COVER STORY

Hammad Shoaib is an incredible artist who is loved for his performance in Soteli Maamta, Khidmat Guzar, and other dramas. In a short period of time, he has made his name in the entertainment industry through hard work and dedication.

Us caught up with Hammad to talk about his experience of building a career in the entertainment industry …

What does success mean to you?

To me, success means working towards my dreams. As long as I keep moving in the right direction, I feel successful.

Something you learned early in your career which helped you become a better actor?

I learned that acting is all about action and reaction. This sounds like a very simple lesson, but it has been very effective for me.

What is the most challenging thing about this career?

I think life without challenges is boring. To become a better person, you have to face challenges. Every field is difficult but acting is a different field altogether; it has its own demands and the life of an actor is governed by a very different routine. That’s the only reason we have like 200 to 300 people who are actively pursuing acting in Pakistan. For me, the most challenging thing about this career is living away from my family. I miss them and whenever I get free time, I go back home to be with them.

Did you get any formal education for this career? If not, how did you learn the craft of acting?

I never got any formal education for my acting career. I used to dance and act in my school events and people appreciated me for that. I remember that I used to reenact scenes from my favourite movies and record them on my phone to polish my acting skills.

Who are some of your role model actors/actresses, and what do you like about their work?

Fahad Mustafa and Humayun Saeed are my favourites. I think they’re phenomenal performers and amazing human beings.

Do you believe good looks and connections are the only things that make a star?

Well, good looks and connection do matter. But, in the longer run, you need talent to prove yourself.

How do you deal with self-doubt?

I never doubt myself! You doubt yourself when you compare yourself with others. And I don’t compare myself to others. I think my competition is with the person I see in the mirror every day. That’s me! I compete with myself to be a better person and a better actor.

Three pieces of advice for aspiring actors.

1. Be confident. Don’t let anyone think you’re not capable enough.

2. Respect your seniors and learn from them.

3. Don’t look at other people and compare yourself. Just do your work with honesty and achieve all those dreams!

My teenage years

Date of birth and star

June 28; Cancer.

The best thing about being a teenager was

Staying at Nana Abu’s place and spending time with my cousins. Oh, it feels like a dream. We used to have so much fun. We would play cricket and ride bicycles. And then I would devour all the ice cream stored in my nana’s fridge. Those were some good old days!

I was always listening to

Eminem, Enrique, Rihanna and Akon. Their songs were exceptional.

My favourite actors

Shah Rukh Khan, Leonardo di Caprio, Christian Bale, Al Pacino and Ranbir Kapoor.

My favourite superhero

Superman. He will always be my favourite superhero.

My favourite movie

Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Titanic, The Godfather, Batman, DDLJ.

My closet was full of

Shoes, watches and perfumes.

What hurt me the most was

Not getting game period in high school due to rain.

I wish I had known then

Nothing. I feel with time you learn and become better.

Relations with family were

Beautiful. Family is everything.

My favourite subject was

Mathematics, anytime!

My least favourite subject was

Accounts. So jata tha class mein.

I couldn’t stand

Disrespect. Respect comes first.

My favourite food

I love mushroom steaks with mashed potatoes.

My favourite sport was

Football. I was one of the best footballers in my school.