PNCA Appreciation for Art series: Irfan Khoosat recounts journey to success

Performs role from classical TV series Andhera Ujala; speaks about audience’s expectations.

ISLAMABAD:

Irfan Khoosat needs no introduction. With a television and stage career spanning decades, Khoosat was among the first actors who brought the sitcom genre of comedy shows to life for Pakistani audiences.

On Wednesday evening, Islooites had the privilege of hearing more about Khoosat’s journey from the man himself at an evening organised in his honour by the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).

The evening was part of the PNCA’s Appreciation for Art series, which pays tribute to national film, television and music icons.

Khoosat opened proceedings with a one-man act titled “Direct Indirect Havaldar”. During the show, he reprised the role he had perfected in the classical 1980s TV series Andhera Ujala: a typical bumbling policeman. Khoosat’s policeman character used self-deprecating humour which was well received by the audience.

He was then invited onstage to talk about lasting memories from his career. He launched into an autobiographical talk, starting from the time he first broke into the industry through Radio Pakistan.

His recalled his first role on radio — during his childhood — where he was asked to substitute for an actor who had withdrawn from the show, “Ultay Pultay”.

His father, Sultan Khoosat, who was a famous painter, and also a former employee at Radio Pakistan, was unaware of the offer his son had been presented with. From then on, there was no looking back, said Khoosat.

His path to fame and critical acclaim was not as easy it may have seemed, however. His father passed away when Khoosat was just nine years old. He worked odd jobs to make ends meet for his family while at the same time attempting to establish his acting career.

Now, his son, Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, is also a famous director.

“I have come full circle in my life. My son now carries the family legacy without my help as I did without my father’s help,” said Khoosat.

Khoosat paid tribute to his Andhera Ujala co-star Jamil Fakhri and to famous poet Sufi Tabassum, whom Khoosat got to know during his time with Radio Pakistan.

He also commented upon people’s expectations from actors. “It is upsetting when people say a particular actor keeps performing the same type of roles. The actors always try their best to be diverse. It is the audience who crave to see an actor play out a specific role,” he said.

Caretaker Federal Minister for National Heritage and Integration Shahzada Jamal Nazir, who also attended the show, said he was honoured to hear the legendary actor speak, adding that Khoosat was a national asset.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2013.