Imagine “Humsafar” without Fawad Khan in the lead role of Ashar. In a surprising revelation, veteran Pakistani actor Shaan Shahid shared that he was initially offered the role of Ashar in the iconic drama “Humsafar”, which later became a breakthrough role for Fawad Khan.
In a recent appearance on “Coffee with Samaa”, hosted by Naeem Hanif and Bushra Khan, Shaan discussed his thoughts on working in television and how the role of Ashar came his way during a particularly busy time in his career.
“I think “Humsafar” was initially offered to me, but at that time, I was very busy and couldn’t do it,” Shaan revealed, hinting at what could have been a completely different direction for the drama that became a cultural phenomenon in Pakistan.
Reflecting on Fawad Khan’s portrayal of Ashar, Shaan added, “The role Fawad played… I didn’t take it because I had already worked with Fawad before in “Khuda Ke Liye”. At that time, he was still involved with his band EP and had done shows like “Jutt and Bond”. I met Shoaib Mansoor sahib on set, and I felt that there was still a lot of work to be done in the industry.”
The actor further discussed the need for unity and collaboration in the Pakistani entertainment industry, expressing concerns about division and the lack of cohesive growth. He emphasized the importance of listening to each other to understand and progress as a creative industry.
On the topic of Pakistani content and its future, Shaan shared his views on the digital transformation of media. He expressed surprise at the absence of a dedicated Pakistani OTT platform, despite the increasing volume of television dramas being produced.
“I would definitely do a good play if something truly inspirational comes along. So far, I haven’t come across anything that inspires me to excel. I’m surprised that we still don’t have our own OTT platforms,” he noted.
Shaan also called for better storytelling, suggesting that scripts should delve into the hidden stories of society, including tales of love and war that haven’t been told yet. “It’s all about searching and finding what’s hidden in a particular area,” he said, encouraging writers and producers to explore fresh narratives.
