In a dramatic twist that mirrors his on-screen versatility, Ahmed Ali Akbar, the breakout star of the iconic Parizaad opens up about his deliberate approach to script selection in a recent interview with Kehkashan Bukhari for Geo Digital.
Known for breathing life into characters, whether conventional or unconventional, Ahmed shares, “I don’t have a particular intention to pick something different. If the story is good, I mould the character by sharing thoughts with the director. I guess I’ve been fortunate in scripts” — all punctuated with a smile.
With the success of Parizaad, a burning question arises: What’s next for Ahmed on the TV screen?
Ahmed’s response is intriguing when asked about the possibility of playing a negative role, a villain perhaps. “Well, I’ll definitely go for that. In fact, I’m in negotiations with the makers. Viewers might see me on screen in a negative role, not too soon, but after some time,” he teases.
Having embarked on his acting journey in the late ’90s with PTV’s Stop Watch Ahmed Ali Akbar made his film debut in 2013 with Siyaah and has since graced the silver screen with memorable performances in films like Laal Kabootar, Parchi, Karachi Se Lahore, and Lahore Se Agay. In the world of dramas, his roles in Hum TV’s Ehde Wafa and the groundbreaking Parizaad remain etched in our memories.
Amid the social media frenzy sparked by the tweet unveiling Ahmed’s new role, speculations run wild, hinting at a possible link to Tere Bin 2. The lingering question emerges: “In this scenario, which boat will Yumna find herself in?” – user shared insights on X.
His current projects
But the surprises don’t end there! Ahmed is gearing up for his role in Gunjal, a film based on child activist Iqbal Massih, directed by Shoaib Sultan. It centres on the exoneration of the perpetrator involved in the killing of a young labour activist, with journalists identifying concerning gaps in the verdict. The movie will follow the journalist’s pursuit of justice as he exposes the grim reality of child labour in 1990s Pakistan on the way. The movie also features Resham and Amna Ilyas and is set to release on 15th December.
It will mark as Ahmed’s return on-screen after a four-year hiatus, as he was last seen in Laal Kabootar in 2019. He also received the Best Actor Award at the South Asian Film Festival and Lux Style Awards for the movie.
He also made his television come back after almost two years with the drama Idiots, currently being aired on Green Entertainment, along with Mansha Pasha.
While Ahmed’s work is undoubtedly selective, the prospect of seeing him on screen as a villain adds an exciting layer to his already impressive repertoire.
