door to Shoot on Sight (2007), in which Zulfiqar shared the screen with Naseeruddin Shah and the late Om Puri. Looking back, the actor termed the experience a "defining moment" in his career. Speaking about working with the two, Zulfiqar stated, "Seeing their discipline firsthand was an incredible learning experience."

"They were more than gracious and kind to me throughout the shoot," he added.

Despite the political divide between the two countries, Zulfiqar noted, "Deep down, people are the same regardless of cultural or political differences. I found them to be extremely friendly."

The actor also shared that he made the most of the experience by learning from the veterans. "I was very respectful and took every opportunity to ask them questions to learn from their craft," the Sang e Mar Mar star said.

Recalling a memory while filming Shoot on Sight, Zulfiqar noted that he was running late one morning and when he arrived on set, Shah was already sitting there fully prepared, reading a newspaper. "It really showed the discipline of a seasoned actor," Zulfiqar said.

Shifting gears to discuss his personal life, the actor remained candid about why he steered clear of dating co-stars. "They're lovely people, but they're very high maintenance," he said, before clarifying that the issue wasn't gender-specific. "It's not just female co-stars, male actors can be just as difficult. The high-stress environment of the industry is tough on everyone's temperament."

For Zulfiqar, the calculation was simple: "It's just not a good match for me to be involved with people in the same profession."

Beyond his work with Indian stars, Zulfiqar has built a solid career in Pakistani television with credits including Sang e Mar Mar, Shehr-e-Zaat, Diyar-e-Dil and Fraud.