Catching up with Ahsan Khan | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Catching up with Ahsan Khan

Pakistan Press Foundation

With 2017 coming to a close, we are awaiting the release of last film of the year, Chupan Chupai that marks Ahsan Khan’s big screen debut in the new wave of Pakistan cinema. Currently busy with the promotions of the film that premieres in Karachi tonight, Khan talked to Instep about film promotions, being honest with fans and much more.

“I am not keeping promotions very heavy because I disagree with this approach,” Khan began to share what he feels about the changing landscape of film promotions that have become rigorous in nature. “I feel promoting a film is the job of TV channels who are associated with the film; they should spread it as much as possible. Promotions should be dignified, they should be honest. By ‘honest’ I mean that the cast and crew, the director as well as the channel should know what the tempo of the film is and they should invite people accordingly. Otherwise people develop expectations that are quite opposite to what the film has to offer.”

Khan went on to say that since Chupan Chupai is a comedy, it should be presented to the people as one and those associated with the film then have the margin to do something comic while promoting it. “Same is the case with drama and serious films,” he asserted. “You can’t dance in shows and ask viewers to come and watch your film that is based on a social issue.”

Khan informed that they had decided to not go overboard with promotional activities and kept it restricted to TV shows and universities.

“We didn’t go overboard with anything and I feel very confident about it,” the Udaari actor added. “I have done my job and have given my best, I am sure that people will not be disappointed. Chupan Chupai is an entertaining film; it’s a comedy, comic timings are very good, punch lines are great, songs have been shot well so I just hope people like it. If you talk about entertainment value of the film, I feel people will not be bored, they will connect to it.”

Reflecting on the character of Neelam Muneer, who stars opposite Khan in Chupan Chupai, he shared, “Neelam plays a very interesting character and isn’t just a pretty face in the film. She isn’t there to pull audiences to cinemas. If you notice, the trailer doesn’t feature her less than other new actors in the film. Though the film is more about boys but Neelam is pretty much there as much as needed.”

While Neelam Muneer and Ahsan Khan lead the proceedings due to their strong following among masses, other actors who feature in the film have equally substantial roles, according to Khan. “We have very few good actors in the industry so we should promote and support good new additions,” he said. “I learnt a lot from them; I try to work with people who may not be very well known but are talented.”

Some of the names who belong to NAPA and are making their film debut with Chupan Chupai include Faizan Khawaja, Ali Rizvi, Vajdan and Zayed. Veteran actors Jawad Sheikh, Sakina Samo, Adnan Jaffar, Saife Hassan, Talat Hussain and Rehan Sheikh also star in the upcoming action comedy.

Coming back to Ahsan Khan, while the actor gears up for Chupan Chupai that is set to release tomorrow (December 29), he has almost wrapped up the shoot of his second film Rehbra that counts Ayesha Omar and Sarish Khan as his co-stars and is slated to release early next year. The actor has also begun shooting for Ehteshamuddin’s upcoming period drama Aangan that has an all-star cast including Mawra Hocane, Sonya Hussayn, Ahad Raza Mir and Sajal Aly.

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