Wajahat Rauf has built quite a resume over the last decade. His many talents have seen him write, direct and produce projects for both film and TV, giving audiences everything from road trip rom-coms on the big screen to emotional television dramas. His Karachi Se Lahore series has been a box office winner, while his latest television drama, Raqs-e-Bismil, is keeping viewers riveted.

The journey that brought him to this point started all the way back in his childhood, when the magic of cinema sparked his interest in the entertainment industry. “I remember going to drive-in cinemas with my parents as a kid,” he recalls. “I was mesmerized by watching movies on the big screen. Even when we used to travel to the U.K. or the U.S., the first thing I wanted to do was watch a film at the cinema.”

His love affair with movies, he says, started by the age of seven. That love would eventually bloom into a career as a drama and filmmaker, with Wajahat creating a wide range of content that would establish his presence in the industry. Of all his ventures so far, the one that remains closest to his heart is his debut feature film.

“I think for me (the project I am most proud of) was – and will always be – Karachi Se Lahore, as we had no idea how it was going to be received. We were sort of in virgin territory when it came to films. The response was enormous and that is why the film will always stand out for me.”

The 2015 flick chronicled the adventures of a hapless group on a cross-country trip to stop a wedding. The movie did well financially, but despite the box office success, the film – as well as its 2016 spin-off sequel Lahore Se Aagey – received mixed reviews. How did the critical reception make him feel? And does he give more importance to box office success or critical success?

“That’s an interesting one,” he ponders. “All Pakistani films have gotten mixed reviews. I feel some of the blogger and journalist community just write bad reviews to get views or for them to be taken seriously. I say numbers don’t lie; if the audiences have spent their money and supported a movie for three months, we all must have done something right.”

Wajahat certainly is doing something right, evident in the popularity of his latest television drama, the ongoing Raqs-e-Bismil, which seems to have hooked viewers right from the first episode; it has earned praise for everything - from its production values to the acting.

“Raqs-e-Bismil was intense and different from anything I’ve directed before. It was a great experience,” he says. The credit for spearheading this project goes to his wife, Shazia Wajahat, who happens to be an executive producer at Showcase Productions. “Shazia found this script by the great Hashim Nadeem,” Wajahat reveals. “I was supposed to produce only, but she really wanted me to direct this one. I read the script and couldn’t say no as it was one of the best scripts I had ever read. It was an absolute pleasure working with some of the best actors in the game. I am overwhelmed with the response.”

The drama tells the tale of a man called Moosa (portrayed by Imran Ashraf) who belongs to a pious family headed by pirs. He is heir apparent to his father’s gaddi until he falls in love with an escort named Zohra (Sarah Khan) and falls from all family graces. Despite all its strengths though, this serial, like most Pakistani television dramas, also revolves around romantic entanglements and domestic issues. Why doesn’t the industry explore different themes?

“This is mostly decided by television channels,” Wajahat replies. “I think they have experimented before and other genres haven’t really worked on TV, but I hope we keep trying as it has to change for the better at some point.”

The dramatic Raqs-e-Bismil has been a rewarding experience for Wajahat who has enjoyed working on the series. But, he admits, that the projects he most likes to make are the ones that tickle the funny bone. “I love making comedies and making people laugh,” he says and that love for comedy is apparent in the show (his alter ego) Voice Over Man, he hosts on his YouTube channel. The format includes Voice Over Man interviewing celebrities in an unorthodox and often inappropriate but harmless and hilarious way. It has a huge audience.

And so laughter is hopefully what Wajahat will look for in his next venture, the social-comedy flick Parde Mein Rehne Do, which was originally set to be released last year before the pandemic halted the movie’s production. Shooting did eventually commence.

“Mashallah we just wrapped filming,” he tells Instep. “Written by Mohsin Ali, this film is based on a social issue but dealt with in a lighter way. Lead actors Hania Aamir and Ali Rehman Khan are brilliant and so is the rest of the cast. I hope we can bring a different flavour on the big screen this time than what I have done previously with my three films.”

Wajahat says that the business side of things can and does influence a venture. “I have self-financed all my projects, so yes it plays a major role. Sure I’d like to shoot bigger but we also have to gauge the box office potential and sharing ratios between exhibitors and distributors.”

Fans of Wajahat and his work will surely be familiar with the fact that his son, Aashir, is also an actor and singer, and Wajahat says he has “definitely encouraged” his son to pursue a career in entertainment. “He has grown up around musicians and actors and has been inspired by them since a very young age. I am happy he has taken professional training for singing. My second one, Nayel, also plays about four instruments and writes, but I’m not sure he wants to enter this business. Obviously I’ll be cool with whatever they want to do in life.”

Wajahat reveals that he has already started work on his fifth movie, and the Voice Over Man is also working on “a web series for an international platform”.

As for the state and future of the Pakistani film industry, Wajahat shows both frustration and optimism. “All efforts made (for the revival of cinema) so far have been private, by individual producers or the film association. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been any support from the government since the revival in 2013. But we will keep trying and we will keep making movies against such tough odds.”

Fans of Wajahat and his work will surely be familiar with the fact that his son, Aashir, is also an actor and singer, and Wajahat says he has “definitely encouraged” his son to pursue a career in entertainment. “He has grown up around musicians and actors and has been inspired
by them since a very young age.”