‘Television se film’

Shahzad Sheikh on career in acting and making his movie debut with Wajahat Rauf’s project

KARACHI:

Clad in a t-shirt and jeans, Shahzad Sheikh sits causally in his lounge as he takes us on a trip down his acting trajectory. From debuting on TV with Dreamers to landing a role of his dreams in upcoming film Karachi Se Lahore, Shahzad, albeit part of a family brimming with stars, has found a way to shine on his own. 

As the industry lends impetus to the local film industry, Shahzad feels it’s too soon to deem this as the revival of cinema. “Since 2009, I’ve been hearing people who want to make films. But Shoaib Mansoor was the only one who took a step forward,” he notes. “People call it the revival of cinema but I strongly disagree. When 10 good films will be on the floors, only then will Pakistani cinema revive.”



Shahzad, who will soon be seen on the big screen, shares his experience of featuring in Karachi Se Lahore. “Wajahat Rauf always wanted to make films and I always wanted to do films. One he had his script ready, he informed me. I told him I would read the script first and, if it appeals to me, I’ll do it. I read the script and really enjoyed it,” he says.

Without divulging details, Shahzad shares the film’s story revolves around a middle-class guy, who dreams big and is impressed with his girlfriend. What follow are a series of twists and turns. He looks forward to the audiences’ response to his character Zaheem. “People have liked the trailer a lot but I feel the movie will do even better.”

Of the hoops he jumped through in the initial stage of his career, Shahzad says, “I faced immense pressure … not just in the field of acting but also from other actors, especially senior actors. People used to say, ‘Please meet Shahzad, Javed Sheikh’s son. It used to frustrate me.” But with time, he realised the aura and persona of his father and how he was acknowledged as an actor. “It grew on me. So, I decided to adopt his habits, such as how he greeted his fans. When people love and support you, you give them the same in return. These are little gestures that make an actor proud,” he adds.



An actor’s children are often expected to inadvertently venture into the same field, but Shahzad opted for acting as a personal choice. “I wasn’t a good student. When I was in a college, my friends started working nine to five. I knew that such a job wouldn’t appeal to me,” he states. He worked in an advertising firm only to leave the job and take up a film course at the New York Film Academy in 2008. “It opened me up as a person. I got to see different perspectives, got to interact with a lot of people and realised I could be myself.”

On his return, he faced a few issues with some local directors. But it wasn’t long before he was approached for and auditioned for Dreamers – his big break. “I watched two recorded scenes from this college-based drama and I really liked it. I thought it’s something I wanted to do. I learnt a lot from it.”

Sharing his perception of the world of entertainment, he states, “It’s much harder than the corporate sector because there are different projects, and there is no particular schedule … you could be shooting in the day or night.” He further says, “Acting is meant for someone who has a passion for it. You need to give your 100 per cent. You need to prove yourself as an actor to the rest. Things have become so intense that I’ve become my own critic.”



Having worked in Halki Si Khalish, Shahzad felt so inspired by the art of direction that he hopes to try his hand at it one day. “Someday, I’ll most definitely direct films,” he shares. Shahzad, who is a father now, also comments on the wonders of fatherhood. “No words can ever explain the feeling … the first time I saw Shahmir, I was so emotional. It was magical … Your heart literally starts to beat outside your body.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2015.

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