As we all wait with bated breath to see more of Atif Aslam’s drama debt in ‘Sang-e-Mah‘, the singer-cum-actor is spilling the tea on how he finally decided to tip his toes in the drama scene. Atif Aslam waited 17 years for the perfect drama debut.
The last time the renowned singer was seen on screen was in his film debut. Atif Aslam had a cameo in the blockbuster film
The Bey Inteha singer shared how he waited some 17 years for the right script to return to acting again. The Saifee Hassan directorial was the project he felt like he had been waiting for.
“What really clicked for me was how this was a new territory for me. I had never done this [acting] before, …. “I know it sounds very cliche, that you have been waiting for the right script. I have been waiting and 17 years later, Sang-e-Mah seemed to be the perfect script for me. I wanted to do it.”
Then he saw a good fit and seized the opportunity.
“When I read the script, it had the potential. Which is why I signed it.”
Based on what he told Express Tribune, the Rafta Rafta vocalist wasn’t about to take out the time required for a drama serial just for any script. With his busy schedule, committing to shooting for dramas was no small commitment as opposed to his daily concerts.
“It was challenging for me, … We’ve performed globally. We interacted with people, with fans and then we’d return [to our lives]. But for 40 days, we were shooting Sang-e-Mah, that too in a village. I was very curious about how the show would turn out. But the confidence Saifee and Mustafa had in the script was enough to convince me. I read it and I readily agreed to it.”
Sang-e-Mah Premiere
On Friday, the first episode of Sang-e-Mah was screened at Nueplex cinemas in Karachi. Cast members such as Kubra Khan, Hania Aamir, Zaviyar Naumaan, and director Saifee Hassan were there for the red carpet.
The Doori crooner really surprised us with his negative role, Hilmand, in the drama serial. That is something we did not see coming. Meanwhile, his stellar acting skills are something we were not prepared for. Hard to believe this is just his debut drama.
Atif Aslam talked about how he managed to get into character for the role.
“Hilmand, the elder son of Mir Marjaan Khan [Naumaan Ijaz] and Zarsanga [Samiya Mumtaz], is the black sheep of the family. Unlike his younger brother, Hikmat [Zaviyar], Hilmand is the rebellious sibling, who goes head-to-head with his father, … For the first three, four days, I was trying to wrap my head around how to play this character.”
The Pehli Nazar singer also shared his tip for characterization.
“Then I started talking to myself. There were two people who were travelling with me. I kept rehearsing with them. It wasn’t easy to memorise the dialogues Mustafa had written. I would keep rehearsing with one of them and then the other person was responsible for the look.”
Atif Aslam then commented that even after wrapping up the shoot of Sang-e-Mah, he had a hard time parting ways with Hilmand. “He stayed with me. Hilmand resided in me for a long time.”
