Instep talks to the actor about his varying roles and the scripts he comes across.
Asad Siddiqui made his debut a decade ago with the drama serial, Azar Ki Aayegi Baraat. His widely appreciated role of Vicky was featured in the serial’s sequels too. It was the role that cemented his belief that he could act professionally. Since then, he’s acted in many serials including Annaya Tumhari Hui, Goya, Zindaan, Madawa, Rukhsati, Meri Maa and Dareecha.
Having started off with lighter roles, recently Asad Siddiqui has done mainly negative ones. Instep talks to the actor about his roles and the scripts he comes across.
Currently shooting for Wajahat Rauf’s web series with Mehwish Hayat and Azfar Rehman, Asad tells Instep he can’t disclose much about it, especially because they are allegedly shooting it for an international platform and they plan to release it officially next month.
“The story is about a college band and the progress of their music; the cast and the script are the best part about it.”
He shares that Mehwish, Azfar, Rubab, Faryal and Adnan are all characters in the musical entourage and what makes it unique is that Wajahat is shooting this like a film but digitally. “A serial has its own course to take as 26 episodes have a lot to show whereas in a web series there’s more to show in less time which makes it more exciting for me,” he shares.
The actor, who bears a striking resemblance to his best friend Yasir Hussain reveals that he’s also going to start shooting his debut film soon. The film will be directed by Wajahat and Siddiqui will star in a titular role. As an actor, he’s done a number of antagonist roles in the recent past. When asked about whether he feels he’s been type casted, he says, “I just look out for roles that can change the entire storyline by how I act them out. I believe that one should take the characters they like and ones that have performance margins. Typecasting is when you get stuck in monotonous roles and that has never been a problem for me.”
He adds, “When you’re playing the antagonist, you can bring many variations into it and you can also bring positive nuances into it.”
He shares that he started his career with comedy and romance in the Baraat series but now looks at different things when deciding on a role. “I look for a good script most importantly because I think most dramas are made for women with their issues being in focus. This is not a bad thing but 75 per cent of them are about similar storylines. Scripts are very limited in this country and there is so much that hasn’t been tapped into yet.”
Siddiqui is part of the upcoming play Surkh Chandni that deals with acid attack survivors. It is being produced by Sana Shahnawaz and Samina Humayun Saeed and is written by Asma Nabeel. The play has Sohai Abroo, Sami Khan, Mansha Pasha among others and is one that Siddiqui feels will make people aware of the lives of acid victims. “We’re trying to make people aware of the lives acid victims lead,” he says.
We hope to see Siddiqui taking up other roles, which become significant not only in the storyline they’re offering of but also push various narratives in the country.
