Video: ‘Working in Ae Musht-e-Khaak was the most traumatic experience of my life,’ says Danial Afzal Khan

Danial Afzal Khan rose to fame with his character Nomi from Raaz-e-Ulfat. The drama was so popular and it was trending at the top 3 spots on YouTube every week while it aired. Since then, Danial has worked in a number of projects but his most recent drama — Ae Musht-e-Khaak — is the center of attention these days. This time the popularity isn’t just on YouTube, but the drama is a topic of debates and discussions on social media as well.

In a conversation with Hassan Choudary of Something Haute, Danial Afzal, who plays the role of Taqi in Ae Musht e Khaak, talks about the drama, his role and what changed in his life after doing a successful project like Raaz-e-Ulfat.

“Nothing significant changed in my life or my career after the success of Raaz-e-Ulfat. I don’t know why but this is how it is,” Danial shared.

Danial Afzal Khan with Hassan Choudary

After 12 years of hard work and struggle in this industry, Danial is still waiting for an offer for the main lead in a drama. “One of the biggest directors told me that when he saw my work in Raaz-e-Ulfat, he thought I won’t disappear from the screen now. He tried to cast me but the producers didn’t agree. I don’t know the logic they work with,” he said.

His experience in Ae Musht-e-Khaak

Taqi is the second lead in the drama, so did he consider this drama to be the opportunity that he has been waiting for?

“No, I didn’t seem like it when I read it on paper. I didn’t click with me initially because the way the characters speak is very bookish. No one in our generation speaks like that. But I knew it was a big opportunity that he is extremely positive. I would still add that this is my worst work ever because I didn’t get a change to do my best in this role for numerous reasons. In the beginning of my career, I was new and vulnerable so that comes with its own set of problems. But this was the most traumatic experience for me since I have started working or since I have become an established actor,” he shared clarifying that he faced no problems working with Sana Javed.

“I involved the producers but it was too late because I assumed that they won’t help me. However, they stood by me so I realized I should have spoken earlier.”

His role in the drama

“People are not talking about my performance but they are liking the role that I have played. It’s true that people are usually drawn to positive guys who stand by damsels in a drama. I have realized after doing a number of negative roles that audience will overlook over performance. They will talk about the character and bash it but do not see the intricacies with which an actor has performed it,” Danial expressed.

Watch the full interview here: