In conversation with Nauman Ijaz

INSTEPINTERVIEW

In a forthcoming interview with Instep, the veteran actor talks about returning to the big screen and his on-air serial Khan.

Nauman Ijaz, a veteran actor with three decades of experience behind him, has no real rival or counterpart in the acting business. He’s had a great run and is still going strong, having scored commercial and critical success with recent productions like Dumpukht, Sang-e-Mar Mar and the currently airing Khan.

Last seen on the big screen in Mehreen Jabbar’s debut cinematic directorial, Ramchand Pakistani, Nauman plans to return to films with an upcoming movie called Maidaan. He revealed this and more during an interview with Instep in which he was both forthcoming and reflective. 

Our conversation began with Khan that began auspiciously but has struggled to make a mark in recent weeks. “There are a lot of reasons why it hasn’t worked,” Nauman began.  “Honestly, the paraphernalia which was required for the script and what was decided initially never happened.”

Moving on, Nauman Ijaz shared information that he had signed a film titled Maidaan. To be helmed by an international director called Jack Mulder, the movie is inspired by true events and revolves around the story of the 12 street children who represented Pakistan in Brazil at the Street Child World Cup for football three years ago. The film is co-produced by actor Gohar Rasheed, who is also playing a significant role in the project, while Nauman will be seen portraying the role of a coach.

The final sequence of this upcoming film was recently shot in Karachi at the exhibition match played by renowned Brazilian footballer, Ronaldinho, also joined by England’s David James, Holland’s George Boateng, Manchester United former player, Ryan Giggs, former French midfielder, Robert Pires and Portugal’s Luis Boa Morte. Interestingly, the scene will feature all international footballers with the film’s protagonists. However, Nauman has a different story to tell.

“The producers must’ve shot the last sequence of the film because these guys were visiting. They might have come up with some solution, because initially they were discussing the climax of the film; it wasn’t decided last I heard,” shared Nauman. “As for now, I’m waiting for them to approach me. I haven’t spoken to the film’s producer, Waqas, for a couple of weeks now so I have no idea what they are up to.”

For the film to conclude without the protagonist is one thing, but keeping the lead actor guessing about how the plot is shaping up is another. “It was a verbal commitment, I’m still waiting for the final script to come to me,” said Nauman. “The script that was initially offered to me was based on true events and that’s what tempted me to do it. But due to some issues, they couldn’t shoot with the original storyline and some improvisation had to be done. Like I said, I have no idea what’s finally been decided after that.”

When asked what made him take up this particular cinematic project, the actor noted that it was the film’s subject that appealed to him the most. It would also provide a much-needed departure from the stereotypical romantic-comedies that are being done to death.

Nauman Ijaz has signed a film Maidaan, which is being co-produced by actor Gohar Rasheed

“I’ve never done anything of such sort before. I have been approached by a few people for films, but I‘ve said no because nobody’s making cinema, they’re all making cheap dramas, and we have no filmmakers apart from Nabeel Qureshi. When Maidaan came up, it was actually something real and that’s why I was intrigued to take it up.”

Expanding on his views further, the seasoned actor noted that he is deliberately staying away from conventional and predictable romantic-comedies. “Like I said, I am being offered films, but there’re all blatant copies of Bollywood. We need to understand that it took them a century to reach this stage and we want to do the same in hundred days, which is impossible. Also, we need to have our own genre and niche, unfortunately that isn’t being explored. We haven’t educated our viewers. Adnan Sarwar’s Shah and Jami’s Moor – these are the kind of films we should create more. I don’t think I understand why we’re making low-cost Bollywood rip-offs in the name of Pakistani cinema.”

While Nauman Ijaz is not a controversial figure, he did court controversy in significant fashion when he took the stage at an award show earlier this year and dropped sexist, offensive remarks by comparing women to horses. He was also critical of women and their clothing, which was equally offensive.

Nauman, however, maintains that he was misinterpreted. “I was completely misinterpreted,” he told Instep. “Somebody who was there and listened to what I said would know. I simply quoted a dialogue from the drama for which I got awarded. If you need to reprimand someone, blame the producer, the channel and the writer. I’m just an actor, and to all those women who I offended, I apologize.”

Adding to the discussion, he further stated, “I think women are stronger beings, I’ve always said that they deserve more power, their administration abilities are far better than men’s. All we can do is manually work.”

Reflecting on how women are depicted in our serials, Nauman said on a parting note, “We’ve destroyed women through our serials. Being an actor I’m often questioned while abroad about how ridiculing women is a norm in our religion or culture. These channels in the name of TRPs have overdone it to death and completely ruined our image worldwide. Male-oriented serials like Mera Saieen and Sang-e-Mar Mar or even Waris did well and they’ve stood out.

There are more issues and genres we can explore because we have ourselves dampened our audiences’ digestive systems by giving them such vile content. There’s a long way to go.”