Images

There is no bitter competition in Bollywood, says Fawad Khan

There is no bitter competition in Bollywood, says Fawad Khan

Fawad dishes on the Dharma camp, future films and his alleged 'ego issue'
Updated 28 Mar, 2016

Fawad Khan is a superstar, there is no doubt about it; a cross-border, true blue, hysteria-inducing one-of-a-kind phenomenon.

The female screams recently echoing through Karachi’s Nueplex cinema were testament to this. Fawad’s acting tryst with Dharma Productions, Kapoor & Sons, had just released and the actor had flown in from the premiere in India to host special screenings in Pakistan.

Predictably — for this is what always happens — an eager, jostling mob of fans crowded Fawad as soon as he walked onto the red carpet. They wanted to shake his hand and congratulate him for his performance or record a few snippets from him on their cell phones or of course, pose with him for umpteen selfies. Surprisingly, his admirers now include a fair smattering of males aside from the usual milieu of smitten ladies. The latter has long been swooning over the indelibly attractive combination that forms Fawad, the drop-dead gorgeous successful actor melded with the refined family man. The former have been won over by his considerable acting mettle.

Hordes of fans showed up at every Kapoor & Sons promotional event in Pakistan
Hordes of fans showed up at every Kapoor & Sons promotional event in Pakistan

Fawad seemed unperturbed by the cataclysmia surrounding him. Graciously, he proceeded to click selfies with record-breaking speed — he’s been doing it for so long that he’s now a natural at it. That’s bona fide 21st century superstar behavior as we know it.

Fawad’s also become more prolific during interviews, spending less time pondering and coming up with prompt, characteristically precise answers. This is something I observe out loud to him when I talk to him immediately following K&S’ Indian premiere.

“I have always been comfortable during interviews,” he is quick to correct me, “although perhaps my answers are more to the point now.”

Is he no longer afraid of being misquoted? “I don’t think I have ever been misquoted on a serious issue,” he says. “Sometimes, funny things do happen though. For instance, I was asked which movie’s remake would I like to act in and I replied Guide. I was misheard to have said Ghayal. Similarly, I was misinterpreted to have stated that I was offered a role in the movie ‘PK’ when I never was! But it isn’t a big deal.”

So begins my talk with Fawad Khan, the hero who has easily traversed the Indo-Pak divide and skyrocketed to stardom. He is veritable hot Bollywood property now, with a big banner Karan Johar hit to his credit — going by the initial box office innings — a Filmfare award last year for Best Male Debut and he is seen in the social pages hobnobbing with Bollywood’s ‘it’ crème de la crème. And yet, this ‘superstar’, relatively more eloquent Fawad still continues to be politically correct, ‘to the point’ and rarely but deliciously, not so much …

Dharma and co.

Fawad spent a few busy weeks promoting Kapoor & Sons across India with co-stars Alia Bhatt and Siddharth Malhotra
Fawad spent a few busy weeks promoting Kapoor & Sons across India with co-stars Alia Bhatt and Siddharth Malhotra

“I don’t think there is any so-called ‘Dharma Camp’,” Fawad ponders. “Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra, my co-stars in K&S, debuted with Karan Johar which is probably why people associate them with his production company. They have gone on to work with other film-makers too. Having said that, the team at Dharma consists of wonderful, very talented people and I would love to work with them again.”

The feeling may be mutual, for Fawad is often spotted hanging out with his friends at Dharma, the veritable who’s who that make up Bollywood’s coveted ‘inner circle’. How has he, an outsider, managed to fit in so easily into such a clustered, fiercely competitive industry? “Perhaps I am just a great guy who gets along with everyone,” he wisecracks. “I think the current generation of actors focuses more on improving their own craft rather than bringing down each other. There is no bitter competition at play. I genuinely have gotten along with everyone I have worked with so far.”

This includes his illustrious line-up of co-stars in K&S with whom he says he shares an ‘easy camaraderie’. The movie has placed Fawad amidst an impressive star cast and comes with all the gloss, hype and hoopla attached to the Karan Johar name.

Fawad Khan's Kapoor & Sons role was a conscious effort to break away from his brooding romantic hero image
Fawad Khan's Kapoor & Sons role was a conscious effort to break away from his brooding romantic hero image

At the same time, Fawad has made a brave choice with his role in the movie, dabbling with some very unconventional shades. Was he comfortable with his character’s ‘coming out’? “I enjoyed the challenges that came with the role,” he says. “Every movie is a reinvention of the same wheel but a good movie attempts to tell a story differently. I think this movie does this. In my role, also, I tried to add aspects that were new and would keep the audience intrigued.”


"For Albela Rahi, I have already had one online meeting with Alamgir and I plan to meet him again. The action-related requirements of Maula Jatt are going to pose a challenge but I will focus on them when filming draws closer."


Even prior to K&S, Fawad seemed to be on an ostensible mission to break out of the mold of the brooding romantic hero and prove his diversity. He has recently been seen as the befuddled Oochi in the ad campaign for a local food brand and soon, he is going to be shooting for Pakistani biopic Albela Rahi, enacting singer Alamgir. Later in the year, he will take on his first action film avatar with the upcoming Maula Jatt. How does he prepare himself for this line-up of myriad roles?

“It varies from character to character,” he explains. “With K&S, I just fell naturally into my role. The atmosphere on the set was very easygoing and I think that helped. I did need to work on my dancing though! For Albela Rahi, I have already had one online meeting with Alamgir and I plan to meet him again. The action-related requirements of Maula Jatt are going to pose a challenge but I will focus on them when filming draws closer. As for Oochi, I enacted him simply because I felt like delving into comedy.”

Starry airs

No one can call Fawad Khan's style boring
No one can call Fawad Khan's style boring

Notwithstanding the fashionably challenged Oochi, Fawad has also been looking better than ever. Within Pakistan, he’s always had a penchant for suits by Republic and across the border he’s been positively smoldering on the covers of Filmfare magazine, experimenting with statements like salmon-coloured pants and on-screen as K&S’ Rahul, he’s personified the serious but hot older son. “I have always enjoyed making different style statements,” he points out. “I am not afraid of trying out new looks and often, they work for me.”

We may just see him in an all-new rock star avatar in Karan Johar’s upcoming Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, where he is set to play a small but pivotal part as a Pakistani DJ. How is he going to be managing his commitments on either side of the border as he shuttles back and forth? “I have some very able representatives in India who are helping me manage my career. It is true that I may lose out on projects because of date issues but that cannot be helped. I am also considering some Bollywood scripts at the moment,” he adds.


"I never blow my own trumpet and let my work speak for itself but I do expect respect. If I am working in a project, I want to make sure that I am living comfortably while doing it. I don’t consider that an ego issue."


He seems to be on a roll in India but Fawad does have his critics at home. Every now and then, rumours tend to surface about his bloated ego and how he is fond is throwing his weight around. “There’s not much that can be done about rumours! I never blow my own trumpet and let my work speak for itself but I do expect respect. If I am working in a project, I want to make sure that I am living comfortably while doing it. Even in India, my co-workers are aware that I have a diabetic condition and they take care of it accordingly. I expect the same when I am working in my own country. I don’t consider that an ego issue. In any profession, as well as acting, you put in your best and work your way up the ladder. As you progress, certain benefits are accorded to you.” That’s a typically honest Fawad Khan answer for you.

Moving on to his admirers, does he ever get unnerved by the flattery surrounding him, newfound friends who throw parties for him simply because of his current success? “I love hosting parties and attending them,” he says. “It is cool to play the host and make sure that everyone is having a good time. Charhtay sooraj ke sub pujari hotay hain but I don’t waste my time being paranoid about it. I would rather just enjoy myself and make hay while the sun shines!”

He’s certainly doing that. The sun’s shining glaringly, dazzlingly bright for Fawad Khan right now.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, March 27th, 2016

Comments

Fandom Beyond the Borders Mar 28, 2016 08:32pm
What an educated, polite, humble, practical and intelligent person he i. He definitely has a very bright career ahead of him.
Recommend (0)
history Mar 28, 2016 09:10pm
YOur Wrote history..!
Recommend (0)
VRM Mar 28, 2016 09:16pm
Saw the movie Kapoor and Sons the other day. Must say that Fawad Khan has a very pleasing demeanor. His facial expressions exhibits a certain warmth and respect for others. This comment is not based on the role he played in the film, it is just an observation summing up the actors behavior so far in public. Good Luck to him from an Indian fan.
Recommend (0)
ZAFAR Mar 28, 2016 10:10pm
@VRM I'd say he was the best suit for the character.
Recommend (0)
amir Mar 28, 2016 10:51pm
Super star...everybody is a superstar in pakistan
Recommend (0)
Krish Mar 28, 2016 11:31pm
Movie is a dud. I watched the movie because it was shot in Coonoor/ Ooty hill station where I studied. Picturesque location. But the guy stole the show. He needs to focus more on script.
Recommend (0)
sagar Mar 29, 2016 12:37am
isnt it great to see cross border cooperation - free of politics, and all bans and fatwas and objections and burning of theaters or effigies etc. this is pure great form of art and should be continued in such a way. Fawad has great head on his shoulders , the reporter seems to be looking for trouble/controversy and fawad is answering her so well. good luck for all future movies and non-movie related work you take up.
Recommend (0)
Gus Mar 29, 2016 01:54am
This is what people in Pakistan needs to realize.. how much India has gained in terms of communal harmony.
Recommend (0)
Ashish Mar 29, 2016 09:24am
Watched Kapoor & Sons. Fully admire Fawad Khan's acting. I was really impressed by that.
Recommend (0)
Harsh Mar 29, 2016 10:51am
He is a known movie actor but not superstar.
Recommend (0)
Aamer Mar 29, 2016 11:13am
No Bitter competition in Bollywood? Sharrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Amir Khan dont get along with each other. Every now and than we hear some sort of a dispute going on between them.
Recommend (0)
kadva sach Mar 29, 2016 11:28am
With due respect to Pakistani artists crossing the border for fame and fortune, Fawad Khan is not a superstar. People in India love his work but he is yet to achieve the superstar status that has been awarded to the likes of Aamir Khan, or Salman Khan.
Recommend (0)
Yousuf Mar 29, 2016 12:44pm
Sometimes actors say that they were offered roles in so and so movie even when its not true. This is to gain publicity. Thats why he said he was offered a role in PK.
Recommend (0)
The End Is Near Mar 29, 2016 02:42pm
Media is creating a hype about Fawad Khan. He is just a normal Pakistani actor.
Recommend (0)
brar Mar 29, 2016 05:57pm
@Yousuf He never said he was offered a role in PK but said that I was misquoted.
Recommend (0)
Ravi Verma Mar 30, 2016 09:51am
I am happy at least ... Bollywood is one reason which is uniting two countries ! I hope every one goes for art and creativity so that we can truly unite and progress together.
Recommend (0)
Sridhar Apr 01, 2016 12:11pm
Fawad is a superstar! Let us first define the term superstar. It is not based on popularity but on the saleability of films an actor works in. Rajesh Khanna in his heydays had 17 consecutive hits, a record still unbroken! In the 80s, films used to sell just by Amitabh Bachan's name. Fawad Khan is just an upstart, yet to prove his acting ability or saleability. I heard that Kapoor and Sons is a good movie. I had rave reviews about Rishi Kapoor's acting. Does the mere presence of Fawad Khan in that movie make him a super star? I think not.
Recommend (0)
Sridhar Apr 01, 2016 12:29pm
How is he going to be managing his commitments on either side of the border as he shuttles back and forth? This is a no brainer. There is no career in Pakistani cinema. Bollywood however is a serious stuff, with a lot of name and fame attached to it. The choice is obvious.
Recommend (0)
Rishabh Apr 01, 2016 01:01pm
@ZAFAR Really happy that you are accepting of the charachter - we need more acceptance for all kinds of people in the society.
Recommend (0)