Showing posts with label Fawad Khan wife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fawad Khan wife. Show all posts
It's a baby girl for Fawad Khan & wife Sadaf
8:16 AM
The actor’s bundle of joy arrived over the weekend in a Karachi hospital
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 5, 2016)
Mirror had earlier reported (July 1) that Fawad Khan was going to become dad for the second time. Now we have learnt that his wife Sadaf delivered a beautiful daughter over the weekend in a Karachi hospital.
A source in the know reveals, “Fawad and Sadaf also have an eight-year-old son Ayaan, their daughter has completed the family. Fawad flew to Pakistan to be by his wife’s side in August and refused to commit to any new films till the baby was born. The Khan family has been celebrating all week. In the wake of the present dispute between the two countries which has lead to a temporary ban on any kind of cultural exchange, there are no immediate plans to return to India.”
Alia Bhatt & Shah Rukh Khan to be the first guests on Koffee With Karan Season 5?
8:40 AM
Buzz is, Fawad Khan will be the first guest on KJo's talk show but it's his other Khan-dost making a comeback
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 27, 2016)
Buzz is, SRK and his Dear Zindagi costar Alia Bhatt will be the first
guests on the fifth season of Karan Johar's chat show, Koffee With
Karan. The duo has reportedly replaced KJo's Kapoor and Sons actor,
Fawad Khan, who was touted to be the first celebrity guest. Fawad also
makes a special appearance in the filmmaker's upcoming musical romance,
Aye Dil Hai Mushkil.The change in plan is being attributed to the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan following the Uri attacks but according to a source close to the development, it was always Shah Rukh who was supposed to appear on the first episode.
Besides,
Fawad doesn't want to leave his wife Sadaf who is in the final trimester
of her pregnancy and expected to deliver their second child in October.
"Fawad is not expected to come down to India anytime soon. In fact,
contrary to rumours, he hasn't signed any film either. It will be Shah
Rukh and Alia who will be shooting with him towards the end of next
month once Shah Rukh is done with Imtiaz's film, The Ring, also
featuring Anushka Sharma, in Europe. Karan will be back from London in
two days after which he will finalise the rest of the guest list,"
informs the source.Incidentally, SRK, along with frequent co-star and close friend Kajol, was the first guest to appear on the show's first season back in 2004. In season two, he and Kajol were joined by Rani Mukerji while the third season saw him as late as the ninth episode.
Since then he has been a part of the show every season except the last one which had another Khan, Salman, as the first guest. "This time Karan was insistent that he wanted Shah Rukh to open the show," adds the source.
Fawad Khan ready to change diapers; to become a second time daddy in October?
8:00 AM
MUMBAI MIRROR (July 1, 2016)
Pakistan's hottest import to
Bollywood, Fawad Khan, will turn dad for the second time this October.
Known for his squeaky clean image, Fawad married Sadaf, his childhood
sweetheart, on November 12, 2005, after an eight-year courtship.
The couple welcomed son Ayaan five years later in 2010. Now, a second baby is on the way. Sadaf is reportedly in her second trimester and the 34-year-old-actor has flown back home to Lahore after his recent appearance at an event in Madrid.
He was last seen as Sidharth Malhotra's older brother in Karan Johar's Kapoor & Sons, directed by Shakun Batra and the performance had wowed the critics and added to his fan following. B'town is keen to have their Khubsoorat hero back. He has just wrapped up his third directorial Karan Johar's directorial Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, also featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Buzz is, he's been approached to play a singer in Salman Khan's home production, Jugalbandi and poet-lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali's production, Gustakhiyan. The actor is not commenting on either his personal or professional life right now. Speaking to Mirror earlier (March 28), he had said, “The only downslide about working in India is that I am away from my son (Ayaan) and wife (Sadaf).“
Asserting that he shares a strong bond with my wife he had added, “No one else was willing to put up with me once and that's the truth.“
The couple welcomed son Ayaan five years later in 2010. Now, a second baby is on the way. Sadaf is reportedly in her second trimester and the 34-year-old-actor has flown back home to Lahore after his recent appearance at an event in Madrid.
He was last seen as Sidharth Malhotra's older brother in Karan Johar's Kapoor & Sons, directed by Shakun Batra and the performance had wowed the critics and added to his fan following. B'town is keen to have their Khubsoorat hero back. He has just wrapped up his third directorial Karan Johar's directorial Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, also featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Buzz is, he's been approached to play a singer in Salman Khan's home production, Jugalbandi and poet-lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali's production, Gustakhiyan. The actor is not commenting on either his personal or professional life right now. Speaking to Mirror earlier (March 28), he had said, “The only downslide about working in India is that I am away from my son (Ayaan) and wife (Sadaf).“
Asserting that he shares a strong bond with my wife he had added, “No one else was willing to put up with me once and that's the truth.“
I'm notorious for working less and partying more-Fawad Khan
8:17 AM
Squeaky clean family man Fawad Khan wants to get invited to more B-town bashes, hopes to go on a vacation, croon for a Bollywood movie and direct a film
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 28, 2016)
Few actors look good sneezing into a pile of tissues and complaining of a sore throat. But even
with puffy, reddish eyes and in a crumpled denim shirt, Fawad Afzal Khan
is khubsoorat. “I wish I could take off on a family vacation. These
last few weeks have been the most hectic cycle of my life and you can
see the effects showing on my face,“ he sniffs in his freezing vanity
van.After a week-long schedule in Jaipur for Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, he flies back home. From there, he takes off on a charity musical tour through the US, an annual ritual, before he starts filming his next in Pakistan. Albela Rahi a biopic on the legendary Urdu pop singer Alamgir with Fawad playing the 61-year-old musician. Alamgir was born in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, into a Bengali family. His father Farmuzal Haq was a politician with the All India Muslim League and at 15, they moved to Karachi before Alamgir immigrated to the US. “I've visited Dhaka and love the vibe. But the film will be shot in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan, where Bangladesh will be re-created. We are cheating the locations,“ he informs excitedly.
Fawad's breakfast arrives but he refuses to dig into the medu vadas in the midst of an interview. His assistants are patiently waiting to doll him up for the success bash of his recent release, Kapoor & Sons, directed by Shakun Batra. Recalling his introduction to the big Dharma family the 34-year-old actor says, “I'm notorious for working less and partying more and the shoot was a roller-coaster ride with firecracker Alia (Bhatt), naughty boy Sidharth (Malhotra), the legendary entertainer Rishi Kapoor, cool guy Rajat Kapoor sir and my easygoing maa, Ratnaji (Ratna Pathak Shah). Acting can sometimes feel like 9 to 5 job but in this case, it's been a blast. I wouldn't know if they are the wildest Bollywood parties but you could definitely describe Karan Johar's house as Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion in Mumbai! But I wouldn't know what to compare it with because I haven't been invited to any other parties. Nobody calls me,“ he jokes, looking forward to his third Bollywood outing with Karan as the director. Fawad plays Ali in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
Balancing careers in India and Pakistan have made him a star on either side of the border, he admits, optimistic that like his TV shows, his Pakistani films too will work here as successfully as they do in other parts of the globe.“The only downslide about working in India is that I am away from my son (Ayaan) and wife (Sadaf),“ sighs the squeaky clean, family man, who never loses his cool or gets embroiled in controversies. “I share a strong bond with my wife. No one else was willing to put up with me once and that's the truth.“ He married his childhood sweetheart in 2005 after eight years of courtship.
Fawad has collaborated on screenplays back home and at some point, aspires to become a director. “Not immediately, though, I'd like to study the craft first in different parts of the world,“ says the actor, who refuses to be a prop, but for the moment would let those making the film do their job. “If it works they take the credit, if it doesn't, they take the flak.“
Right now he wants to croon a song in a Bollywood film. “I have been asked a couple of times to sing for a film, but I've not been able to make time. Acting is such a big piece of the pie, but maybe in my next film,“ he smiles, pointing out that he did hum the old classic “Chand Si Mehbooba Ho Meri“ in his recent release. “It was an impromptu performance, had I rehearsed I would've done better.“
His Humsafar co-star Mahira Khan is in Mumbai filming Raees with Shah Rukh Khan. Have they caught up? “We did meet once last year in Mumbai. But our schedules are tight now. She's a busy person shooting a big film. Badi star ke paas, hum jaise chhote logon ke liye time nahin hoga,“ he signs off with a laugh.
Female attention still makes me blush-Fawad Khan
8:06 AM
Fawad Khan talks about dealing with his fans, movies and life beyond it
Harshada Rege (DNA; March 17, 2016)
It’s been two years since Fawad Khan made his debut in
Bollywood with Khoobsurat. His telly shows haven’t just kept the
memories of him alive, but has also seen his fandom grow. The Pakistani
actor now returns to Bollywood with his second outing Kapoor & Sons,
which according to rumours has him play a gay character. This is my
first meeting with the actor who seems under the weather, but patiently
answers all questions thrown at him. Here, he talks about his filmi
aspirations, spending time away from home and his musical side...
A two-year break after Khoobsurat? Why too choosy?
There were some very interesting things that came my way, but I just felt that I wanted to try something that was in the space of Kapoor & Sons. It just fell in my lap one day. I immediately knew that this is what I was looking for. With Khoobsurat, I was just testing the waters, with Kapoor & Sons, I have exercised more freedom as an actor that has helped me get more comfortable and confident. This will help me for the roles I choose henceforth. I am more at ease now.
You agreed to act in a movie with Dharma protégés Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt. Not insecure?
I think you are insecure when you don’t know your job well. And I think I know mine pretty well. I am not saying that I have never been insecure at any point. Actors are insecure creatures. But I chose to ignore that feeling, because if I let it get on my nerves too much, I’ll not focus on the work at hand and that will make my work suffer. With insecurity comes paranoia and with paranoia comes irritation.
You guys were stationed in Coonoor to shoot for a long time, is that a good way for an actor to shoot?
Outdoor shoots are amazing. That’s where you get to bond with one another as actors. That is essential for the kind of camaraderie that you expect for a movie like this. That’s the kind of education I crave. Staying at one place with the entire crew allows you to understand the workings and that’s the kind of exposure every human being should have.
Is it necessary for you to get along with your co-stars?
It’s absolutely necessary to have some amount of comfort level with your co-actor. If you don’t have that comfort level, it’ll take you time to get to the same point. It’s best to break the ice and get to know the person.
What kind of a role do you play in your family? Are you the crisis handler or the black sheep?
I am the one who panics. And the person I turn to, is my wife. She is the one who handles everything. She says, ‘I have two children, one is our eight-year-old son and the other is you.’
A lot of actors started out with a no-kissing clause, but they changed their mind over the years. Will you ever be open to it?
I don’t see that happening in the near future, but again, there’s an interesting thing that I learnt from Sonam (Kapoor). She said, ‘Never say never.’ So I’ll follow that, but I don’t foresee it happening anytime soon.
You get a lot of female attention, are you now used to it?
I am still shy about it. It still makes me blush, but I chose to be a little unaware of it. That’s because the more you become aware of it, the more you start craving it. And I feel that my craving won’t help my career. It’ll just take away my concentration and I’ll constantly be thinking about how to please these people more. Then that kind of corrupts your craft. I prefer to be slightly unaware, so that ek toh sar pe na chadh jaaye aur doosri baat yeh ke kaam mein dhyaan laga rahe. I am thankful to them; it’s not that I am not aware of my fans. But the amount of adulation and adoration that I get, I like to give it only that much thought.
How does your wife Sadaf deal with all the female attention coming your way?
She is fine with it. She is a very sensible woman and a lady in the true sense of the word. She only gets uncomfortable when someone tries to intrude our space... that’s the thing she gets irritated with. Otherwise, she’s completely fine with it.
Does she get to travel with you when you are shooting here?
My wife accompanies me whenever she can, and I would rather have her with me all the time, but because I have an eight-year-old son who is in school, it’s not possible. I end up missing out on a lot of time with them and that’s probably the saddest part of this whole process.
Are long-distance relationships difficult to handle?
Ab toh shaadi ho gayi hai. Ab toh long time relationship ho gaya hai, long-distance ya jo bhi marzi keh lo. Wahan se rassi aayegi aur pakad ke le jaayegi mujhe.
You have your own clothing brand, how involved are you with it?
It’s completely my wife’s brainchild. She is the entrepreneur and brains behind it. She is the one who gets all the work done. From setting up the ada, the tailor. Bas logo designing ke waqt main thoda baitha tha, but apart from that it’s her baby.
You are being directed by Karan Johar in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. How was that experience?
He’s amazing as a director. He keeps the energy high on the sets and takes care of everyone’s needs. He gives a lot of individual attention to his actors, which I think is great. He is a terrific director, but more than that what matters the most to me is that he is such a great person.
Considering the unstable equation between India-Pakistan, have you ever felt that you lose out on good roles?
Even if I do, I can’t do anything about it. This is where I become a bit of a believer in destiny. What is destined for you, nobody can take it away from you, and what is not for you, you can run after it all your life, but you’ll never get it. That is my approach. Milna tha toh mil jaata. I am not saying you should not make an effort to get what you need. But the effort should be upto a sane extent, don’t become insane pursuing something...it’s not worth it.
You are a singer too...
I don’t sing anymore. I used to sing in a metal band, many years ago...
Will you be getting back to singing anytime soon?
I am thinking of getting back to it soon. Probably by the end of this year, once I get free from some commitments. I am putting my home studio back together — which I had taken apart — to bring out compositions that I had parked away. But I want to do it in my time. That’s something I’d like to explore, but like I said it will be a very personal space. It will be for people obviously, but it will be something I’ll do in my own time.
One biopic that you’d want to see made?
I would like to see a biopic on the life of Richard Pryor. He is an American comedian who is often called the father of stand-up comedy. If I am not mistaken, he is the reason of the 30-second delay rule in satellite broadcast because his kind of comedy was such that it sometimes offends some people. Saturday Night Live wanted him so bad that they decided to put in a 30-second delay so that they could cut out any offensive stuff. He was born in a brothel and went on to become one of the most successful stars in comedy.
There are lot of movies being made based on sports or sports personalities. What sport biopic do you see yourself in?
Myself? Not really... I am not a sporty person. I used to be in my youth. I used to play a lot of games, but ever since I turned diabetic, I have sort of taken it easy. I need to go to the gym to get into shape. Given an option, I won’t even go to the gym...I am a very unhealthy person.
Most actors and even some actresses are producing their own movies or are producing them, would you consider getting into production?
I have been developing content. If I get a bit free, I would think about it, but right now I have just too much on my plate.
Do you remember a time when you were star-struck? Tell me about that.
It was when I met Amitabh saab while shooting for Khoobsurat. I was star stuck when I met Rishi Kapoor too, but at KBC... uss waqt mauhaul aisa tha... The lights come on, then he walks on the stage... It’s just that whole aura that is built in that moment.
In Khoobsurat, you didn’t have too much dancing to do, will we see you shaking a leg in this one?
Dancing is something I need to work on. I need to get my feet surgically removed and replaced (laughs). Maybe, I need to join a dancing school.
Being a gay icon...
(Cuts in)... Am I? Really? I didn’t know that... That’s flattering...
Being a gay icon, will you be open to doing Dostana 2?
Yes, why not? What’s wrong with that? See we are telling a story, as a person, playing a character and these people live in the world. Let’s accept the fact that they live in this world. I remember there was this friend of mine who had told me this that when this very famous Pakistani actor Zia Mohyeddin...when he played the role of a eunuch at that point of time someone asked aren’t you afraid of playing such a character. He said, ‘I am telling a story of a person who has lived that life and faced those hardships’. It’s not a matter of endorsement. He said, ‘It’s not that I have become one. I am not going to cut my genitals off. And even if I do how does that make me different from any other human being?’ Do they not have a right to live?’ People used to make certain gestures to tease them, but that has changed... Thoda waqt lagega, but log theek ho jaayenge.
Aren’t you playing a gay character in this movie?
You know what they say, ‘Everybody’s gay...’ (laughs)
What was the most challenging part about this role?
I kind of fell in love with this character. In all honesty, if and when there are some aspects like that associated with being gay... to capture those nuances would be very challenging. If that were the case, but over all it’s been pretty easy.
After Kapoor & Sons and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Hai what’s next?
I am in talks for a few movies, let’s see what shapes up.
Have you signed Reema Kagti’s Mr Chaalu?
No, I haven’t signed that film, that’s at a much later stage. But yes, we did talk about it. The female lead actor that they wanted wasn’t available at that time, so they decided to wait.
Your Humsafar co-star Mahira Khan is making her debut in Raees, considering how popular your pair was, if given an opportunity what kind of a film would you want to do with her in Bollywood?
If I was to do a second project with her now I would like us to be antagonists to one another. There’s this movie about a blind woman. Three men enter her house and try to locate some diamonds. One of the guys starts harassing her. She ends up killing him. End mein jeet aurat ki hi hoti hai, but I’d like to play a villain in that kind of a story. Something like that would completely surprise people.
Fawad Khan touring US and Canada to raise money for his home country Pakistan?
7:59 AM
Says a source close to the actor, "Fawad's fan following in the US is huge, extending to Canada which also has a sizable population of Pakistani Diaspora. He attends many fancy dos and his presence comes at a premium. The money then goes to various charitable organisations in Pakistan."
One such organisation which is the benefactor of Fawad's generosity is cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre located in Lahore.
"It's Fawad's way of giving back to his community and country. These US-Canada tours are an annual ritual and his wife, Sadaf, usually accompanies him. It is also a great way for him to connect with his fans," adds the source. "Next, he heads to Doha for a film festival."
As speculations abound about him doing films as varied as Madamji and the Dhoni biopic, Mirror has learnt that he's given the nod to only two projects - Shakun Batra's next with Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra and Reema Kagti's Mr. Chaalu in which he has replaced Saif Ali Khan.
I cannot flirt; I don't even know when a guy hits on me-Sonam Kapoor
4:03 PM
Kasmin Fernandes and Lakshmi V (BOMBAY TIMES; September 7, 2014)
She talks nine to the dozen,
and he measures his words. She grew up on a staple of Hindi films, and
he had a select few of them on repeat mode. She is a national fashion
icon and he is the `lover boy' of Pakistan.Yet, they get along like a
house on fire. Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khan, who play the leads in
Khoobsurat, get catty with each other in a chat with Bombay Times.
Excerpts:
Khoobsurat is a remake of the Rekha-starrer Khubsoorat. How was it stepping into her shoes?
Sonam: It was a big shoe to fill. We decided not to keep the storyline similar at all. This film is an ode to Hrishikesh Mukherjee and his kind of films. These days, there are either films with no storyline or ones with heavy, dark storylines. There's nothing in between. His Guddi, Mili and Khubsoorat were simple, fairytale-like films that everyone can watch.
How much of Anju (Rekha's character in the original) can we find in yours?
Sonam: Not much. We've taken just the idea - a girl comes into a family and makes them happy. This one is predominantly a love story. Mili (her character) is a physiotherapist, who comes to take care of the raja.
Your sister Rhea (the producer) has showcased some of your characteristics on screen...
Sonam: I don't know how this is going to work out - showcasing this version of me who is clumsy, eccentric and moohphat! Well, they have also shown the way I am with boys, for instance. I don't know how to behave with them. I don't even know when a guy hits on me. I cannot flirt; I put them off by saying the wrong things. She has used all of these 'attributes' of mine. I am unapologetically myself, and don't feel the need to apologise if people don't like the real me.
What are you like in real life, Fawad?
Fawad: I'm the opposite of Sonam. Of course, I'm not saying I'm intelligent.
Sonam: Are you saying I am dumb?
Fawad: In a cute way (laughs). But I'm a bit quiet and do not partake in conversations. I'm boring and dry.
Sonam: If you know him well, then you can't get one word in.
How long did it take for the two of you to break the ice?
Fawad: Not too long.
Sonam: He didn't have a choice!
Fawad: She's been an absolutely amazing host and co-star. She is very talented as well. And I'm getting paid well (laughs). So, there's no reason for me to be shy or feel uncomfortable. Plus, they know all my dirty secrets.
So, there is this scene in which Sonam throws you into the swimming pool..
Fawad: I volunteered for it.
Sonam: It was just a single take, and it was freezing.
Fawad: But they kept me in the pool for long. It was absolute Chinese torture.
Sonam: Shoving you into the pool was my fantasy come true!
If Fawad wasn't married, would you fall for a guy like him?
Sonam: It's rare to find an intelligent and a caring person. There's a balance between us as we are completely opposite of each other. But, it's difficult to be with him because he is a little self-destructive. In the sense, he doesn't take care of himself. But again, there's nothing negative about him. He would make a very good friend. And that's always the basis for any good relationship. But that said, I know his wife and I like very much. So, I wouldn't think of Fawad that way.
Are there any temptations?
Fawad: I've my head screwed on pretty well. And I am able to resist all charming women. My wife has adequate amount of control over me and I don't stray at all.
Sonam: It's just like my parents. My dad (Anil Kapoor) is petrified of my mom. He speaks to her at least 15 times a day because he is concerned about her. Fawad is also like that. And that's the sexiest thing about him - loyalty and dedication.
Fawad: When you meet my wife, you'll know why I don't get tempted.
So, what kind of girl attracts you?
Fawad: She must be genuine and straight-from-the-heart, like my wife. She's clumsy, and I hope she doesn't mind me calling her that, but she knows what she wants.She always dresses nice, smells nice, she's got class, and there's this unforgiving honesty about her. You fight, but you know it's for the good. With some, they might be buttering you all your life and you never know when you will fall flat on your face. She also has to be hygienic.
Sonam: Oh, I've this OCD; I always carry my hand sanitiser and mouth wash with me.
Fawad: Even I've had the most embarrassing OCD. When I was 12, I was so organised that I had everything in my home labelled. Right from the clothing to the bathroom! Thank God I'm over it. But, I'm obsessed with cleaning.
Fawad, you've said you won't do a lip-lock scene in your films...
Sonam: Never say never, Fawad.
Fawad: No, no. I think the kind of audience I've catered to till now has believed in virgin kind of roles. I am where I am because of them and I respect that section of my audience. But yes, over time, your viewers evolve. But given the opportunity, I'd like to do some eccentric roles, push the envelope, and be part of some interesting subjects, like homosexuality. I'm hoping to bring my audience on the same page as I am.
When did you first watch the old Khoobsurat?
Fawad: I saw it as part of my research when I was off the road. I hadn't seen it before that.
So, you haven't grown up on Hindi films?
Fawad: I did grow up on Hindi films. I have watched countless Hindi films. Three or four that were constantly on repeat were Mr India, Satte Pe Satta, Mr Natwarlal and Do Aur Do Paanch. Then, there were old films that my parents eventually bought off, like Pehchaan, Woh 7 Din and Kaala Patthar. I watched a lot of Amitabh Bachchan films when I was 10-12. After that, I stopped watching films because we were moving around a lot and movies were not available in Pakistan. At that point in time, music took over and movies took a backseat.
You met Amitabh Bachchan recently. What was that like?
Fawad: I thought I was saying the right thing, but a voice in my head told me I was probably not making sense. That is how tongue-tied I was. He is a legend. It is a very big honour. It was the same when I met Mr Anil Kapoor.
Do you get stressed before the release of your film?
Sonam: It depends on my mood. Of course, I get a little stressed. Lots of people's lives depend on it. Recently, a lot of films have been riding on my shoulders and I have started to realise what it feels like. I am stressed for Khoobsurat, because it is my sister's film and Disney's first film in India. It is not just for me, I am worried for the people involved. I was stressed during Raanjhanaa because a lot of people were not okay with my decision. Even though I come across as extremely confident, you do have those weak moments. There is always someone playing the devil's advocate in your head. I wouldn't be human if I didn't feel stressed.
Fawad: I have lost 3 kgs already! It is a new territory, although the audience has been very kind and generous. I am very grateful for all the appreciation. But with that comes the responsibility of actually trying to, if not surpass, meet the expectations.
Fawad, you have a huge following in Pakistan. So coming here and starting afresh, was it difficult for you?
Fawad: There is a certain amount of ego, there is a little bit of a chip (on the shoulder), but my chip is that an actor, or any person, needs to be treated with a certain amount of respect. That's what I mostly crave. A lot of seniors who walk away disgruntled, with bitterness, are people who feel that they have not been respected enough during their careers. For me, the first thing is, talk to me with respect, behave politely with me and I will lay myself down for you. Back at home, things have gone well, but even today, there is so much com petition that I have taken the third seat. I never think it's really starting afresh. It's a project you are getting into, and that project is what you will be. You are always as good as your last work, it's what defines you. So I didn't have those qualms.
Khoobsurat is a remake of the Rekha-starrer Khubsoorat. How was it stepping into her shoes?
Sonam: It was a big shoe to fill. We decided not to keep the storyline similar at all. This film is an ode to Hrishikesh Mukherjee and his kind of films. These days, there are either films with no storyline or ones with heavy, dark storylines. There's nothing in between. His Guddi, Mili and Khubsoorat were simple, fairytale-like films that everyone can watch.
How much of Anju (Rekha's character in the original) can we find in yours?
Sonam: Not much. We've taken just the idea - a girl comes into a family and makes them happy. This one is predominantly a love story. Mili (her character) is a physiotherapist, who comes to take care of the raja.
Your sister Rhea (the producer) has showcased some of your characteristics on screen...
Sonam: I don't know how this is going to work out - showcasing this version of me who is clumsy, eccentric and moohphat! Well, they have also shown the way I am with boys, for instance. I don't know how to behave with them. I don't even know when a guy hits on me. I cannot flirt; I put them off by saying the wrong things. She has used all of these 'attributes' of mine. I am unapologetically myself, and don't feel the need to apologise if people don't like the real me.
What are you like in real life, Fawad?
Fawad: I'm the opposite of Sonam. Of course, I'm not saying I'm intelligent.
Sonam: Are you saying I am dumb?
Fawad: In a cute way (laughs). But I'm a bit quiet and do not partake in conversations. I'm boring and dry.
Sonam: If you know him well, then you can't get one word in.
How long did it take for the two of you to break the ice?
Fawad: Not too long.
Sonam: He didn't have a choice!
Fawad: She's been an absolutely amazing host and co-star. She is very talented as well. And I'm getting paid well (laughs). So, there's no reason for me to be shy or feel uncomfortable. Plus, they know all my dirty secrets.
So, there is this scene in which Sonam throws you into the swimming pool..
Fawad: I volunteered for it.
Sonam: It was just a single take, and it was freezing.
Fawad: But they kept me in the pool for long. It was absolute Chinese torture.
Sonam: Shoving you into the pool was my fantasy come true!
If Fawad wasn't married, would you fall for a guy like him?
Sonam: It's rare to find an intelligent and a caring person. There's a balance between us as we are completely opposite of each other. But, it's difficult to be with him because he is a little self-destructive. In the sense, he doesn't take care of himself. But again, there's nothing negative about him. He would make a very good friend. And that's always the basis for any good relationship. But that said, I know his wife and I like very much. So, I wouldn't think of Fawad that way.
Are there any temptations?
Fawad: I've my head screwed on pretty well. And I am able to resist all charming women. My wife has adequate amount of control over me and I don't stray at all.
Sonam: It's just like my parents. My dad (Anil Kapoor) is petrified of my mom. He speaks to her at least 15 times a day because he is concerned about her. Fawad is also like that. And that's the sexiest thing about him - loyalty and dedication.
Fawad: When you meet my wife, you'll know why I don't get tempted.
So, what kind of girl attracts you?
Fawad: She must be genuine and straight-from-the-heart, like my wife. She's clumsy, and I hope she doesn't mind me calling her that, but she knows what she wants.She always dresses nice, smells nice, she's got class, and there's this unforgiving honesty about her. You fight, but you know it's for the good. With some, they might be buttering you all your life and you never know when you will fall flat on your face. She also has to be hygienic.
Sonam: Oh, I've this OCD; I always carry my hand sanitiser and mouth wash with me.
Fawad: Even I've had the most embarrassing OCD. When I was 12, I was so organised that I had everything in my home labelled. Right from the clothing to the bathroom! Thank God I'm over it. But, I'm obsessed with cleaning.
Fawad, you've said you won't do a lip-lock scene in your films...
Sonam: Never say never, Fawad.
Fawad: No, no. I think the kind of audience I've catered to till now has believed in virgin kind of roles. I am where I am because of them and I respect that section of my audience. But yes, over time, your viewers evolve. But given the opportunity, I'd like to do some eccentric roles, push the envelope, and be part of some interesting subjects, like homosexuality. I'm hoping to bring my audience on the same page as I am.
When did you first watch the old Khoobsurat?
Fawad: I saw it as part of my research when I was off the road. I hadn't seen it before that.
So, you haven't grown up on Hindi films?
Fawad: I did grow up on Hindi films. I have watched countless Hindi films. Three or four that were constantly on repeat were Mr India, Satte Pe Satta, Mr Natwarlal and Do Aur Do Paanch. Then, there were old films that my parents eventually bought off, like Pehchaan, Woh 7 Din and Kaala Patthar. I watched a lot of Amitabh Bachchan films when I was 10-12. After that, I stopped watching films because we were moving around a lot and movies were not available in Pakistan. At that point in time, music took over and movies took a backseat.
You met Amitabh Bachchan recently. What was that like?
Fawad: I thought I was saying the right thing, but a voice in my head told me I was probably not making sense. That is how tongue-tied I was. He is a legend. It is a very big honour. It was the same when I met Mr Anil Kapoor.
Do you get stressed before the release of your film?
Sonam: It depends on my mood. Of course, I get a little stressed. Lots of people's lives depend on it. Recently, a lot of films have been riding on my shoulders and I have started to realise what it feels like. I am stressed for Khoobsurat, because it is my sister's film and Disney's first film in India. It is not just for me, I am worried for the people involved. I was stressed during Raanjhanaa because a lot of people were not okay with my decision. Even though I come across as extremely confident, you do have those weak moments. There is always someone playing the devil's advocate in your head. I wouldn't be human if I didn't feel stressed.
Fawad: I have lost 3 kgs already! It is a new territory, although the audience has been very kind and generous. I am very grateful for all the appreciation. But with that comes the responsibility of actually trying to, if not surpass, meet the expectations.
Fawad, you have a huge following in Pakistan. So coming here and starting afresh, was it difficult for you?
Fawad: There is a certain amount of ego, there is a little bit of a chip (on the shoulder), but my chip is that an actor, or any person, needs to be treated with a certain amount of respect. That's what I mostly crave. A lot of seniors who walk away disgruntled, with bitterness, are people who feel that they have not been respected enough during their careers. For me, the first thing is, talk to me with respect, behave politely with me and I will lay myself down for you. Back at home, things have gone well, but even today, there is so much com petition that I have taken the third seat. I never think it's really starting afresh. It's a project you are getting into, and that project is what you will be. You are always as good as your last work, it's what defines you. So I didn't have those qualms.
I can't manage my life without my wife-Fawad Khan
8:03 AM
Priya Gupta (BOMBAY TIMES; August 2, 2014)
Fawad Khan, 33, is one of
the top stars of Pakistan, best known for his role in Khuda Kay Liye and
the popular television series Zindagi Gulzar Hai. He is not just
charming but extremely well-behaved too. He is very emotional and
sensitive, but prefers to show his emotion to only his near and dear
ones. He is lazy and loves to sleep but will do everything for his work
or a commitment. He makes his debut with Shashanka Ghosh's Khoobsurat.
Over an hour-long conversation with Bombay Times, he talks about his
life-changing accident at 17, the warmth of Anil Kapoor and why he loves
his wife Sadaf the most in the world. Excerpts:
You are a big star in Pakistan. How did your career as an entertainer begin?
I was born in Karachi, where my father used to work in the sales department of a pharmaceutical company. The nature of his job required him to travel, so we moved to Athens, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Riyadh and then went to Manchester during the Gulf War, moving back to Lahore closer to my father's retirement. He was not keeping well owing to a cardiac condition, as a result he was advised to not take tension any more and so he took an early retirement. I was 13 then. He also wanted to start something of his own. My mother was a housewife. I wanted to do animation, so for lack of available career counselling, took up Bachelor's in Computer Science, but managed to get only C grades. During college, I didn't really have an interest in what I was studying. It was during college that I first stumbled into forming an underground band where I was the lead vocalist. I had always had an ear for music, but nothing more than that. And that good ear of mine led me to learn and play a lot of instruments while in college. Our band was called EP and our first album Irtiqa meant evolution. We started playing professionally and did almost 250 shows. Our music was largely progressive metal and with the money I made, I managed to put together a recording studio. I dabbled in and out of television. I had fallen in love with my wife Sadaf when I was 17 and by now was dying to get married to her. I came from a conservative background. Also, Sadaf felt that her father would not buy into my just doing music or television as that was too risky, so just to con him, I took up a 9-to-5 job so that I could marry her. I left it soon thereafter, again did television and became one of Pakistan's most popular faces with serials Humsafar and Zindagi Gulzar Hai. In 2007, I got my first film role in Khuda Kay Liye.
Talk about your wife Sadaf?
I met her when I was 17. I met her through chatting online, with noisy dialup modems. She was in the girls' branch of my school which was famous for all the pretty girls studying there. We thereafter met at our tuition classes and I, being quite a traditionalist, proposed to her within a week of my meeting her. She went into a university and I could not get admission there. And in fact, I feel that one of the main reasons for me not to get grades in college was that I spent half the years of my college years in her college, so much so that her chaukidars thought I was from her college. Post college, we got married. She has recently started her own clothing line called `Silk by Fawad Khan' that is doing pretty well and I take pride in her work.
How did you get diabetes?
It is a kind of an immune disorder. I had an accident when I was 17, due to which I landed up with a virus infection which had my immune system confused. The virus attacked my pancreas and destroyed its capability of making insulin. I have type 1 diabetes, which only 1 out of 10 people have and it requires a very different kind of care, where anything that you eat can affect your blood sugar levels. Coincidentally, I was in the hospital after the accident when a common friend asked me, 'You know who is asking about you?' And that is where it actually started between us.
Talk about your father?
My father is pretty much a self-made man and I am proud of that. He was born in Patiala and crossed the border from India to Pakistan when he was four. My mother's family also comes from Lucknow. My father's mother died when he was six years old and his was a large family, but spent his childhood shuffling between relatives, but never really accepting help from anyone. My father was the youngest, but he studied, worked and eventually did his MBA, and then started working. So he has a lot of expectations from me to do something in my life. He was very dominating to the extent of being a bit regimental. I am very close to him even though I resented his strictness when I was young, as I was rebellious at that time. I would wonder why he couldn't understand what I wanted to do, as I was too young to understand where he was coming from. I remember when I had that accident at 17, my dad actually had a breakdown moment in the hospital as the accident was going to change my life in many ways. Even though he was just a small agricultural farmer, he told my mother, 'If, after this, he does not want to do anything, it's fine with me. If he does not want to study any more it is perfectly fine.' That was least expected from my dad and my mom became the hero telling him, 'Don't teach him that as he will never grow up to be a fighter. This is a defining moment in his life and you need to let him fight.' While it did it not hit me while I was at the hospital, when we were driving back from Islamabad to Lahore, it was raining in the car and my two sisters were sleeping next to me at the back and it struck me for the first time that there were things from there on that I would not be able to do in my life and sort of felt disabled. I did not let anyone know how I was feeling in the car, but I broke down inside. Today, my father does not keep well, but I know that he is proud of me. And while he doesn't need anything from me, I try and do whatever I can for him.
How was your experience working on Khoobsurat?
I was to come to India first in 2008 post Khuda Kay Liye, but then 26/11 happened and I could not come. I came to India for the first time while working for Khoobsurat and was initially concerned about being scrutinised here. I wish I had the visa to go and see my father's birthplace. But I have to say that Anil Kapoor sahab, Rhea and Sonam have treated me like family and have really looked after me here. Sonam is probably written about being snooty or something, but I have to say that is a misconception about her.
Once you talk to her, she is very sweet and accommodating. If my sugar was low, she would go herself, get something for me even though she could have asked 10 people around her to get it, but that shows how they cared for me as a family. I was in an alien environment with new people and you do get conscious. But they all made me really comfortable. Back in Pakistan, I also sometimes am considered an arrogant snob because I have a tendency to not talk and am reserved. Of course, in reality, I'm far from being a snob.
Who do you love the most in the world?
My wife. She is my Rock of Gibraltar and my anchor. I have known her for so long but she is still my companion, my lover, my best friend, my everything. She understands me the most. Even in my rebellious phase, when I was most vulnerable, she would listen to me and understand me. What makes her the most attractive person for me is that she is very genuine. I find nothing fake about her. She is not pretentious and is very honest. She too knows that if she is having a difficult time, I am there for her. When you love someone you don't actually know what you love, but I do know that I can't manage my life without her.
You are a big star in Pakistan. How did your career as an entertainer begin?
I was born in Karachi, where my father used to work in the sales department of a pharmaceutical company. The nature of his job required him to travel, so we moved to Athens, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Riyadh and then went to Manchester during the Gulf War, moving back to Lahore closer to my father's retirement. He was not keeping well owing to a cardiac condition, as a result he was advised to not take tension any more and so he took an early retirement. I was 13 then. He also wanted to start something of his own. My mother was a housewife. I wanted to do animation, so for lack of available career counselling, took up Bachelor's in Computer Science, but managed to get only C grades. During college, I didn't really have an interest in what I was studying. It was during college that I first stumbled into forming an underground band where I was the lead vocalist. I had always had an ear for music, but nothing more than that. And that good ear of mine led me to learn and play a lot of instruments while in college. Our band was called EP and our first album Irtiqa meant evolution. We started playing professionally and did almost 250 shows. Our music was largely progressive metal and with the money I made, I managed to put together a recording studio. I dabbled in and out of television. I had fallen in love with my wife Sadaf when I was 17 and by now was dying to get married to her. I came from a conservative background. Also, Sadaf felt that her father would not buy into my just doing music or television as that was too risky, so just to con him, I took up a 9-to-5 job so that I could marry her. I left it soon thereafter, again did television and became one of Pakistan's most popular faces with serials Humsafar and Zindagi Gulzar Hai. In 2007, I got my first film role in Khuda Kay Liye.
Talk about your wife Sadaf?
I met her when I was 17. I met her through chatting online, with noisy dialup modems. She was in the girls' branch of my school which was famous for all the pretty girls studying there. We thereafter met at our tuition classes and I, being quite a traditionalist, proposed to her within a week of my meeting her. She went into a university and I could not get admission there. And in fact, I feel that one of the main reasons for me not to get grades in college was that I spent half the years of my college years in her college, so much so that her chaukidars thought I was from her college. Post college, we got married. She has recently started her own clothing line called `Silk by Fawad Khan' that is doing pretty well and I take pride in her work.
How did you get diabetes?
It is a kind of an immune disorder. I had an accident when I was 17, due to which I landed up with a virus infection which had my immune system confused. The virus attacked my pancreas and destroyed its capability of making insulin. I have type 1 diabetes, which only 1 out of 10 people have and it requires a very different kind of care, where anything that you eat can affect your blood sugar levels. Coincidentally, I was in the hospital after the accident when a common friend asked me, 'You know who is asking about you?' And that is where it actually started between us.
Talk about your father?
My father is pretty much a self-made man and I am proud of that. He was born in Patiala and crossed the border from India to Pakistan when he was four. My mother's family also comes from Lucknow. My father's mother died when he was six years old and his was a large family, but spent his childhood shuffling between relatives, but never really accepting help from anyone. My father was the youngest, but he studied, worked and eventually did his MBA, and then started working. So he has a lot of expectations from me to do something in my life. He was very dominating to the extent of being a bit regimental. I am very close to him even though I resented his strictness when I was young, as I was rebellious at that time. I would wonder why he couldn't understand what I wanted to do, as I was too young to understand where he was coming from. I remember when I had that accident at 17, my dad actually had a breakdown moment in the hospital as the accident was going to change my life in many ways. Even though he was just a small agricultural farmer, he told my mother, 'If, after this, he does not want to do anything, it's fine with me. If he does not want to study any more it is perfectly fine.' That was least expected from my dad and my mom became the hero telling him, 'Don't teach him that as he will never grow up to be a fighter. This is a defining moment in his life and you need to let him fight.' While it did it not hit me while I was at the hospital, when we were driving back from Islamabad to Lahore, it was raining in the car and my two sisters were sleeping next to me at the back and it struck me for the first time that there were things from there on that I would not be able to do in my life and sort of felt disabled. I did not let anyone know how I was feeling in the car, but I broke down inside. Today, my father does not keep well, but I know that he is proud of me. And while he doesn't need anything from me, I try and do whatever I can for him.
How was your experience working on Khoobsurat?
I was to come to India first in 2008 post Khuda Kay Liye, but then 26/11 happened and I could not come. I came to India for the first time while working for Khoobsurat and was initially concerned about being scrutinised here. I wish I had the visa to go and see my father's birthplace. But I have to say that Anil Kapoor sahab, Rhea and Sonam have treated me like family and have really looked after me here. Sonam is probably written about being snooty or something, but I have to say that is a misconception about her.
Once you talk to her, she is very sweet and accommodating. If my sugar was low, she would go herself, get something for me even though she could have asked 10 people around her to get it, but that shows how they cared for me as a family. I was in an alien environment with new people and you do get conscious. But they all made me really comfortable. Back in Pakistan, I also sometimes am considered an arrogant snob because I have a tendency to not talk and am reserved. Of course, in reality, I'm far from being a snob.
Who do you love the most in the world?
My wife. She is my Rock of Gibraltar and my anchor. I have known her for so long but she is still my companion, my lover, my best friend, my everything. She understands me the most. Even in my rebellious phase, when I was most vulnerable, she would listen to me and understand me. What makes her the most attractive person for me is that she is very genuine. I find nothing fake about her. She is not pretentious and is very honest. She too knows that if she is having a difficult time, I am there for her. When you love someone you don't actually know what you love, but I do know that I can't manage my life without her.
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