It equipped him, he now says, with various aspects that go into the process of filmmaking.
Azaan Sami Khan has had two biggest films – Parey Hut Love and Superstar – to his credit this year, making him the breakthrough artist of the film world, in 2019.
But as Azaan Sami Khan remembers – in an interview with Instep – before flying off to promote the film in various locales – before screenplays and music and producing a film at the age of 17, he was an editor.
“I started out when I was very young; I used to edit a lot. My mum would force me; I’d come back from school around 2 or 2:30 pm and she’d tell me to spend two hours in the edit room while she used to produce dramas. I hated it but I’ve realized that exercise taught me more about editing than anything else.”
Azaan added: “It taught me more about storytelling because once you understand how it’s put together, it’s all very linked.”
Azaan noted that whether one is acting, making music, editing, or directing, it is all part of the larger picture.
As for sketching characters, particularly in Superstar that he wrote, Azaan noted that the leads in the film – “Mahira Khan and Bilal Ashraf – took on the characters very similarly to how I envisioned them.”
Music, acting, producer, editor, writer – Azaan has tried it all but he has no plans to disappear. “If anything, I just can’t wait to start writing stuff, composing more, and acting at the end of the year. I’m more motivated; I’ve never been the kind of guy who wants to take a vacation.”
The reason, Azaan asserted, is that he doesn’t see the world of storytelling as work. “For me, it is not work. I’d rather be in a studio on a film set than a beach somewhere.”
Having worked with directors Asim Raza and M. Ehteshamuddin for Parey Hut Love and Superstar, respectively, Azaan did confess that both have a different style of working.
“I saw two separate worlds completely, two separate visions entirely and I saw through that whole process what that ends up as.”
Listening to background scores from a young age, Azaan said that he became obsessed with names like John Williams, Alexandre Desplat, Hans Zimmer and it didn’t end there. From R.D Burman to A.R.Rahman to Pritam, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy to his own father – even as he wondered if he should be saying it – the fascination with some of the greatest composers and songwriters began from an early age.
When asked if anxious about comparisons and whether he was anxious about two of his works appearing at the same time, a cheeky Azaan noted on a parting note, “You know, I suggested that let’s do a press junket after the film(s) release. But since I’ve written Superstar, I’d like to answer questions after people have watched it and they’ll have more to take away from it but I’m not anxious. I pray they do well and they will both set a standard.”
