A mix of muscle and masala

Pakistani cinema’s upcoming star Bilal Ashraf shares his journey up to ‘Yalghaar’ and the way forward

ISLAMABAD:

Within a span of just two years, he has landed lead roles in mega movie projects Yalghaar, Waar 2, Jaanan and Hassaan Azhar’s Jhol. However, Bilal Ashraf’s first role was a coincidence, when he accidently ran into Hasan Waqas Rana (Producer of Waar) at Waar’s premier and he ended up offering him a role in Waar 2.

“I was in such a state of disbelief when I was offered Waar 2 that I couldn’t sleep for four days straight,” Bilal tells The Express Tribune. Keeping in mind that he was offered a film alongside Adnan Siddiqui, Shaan and Humayun Saeed, his overwhelming response seems justified.



Later on Rana discovered that Bilal also ran a production company by the name Radical studios, as a result of which he was also hired as a visual effects director for Yalghaar.  Before committing to acting full time, Bilal was working as a hedge fund consultant in New York City.

Read: 'Yalghaar' launches first action-packed assault for silver screen glory

A dream job for most Pakistani men, their parents and their romantic prospects but deep down inside, Bilal felt that something was missing. “I wanted to do something more creative and artistic than just number crunching.”

Bilal’s sister Sadia Ashraf, who used to teach filmmaking at New York University, noticed that void in him and advised him to move to London to study visual effects. Upon completion of his diploma in this field, Bilal returned to Pakistan and launched Radical Films with Sadia, soon after that, Sadia passed away. This was a major turning point in Bilal’s life, and made him put everything else on the back burner.

“This time period made me realise how we take too many things for granted. Our ability to walk, talk and everything else should be cherished.”

Bilal with co-star Armeena Khan

It was Rana’s film offer along with his mentorship that pulled him out of obscurity and back into action. Today, Bilal feels that he has found his true calling in acting. “Acting is my calling. At least for the next 10-20 years or until all of my hair fall out,” he jokes.

Read: ‘I can release Yalghaar any given Thursday’

From jumping helicopters, to rolling out and shooting a live AK 47, his role as Captain Bilal in Yalghaar tested all his limits. The actor had to hit the gym twice a day, for 10 months straight and abide by a strict diet to develop a sturdy physique. “I put my 2,000 per cent in everything that I do, including my role as Captain Bilal. I just hope that I can meet everyone’s expectations.”

Initially he was very nervous to work alongside acting legends, but his co stars supported him at every inch leading up to the completion of Yalghaar, and that helped him in adapting to the role of a ‘cool’ army officer. “The role I play is of a very cool army officer who loves slick motorbikes, cars and guns. He is a true alpha male and finds love interest in a pretty girl.”

Bilal stars opposite the green-eyed beauty Armeena Khan, someone he says he has built an amicable working relationship with. When asked what he likes and despises most about the media industry, he says, “I love how anyone, today, can pick up a camera and make a movie but I dislike how people within the industry pull each others’ leg. You should critique new films, yes, but don’t do it so harshly that it breaks the other person’s heart.”

Outside of his life as an actor, Bilal and a bunch of his friends have a dancing group by the name of Masala Boys. This group can lift up any dead mehndi with its moves. “I can dance very well. Salsa, desi, hip hop, you name it. I can thank my liberal arts education for that.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th,  2015.

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