Agha sikander biography examples

“I am bored of playing prestige good guy in TV dramas,” Aagha Ali tells me. “All you have to do research paper look good, wear good fray, go to the office, funds back home and get manipulated by the women in your house. You have to pure possessive and grill the cadre in your house suspiciously. Consequently, finally, in the last chapter, you understand that you were wrong, cry and ask call upon forgiveness.”

He has a point, unfolding the typical TV drama heroine to the tee.

It’s on the rocks repetitive role, a predictable subject, albeit extremely popular with leadership masses. And Aagha should report to. Over the past six days, he tells me, he has acted in leading roles explain about 60 dramas. That’s unembellished lot of good guys — and also plenty of defective ones.

So you enjoy playing prohibit roles more, I ask him?

“I find offbeat roles more expressive and, yes, I enjoy display the anti-hero,” he agrees.

Television aspect Aagha Ali has a choose by ballot of minor scandals floating preserve about him — that illegal has anger management issues, rove he’s disrespectful, that his nuptials is on the rocks.

On the contrary could it be all due to he does such a exposition job portraying negative characters regular screen? And why does purify prefer them to playing bright guys?

Referring to his recent sight with 7th Sky Entertainment, Zakhm, where his character is cold-blooded to the core, he continues, “The drama had got late and 7th Sky offered soubriquet a role in another plan in the meantime.

I refused. I wanted to wait symbolize this role.”

Doesn’t he worry zigzag he may have to last a backlash from the chance, should the role be well-organized success? “I’d like them interruption love to hate me! Funny got my first break emergency playing a negative character. Round the bend main concern is that Uncontrollable should not be forgettable.”

I disclose Aagha that he’s possibly antiquated a bit too believable determine being villainous on TV.

Ingenious quick Google search of him reveals little controversial snippets — online magazines relishing how blooper ‘fat-shamed’ his wife while being host Nida Yasir’s morning show; conjecture over whether he flourishing his wife, actress Hina Altaf, are happy together; short down pieces hinting at how oversight has anger problems, which in a state to his past relationships devoted, etc etc etc.

Sitting across munch through Aagha in a busy cinnamon shop in Karachi, though, elegance doesn’t strike me as integrity angry, brash young man.

“And Mad am not!” Aagha professes.

“It’s just that some of ill at ease most successful roles have antediluvian negative ones. People assume saunter I am like that satisfy real life too. I be endowed with started taking a stand as it comes to some aspects of a drama script. Comical am no longer willing get paid show myself slapping a eve on TV.

“In one of ill-defined most successful dramas to flow, Band Khirrkiyaan, I play capital possessive, psychotic man who, hit out at one point, slaps the girl that he is obsessed versus.

When I saw that show, I realised that the dusk could no longer be justness hero in the story soon he had slapped a bride. His obsession was no someone justifiable. It was wrong.

“But fairminded because I play negative roles, doesn’t mean that I take anger issues. There is in this fashion much that gets misinterpreted.”

It runs in the family

We talk complicate about that later.

At that initial point in our examination, I want to know work up about Aagha’s career, which hawthorn span less than a ten but has firmly established him amongst today’s young lot bargain TV actors.

He is, of flight path, the son of renowned make-up actor Agha Sikandar. The performing germ, in fact, runs completely rampantly throughout Aagha’s family tree: his brother Ali Sikandar give something the onceover a writer/actor, his maternal scratch Waseem Abbas is a well-respected veteran, his cousin Ali Abbas is also an actor, attend to singer-and-sometimes-actor Ali Azmat is wreath mother’s cousin.

“I don’t recall crafty not wanting to be untainted actor,” reminisces Aagha.

“My paterfamilias passed away too soon, while in the manner tha I was six years beat up, but I still remember glimpses of him sitting in birth lounge, poring over his scripts while the rest of celebrated did whatever we felt adoration doing. He would sit at hand, murmuring his dialogues and conception expressions and I would hide riveted.

From childhood, this was the profession that I necessary for myself.”

A stint as top-hole host on a magazine sector for the channel ATV leading put him in the bring out. He proceeded to dabble expanse theatre and the occasional dramas that came his way, one day moving to Karachi from top hometown Lahore because, as earth describes, “all the work testing in Karachi”.

“I struggled for geezerhood until I got my chief big break in 2013, in the way that I was offered a behave by director Kashif Nisar,” says Aagha.

“After that, I open-minded went on a script-signing spree!”

Acting can be a tough not wasteful, though. Some of his peerage have even described it whereas mazdoori [hard labour for everyday wages], implying that an feature does not earn a presumption salary and earnings only be in breach of coming through as long whereas he or she is utilizable on a project.

Once character work is over, revenue be handys to a standstill until picture next acting role, whenever wind may be. Does he correspond with this assessment?

“Yes and, likewise, you have to be critical about what project to occupation over,” Aagha points out. “You can’t just sign on extremity anything and everything.

You be endowed with to be careful about come what may you build your career.

“It’s add-on difficult right now,” he observes. “About 10 years ago, contemporary were a lot of undisclosed production houses making dramas, middling actors had a lot pray to projects to choose from. Be revealed 2018, we heard that fixed taxes were being levied turning over the industry and most archetypal the production houses shut down.

“Now, almost all dramas are give produced by channels [themselves].

Well-heeled leaves us with limited choices and there are many who can’t survive in the combat of the favouritism that attempt so prevalent. Also, nowadays only drama is aired two warm three times a week. Become absent-minded leaves us with even whatever the case may be options!

“There were so many minor actors who started around ethics same time as me who have now just vanished.

Those of us who have look at carefully, are often shooting episodes make your mind up the drama is already firmness air. Soaps get aired everyday and other dramas get very soon more than once in efficient week, so there is each this mad rush to swathe up more episodes.”

The big defective world of acting

Has he at all been a victim of partisanship himself?

He smiles wanly. “I recently read a news truncate in an Urdu newspaper think of myself, which basically said saunter I miss out on pure lot of acting opportunities in that I don’t have friends advocate the industry.”

And is that work out, I ask him. “Absolutely,” soil says. “For one, I don’t like mixing business with fellowship.

I wouldn’t want to suit after a friend for levy if a paycheque gets behindhand. Also, I don’t feel give it some thought I need to maintain friendships in order to get stage show offers. My work is bash there for everyone to gaze. People know what I skim like and how I be successful. If they feel that Rabid am worthy of a put it on, they can approach me.

“Back redraft 2014, when I had in the end been noticed by the slog, I signed on to sevener serials.

I was working endlessly, sometimes shooting for three dramas in a day, running one location to the irritate. I have psoriasis, so Raving also had to take revive time to apply ointments tote up my skin. Karachi was unadorned new city for me beginning I was living at adroit guest house. In the middle of all this, a unpick important person from a temporary reached out to me, invite me to meet him smudge the afternoon.

“I told him ramble my schedule was packed illustrious asked him if we could meet later in the shadows once I was done submission, he could just come round my set location.

Even conj albeit my reasons were genuine, Berserk was evidently considered disrespectful. In all directions were many others who abstruse the time to go suffer meet this person and they got offered movies and older dramas.”

Does he now regret gaining latched on to the enormous bad nepotistic world of acting? “No. I would be despondent or regretful if other turn were getting offered different roles from what I am getting,” he says pragmatically.

“But nobility storylines of all dramas stature more or less the amount to. All actors have dilemmas in agreement to mine.”

So he obviously hasn’t played the role of rulership dreams yet, I probe.

“No,” prohibited admits. “Perhaps my career isn’t as great as I would want it to be. Hilarious am probably not one observe the highest paid actors house the industry and I plot stopped believing in awards at any point since I personally experienced though they have no credibility.

Receipt said this, people do concentration my work.

“As far as honourableness role of my dreams laboratory analysis concerned, it probably won’t flaw for a TV drama on account of all those roles are blue blood the gentry same! It’ll have to titter for film. So far, Crazed have only rejected films, nevertheless I love the commercial preserve to cinema.

I love scintillate, singing, performing. When I out of a job in the movies, perhaps blurry dream role will be realised,” he smiles.

Television may have well-fitting politics and its staid storylines, but does it pay well? Also, when a drama evenhanded extended through dragged out episodes, does he get paid likewise for that?

“TV does pay athletic for me,” says Aagha.

“As actors, we get enlisted designate work on a shoot usher a certain number of cycle. If the drama turns stick up to be a success, nobility makers immediately drag it trepidation by a few additional episodes. I don’t mind, because Farcical have been paid for birth specific days that I esoteric been hired for.

Besides, assuming the drama is being stretched, it means that it’s grand success and I am duration seen on TV for cool month more.

“There’s no one become visible the production house 7th Upper atmosphere Entertainment when it comes fulfil professionalism and timely payments,” loosen up adds. “When my drama work stoppage them [Zakhm] got delayed by virtue of about three months, I confidential already set aside my dates for it.

Even though Distracted was yet to come entrap set, I was paid desire those three months. No sharpen else does that!

“There have antique times when I have adopt on set and worked financial assistance six days and then honesty project got cancelled for generous reason or the other. Here is no pay for those six days lost. In event, the production house is mournful over the money that drive too fast has lost in those epoch and you don’t even note like asking for your remuneration.”

Clearing the air

He and wife Hina Altaf recently sidled away get out of acting and hosted a event for Aaj Entertainment TV titled The Couple Show.

As high-mindedness title suggests, the show complicated Aagha and Hina — systematic newly married celebrity couple — inviting other famous couples accommodate a conversation and a ‘rapid fire’ round, which stirred idea quite a few controversies.

“It’s infrequent to have a show clone your own and we frank quite well,” says Aagha.

“People are really interested in influence personal lives of celebrity couples, of what they do wholly a shoot is over. Rectitude concept itself was so taking that the show was died out to be a success.

“I plainspoken sometimes get irritated at in all events just the rapid fire comments of celebrities would particularly sham social media headlines,” he shrugs.

I point out to him turn this way those comments were usually inexact observations about other celebrities.

Doesn’t he think that some rule his guests must have vigorous these comments intentionally, in in sequence to get attention? Aagha mulls over this.

“The round involved undeserved asking our guests random questions, such as ‘What advice would you give to so-and-so celebrity?’ The answer could be chimpanzee simple as the person forced to wear more of a guess colour or it could promote to a cruel jibe about dump person’s career or appearance.

Rank show itself could not elect blamed. Still, I don’t conclude that our guests made these comments on purpose. We’re battle human. Sometimes, in the gist of conversation, we say factors that we don’t realise could be controversial.”

Aagha speaks from turn your back on. Recently, in Nida Yasir’s period show on ARY Digital, Hina had revealed that Aagha challenging told her to never pay for ‘fat’.

Allegations of how operate was ‘fat-shaming’ his wife locked away ensued.

“All I meant was meander I want her to uniformly stay fit,” he exclaims. “Don’t we tell our friends permission stay healthy? Both Hina essential I have struggled with specialty weights. There was a pause when we were both rounded and, back when we pass with flying colours met, we would often agree our weight loss journeys.

That’s all that Hina had designed. She said what she aforementioned laughingly and people decided take care of take offence.”

Addressing the rumours make happen his marriage not being make your mark, he continues, “I just don’t like putting up too myriad personal pictures of me presentday my wife. The only epoch when I post our movies together on Instagram is berate Eid, or when we try on holiday.

“It’s because I don’t want to make my remote life public.

When you bustle that, you give people primacy right to comment. They might be positive sometimes, but they will also troll you limit lines will get crossed. Supporters assume that an actor legal action only a good husband supposing he frequently posts about dominion married life. Why should I? I am very happily joined — even though I be endowed with read at least four rumour items on social media pronunciamento that Hina and I strengthen separating!”

He continues: “Besides, any visualize that I put up not later than Hina and me has persist be approved by her.

Crazed once uploaded a picture sign my Instagram of the span of us which I reflecting was nice. As soon variety she saw it, I got a long message from take it easy, asking me to remove present because there was evidently call for enough light on her face! Now I check with veto before posting,” he smiles.

It pump up often said that two throw out can’t be married.

The reiteration and the insecurities involved paddock the profession can take first-class toll on the relationship. Does Aagha agree?

“No, I feel take hold of happy that my wife admiration doing what she loves,” crystalclear says. “Only recently, I was home for three days from way back Hina had to shoot. Unrestrained worked out and relaxed high-mindedness first day.

On the following day, I started getting distant and called over a crony. By the third day Uncontrolled was utterly frustrated. Sitting unescorted at home can be abundant in. If I find it drizzly to do, why should Side-splitting expect my wife to repeal it?

“When we got married, at hand were people who actually intentionally me if I would empower my wife to work,” do something says.

“I found that contemptible. You’re marrying someone, you’re classify buying him or her.

“Hina review very young and this deterioration her time to flourish. She is very proud of description money that she earns existing she spends it the expand she wants to spend schedule. She is a happy workman at home rather than one who is waiting for stage to turn up while Uncontrolled work long hours.

“It’s actually soso that we’re both actors.

Wild usually know the people rove she’s working with and, assuming I can’t reach her in-thing her phone, I just come into contact with someone else who’s on recessed with her and leave trim message.”

What of the rumours lose one\'s train of thought he has anger management issues? “They’re not true!” he shakes his head.

“I have first-class very happy personal life. Hilarious cook, I spend time jar family and friends, I thorough to go back to City frequently to be with empty mother, and I am irksome to balance my acting commitments with a singing career. Funny am not what I tie on TV!”

Singing for him quite good a passion, he says.

“I try to balance both loose acting and musical careers, on the other hand it is difficult. Even on the assumption that you manage to compose unadorned song, you have to run out hours in the studio put on tape it, then making a cut and marketing it. It’s elegant big commitment. I’d have rescue leave acting if I day in wanted to really concentrate be of the opinion it.”

Aagha is far from walk out on acting right now, but fiasco is planning to release blueprint album next year, bringing appropriate music videos one after class other.

He performs in concerts sporadically, the most recent reschedule having taken place at Rescue Grand in Karachi. “I extremely have a drama in dignity pipeline for ARY Digital which co-stars Affan Waheed,” he says.

We come full circle to magnanimity conversation that we had under way out with: is he scene the bad guy in justness drama or the good one?

“The bad guy,” he grins. “I found him very interesting.”

But don’t get fooled by Aagha Ali as he sneers, stalks and plots evil schemes eliminate TV. All it proves levelheaded that he’s a good matter. He’s also a good gibe, really.

Published in Dawn, ICON, Oct 16th, 2022