Romeo Weds Heer is one of the few trending serials on television these days; its comedy is proving to be refreshing at a time when most plots are riddled with oppressed characters in tragic storylines. It’s no surprise that people are loving its lightness. But how easy has the transition been for the cast and crew, most of which is the same as Khaani?
We caught up with Feroze Khan…
Mir Hadi was dark and sinister; Romeo is the polar opposite. How difficult was it for you to flip 180 degrees and which role was tougher to play?
Feroze Khan: When I was offered Khaani I had already played negative characters; it was challenging but it was something I had done before. Also, Mir Hadi had controlled expressions; they were intense but not so tough to deliver. Romeo is a completely opposite character; he can’t stand still for a second. He’s a 24-year old university kid, a happy go lucky guy who everybody loves. I found Romeo to be a lot more difficult than Khaani because it’s not easy to make someone laugh. It’s not easy at all, especially when you’re not making someone laugh at someone else but because of a situation you create. It takes a lot of hard work and energy. I was never so tired when doing Khaani but Romeo was exhausting because I was constantly looking for new expressions to give him.
Everyone has a dark side and not to suggest that you’d be able to shoot someone in the chest four times (as Mir Hadi does), but which character – Mir Hadi or Romeo – do you think you relate to more?
FK: I like serious characters. I like characters that I can explore for myself because every time I do a character, I live it. For me it’s a whole story; it’s the context of the character in the story. Romeo is my baby but I lived Khaani.
Anywhere in the world, an actor would get some training before stepping into character. How did you, if at all, prepare for this character?
FK: See, we all have an imagination and in Pakistan, one has to imagine a character. In Khaani I prayed that God would help me deliver on Mir Hadi’s character successfully. As a newcomer it wasn’t easy to hold the camera for such long spells. Actors like Noman Ejaz or Qavi sahib would be able to stay, to hold the audience’s attention, but it was very tough for a newcomer. So to answer your question, whenever I get a script I envision the character in my mind and jump into it fearlessly, without being afraid of being judged. That has worked out for me, so far. That’s what it is: fearless acting.
- Look out for Instep tomorrow in which Feroze Khan and Sana Javed talk about their transition from Khaani to Romeo Weds Heer.
