Not a one-trick pony

Actor-director Adnan Malik speaks to The Express Tribune about his diverse career trajectory.

KARACHI:

Amid raging competition in the Pakistani entertainment industry, reinventing oneself as an artiste has become the need of the hour. While some may struggle to gain ground while exploring avenues, Adnan Malik has proven his mettle in the spheres he has tried his hand at. In his attempt to avoid falling prey to the notion of being a one-trick pony, he ventured into modelling after emerging to the fore as a video jockey on local music channels.

He then transitioned into direction with his eponymous production company, Adnan Malik Productions. But after directing a handful of television commercials, he seems to have pivoted towards a place in front of the lens. Malik, whose TV serial Sadqay Tumhare is currently being aired, speaks to The Express Tribune about his career trajectory.



After studying film production and theory at Vassar College, New York, he worked in the state as a documentary filmmaker for a couple of years before he decided to move back to Pakistan. “I made a couple of more documentaries when I moved back but found it challenging to make films here,” he says. “I was asked to model in a fashion show and act in a TV commercial. I took up those opportunities and then, one thing led to another,” he adds.

Malik shares that he had been receiving offers to act in several TV serials but he had been politely declining them as he was already preoccupied with other work, most notably as video producer of the popular music television show Coke Studio for five seasons. Of his decision to star in Sadqay Tumhare, he states, “It had such a beautiful story and strong production team, with Ehtashamuddin at the helm.” He adds, “Above all, I was excited at the prospect of acting opposite Mahira Khan, who is a friend from my MTV VJing days.”

Malik, who is the younger brother of director Saqib Malik, terms acting as a ‘real challenge’. “Acting makes you confront a lot of your own demons. And in this case, there was added pressure, as I play an autobiographical character [of the serial’s writer Khalilur Rehman Qamar],” he states. “Plus, with his [Qamar’s] scripts, you can’t even change punctuation. Everything is said as it is written.”

Commenting on the preparation involved in depicting the character, he shares, “When I read Qamar’s character, I decided that he should be lean and since he is an athlete, his body should always have a slight ache to it. So, I exercised a lot and trimmed up for the role.” He further says, “In terms of delivery and blocking, I had a great time working with Ehtashamuddin. He comes from a theatre background and has shorthand for movement and delivery, which helped me a lot.”

Malik feels it is critical for an actor to do extensive research for a role being depicted, something he also required of the actors in the music videos he directed. “While directing the music video for Punjabi Love, I made Aamina Sheikh train for about six weeks before we shot the video. I applied the same process to myself [for Sadqay Tumhare],” he comments.



Malik has been the creative force behind some unique projects, such as the mockumentary titled How Sunday Made Me a Celebrity and the City FM89 In The Loop Video Dept. But despite him plying his trade as a music video director for several years, Malik has yet to direct a TV serial or telefilm. “I want to direct a telefilm soon, so that I can get involved in the narrative without high stakes. Drama serials are time-consuming and unless it’s a special project, I’m not sure if I want to take up that challenge. So, [I intend to make] telefilms and then, hopefully, at some point, feature films.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2014.

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