Faysal Quraishi believes he isn’t getting a civil award anytime soon, but he wouldn’t turn one down
Faysal Quraishi believes the only way he’ll get a civil award for his services to the entertainment industry is by going to his nearest Imtiaz and asking for a sitara (star).
The veteran actor was ranting to his friend Shahzad Nawaz on an episode of the latter’s podcast Koi Reh Tu Nahi Gaya, which released on Monday.
Nawaz teased the actor about the high award potential of his drama Case No.9 and how he had earlier derided the industry for not recognising his work as an artist.
Quraishi said, “The king and queen have left, the tyranny has ended… things do get better sometimes.”
The host then asked if he felt he was in the running for state recognition for his work, perhaps an award like the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz or even the coveted Sitara-i-Imtiaz.
The actor said his best shot was going to the grocery store chain Imtiaz and asking them for a sitara, which he hoped they would have in stock.
A baffled Nawaz asked him why he was showing such irreverence towards a national honour, to which Quraishi said he didn’t know what else to do after the authorities had rejected his name for a civil award twice.
The host asked the actor with 33 years of experience what he thought he was lacking, the guest laughed and said, “Calcium.”
Nawaz asked his friend how it felt and whether his nine-year-old son asked why he hadn’t gotten the award despite many of his colleagues being recognised every year.
Quraishi said he faced his son’s questions, but knew his fans were behind him here. “People have written lengthy emails [to the government], they’ve sent me screenshots of them.” He said he didn’t know why this was the case.
When asked whether he would accept a national award if he was nominated, the actor said, “I’d have to, I can’t say no to that. How could I not accept?”
The actor made waves in 2015 when his drama Bashar Momin was snubbed at the Lux Style Awards. The organisers initially did not nominate the show, saying it didn’t meet selection criteria, but relented under public pressure and put Quraishi in the running for the Best TV Actor Award. The actor went on to reject the nomination.
Comments