Javed Sheikh talks about the Teefa in Trouble teaser, the future of films in Pakistan and #thatawkward moment at the Lux Style Awards 2018 that went viral.
Pakistan Super League brings cricket and entertainment stars under one roof like it’s nobody’s business and this opening weekend in Dubai has been as star studded as it can get. Just the opening ceremony brought Fawad Khan, Ali Zafar, Ahsan Khan, Javed Sheikh, Bilal Ashraf, Hareem Farooq, Neelum Munir and Sadia Khan amongst others while the following matches kept bringing them in over the next three days. Urwa Hocane and Farhan Saeed, Maya Ali, Mahira Khan and Hamza Ali Abbasi were just some of the names that came to support their teams.
At the opening ceremony for the amazing production that was put together before the match between Peshawer Zalmis and Multan Sultans, I sat down with veteran Javed Sheikh to talk about issues that had become ‘overnight sensations’ – yes, that would be the LSA moment with Mahira Khan, the Teefa in Trouble teaser that just played in the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and of course, the future of Pakistani films.
Instep: How does it feel to be part of Teefa in Trouble, which we just saw the teaser of in the stadium?
Javed Sheikh (JS): I’m very excited about Teefa. I’ve been part of the movie for some time now; we shot in Poland and Lahore. The teaser is now out and as they say, ‘chawal sey aap andaza laga sakte hain ke daig kaisi ho gi’ (one grain of rice will tell you how the rest of the pot is), similarly is this Teefa teaser. I’m speaking from experience. I’ve worked in so many movies and what I’ve seen is amazing. I believe in Ahsan Rahim and had been telling him to make a film for years. Finally, he has and I believe in it. I knew that he had a good mind for films and he has proven me right.
Instep: You have such vast experience in filmmaking. Would you agree that 2017 was a poor year for Pakistani films?
JS: Yes, but it’s okay. We had two hit films in 2017 – Na Maloom Afraad 2 and Punjab Nahin Jaungi – and there were some mediocre films like Parchi and Chupan Chupai, which is not a bad ratio. If we have 2 hits out of 25 films released in 2017 then it’s not a bad ratio at all. In India, they release 250 films out of which 10 are just barely good. The ratio is the same. We just need to keep making films. Hollywood doesn’t make all hits. Filmmaking should just continue. The process should not stop.
Pakistan has fertile soil that produces great talent in every field you can think of. Pakistani cinema is also making animations now; I just recorded for an animation called Donkey King; it’s satire and is being made on international standards. There is a lot of potential in this industry.
Instep: So you do think the industry is growing?
JS: Yes, the rate at which cinemas are being made in Pakistan, is proof of that. Big groups like Mansha Group and Packages are adding screens in malls every year. Things are growing.
Instep: We also give a lot of importance to social media but we saw the downside at the Lux Style Awards. Would you like to comment on that?
JS: We should use new technology to our benefit, not to spread sensation amongst the people. TV picks up stories from social media and turns it into ‘breaking news’. You saw this happen with Mahira and me at the Lux Style Awards. Absolutely nothing happened. Nothing. Kuch bhi nahin tha. We were on stage, she came to meet me and I bent forward to hug her, as I would under normal circumstances; she didn’t know so turned away at that specific time…it was nothing. People just made a big fuss about it. People criticized me, people criticized her, saying that ‘Javed Sheikh is such a big legend’ and she shouldn’t have behaved this way. She was very upset. I’m on such good terms with Mahira; she’s a good colleague and I have a lot of respect for her. Social media made such an issue of the moment. So yes, technology is good but it has to be used constructively.
Instep: And the same principle applies to TV?
JS: Yes, absolutely. Everything is not ‘breaking news’. There has to be a standard to news and not everything is a sensation.
Instep: Do you think that ‘sensational news’ as you and Mahira were made into has any long-term effect or impact on one’s career?
JS: No, no, not at all. It has a 2-day life and then people move onto something else.
Instep: And so, moving on to cricket, we’re here in Dubai for PSL and I’d like to ask why you’re supporting the Multan Sultans this year?
JS: Well, why not? I was with Karachi Kings last year and Multan Sultans this year. Next year I may be with Quetta Gladiators. Why not? They are all part of my country. I’m just happy to be here, supporting my country.