VJ-turned-actor Feroze Khan started off his journey as an actor back in 2014. Luckily for him, Khan tasted success with his very first TV play Chup Raho. He was later seen in Furqan Khan’s Tumse Mil Kay and recently in the ever-popular Gul-e-Rana, opposite Sajal Aly; the serial went onto become a television phenomenon and a viral sensation on social media.
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The actor spoke to Instep about his upcoming film, biases in the industry and crossing borders into Bollywood.
VJ-turned-actor Feroze Khan started off his journey as an actor back in 2014. Luckily for him, Khan tasted success with his very first TV play Chup Raho. He was later seen in Furqan Khan’s Tumse Mil Kay and recently in the ever-popular Gul-e-Rana, opposite Sajal Aly; the serial went onto become a television phenomenon and a viral sensation on social media. Though his time on screen only spans about two and a half years, Khan seems to have benefitted from the re-emergence of local cinema quite early in his career. Khan has already landed a lead role in a mainstream Pakistani film – Anjum Shahzad’s romantic drama Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hay. Scheduled for a release on Eidul Azha opposite two other local films, ZKHH seems to have a lot working in its favour – a credible director, melodius music composed by Soch and the successful pairing of Khan with Sajal. Many might think that the makers played upon the popularity of the couple, who won many a heart as the lovelorn, incompatible couple in Gul-e-Rana, but it is interesting to note that the two of them signed the film around the same time as the serial. In a conversation with Instep, the actor reveals all this and more on his journey in the industry so far…
Instep: How did you land the lead role in ZKHH and what was it that made you sign up for it?
Feroze Khan (FK): Khaliq Khan, the producer as well as the writer of ZKHH, offered me some other film that he wanted to make but, at that time, I told him it’s not something I would want to do. So he then offered me ZKHH. I read the script and I liked it so I gave it a nod and here we are, just a few weeks away from the release. What compelled me to do this film is the transformation that the character goes through; it had a lot of margin for performance and a lot of work for me to do.
BTS: Feroze Khan with director Anjum Shahzad during the making of the film.
Instep: Tell us about your character in the film. How challenging was it?
FK: My character in the film is that of a very loving, caring guy who is family oriented; he loves his kid and his wife. He is a struggling filmmaker and wants to do something for his dad because it was his dad’s dream to make a film but he couldn’t and died whilst in the struggle. So Zain is basically trying to fulfill his dad’s dream but his family suffers in the process and it leads to some domestic issues.
It was the most challenging project that I have done so far in my life. Particularly, playing a father was challenging for me since I am not actually a father, I am not even married, so I don’t know what it feels like to have a son and have such a bond with him.
Instep: What do you think is the prerequisite for becoming an actor? Are good looks all that matter?
FK: Certainly not! It’s not just good looks; looks can only last for a while and then it’s your talent that makes all the difference; what all can you do, how talented you are and what do you have to offer to the audience. For an actor, it is important to be able to act well, it doesn’t matter how you look.
Instep: Have you ever been subjected to any sort of bias in the industry?
FK: Favoritism is there and will always be; everyone has their favorites. In every industry, there are all types of people and some people prefer their own team not because of favoritism or so, but because of comfort; they are more comfortable working with their own people. Like Sajal and I have worked with each other and this is our third project together; more than anything else, it’s got to do with comfort and balance.
Instep: You and Sajal Aly share great onscreen chemistry as seen in serials like Chup Raho and particularly, Gul-e-Rana. Do you see the same replicating on the big screen?
FK: The chemistry between Sajal and I will always be there and you guys are definitely going to enjoy it.
Instep: Do you think the two of you can create the same magic as Fawad and Mahira or Hamza Ali Abbasi and Maya Ali from the current lot?
FK: All these people are my colleagues and I never wish to be anything like them. I want to create something of my own and make them appreciate it.
Instep: ZKHH is your debut film. What are your expectations?
FK: I am not expecting anything because I don’t think expectations take you anywhere in life. Once the film releases, only then we’d be able to know how it’s going to do. If a film has the content for people to like it, to make them cry or to make them smile, then the job is done.
Instep: Have you been approached for any other Pakistani film before?
FK: Yes I have been offered quite a few Pakistani as well as Indian films. I am considering some of them and I am going to meet them soon once I am done with the promotions of ZKHH. Only then I will decide if I am going to go ahead with them or not. I don’t want to do them just for the sake of going across the border and getting a tag on me. If they offer me the same as I have been offered in Pakistan, only then I will do something there.
Instep: What other projects are you currently working on?
FK: I will be starting a project soon but since things haven’t been finalized yet so I would not like to talk about it. For now I just want ZKHH to come out and see how it goes because promotions take a lot of time so I can’t take up anything else. There is one play that I really liked the story of and I am in talks with them and there is a film as well that I am looking
into. But right now all I care about is Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hay.
