With the release of his supernatural web series Barzakh, Fawad Khan sat down for a candid interview with Pinkvilla about his latest offering and the special appeal of Pakistani dramas across the border. “When I read the script, I was sold,” the actor said. “The script, the team, and in particular, [director] Asim Abbasi – everything was amazing. I’d seen his earlier work, and he is masterful – an amazing director.” Recalling shooting for the role, Fawad laughed about how “unhinged” his character, Sheheryar the psychiatrist, gets as the show progresses. “He’s a candidate for therapy himself! I’m laughing about it now, but shooting it was emotionally disturbing on many levels.” Mulling over the special appeal of Pakistani dramas across the border, Fawad reckons that where India has conquered the world of cinema, Pakistani actors and directors have honed their skills in the art of longer narratives.
“In Pakistan, the visual medium has primarily been television, whereas in India, the strong suit is cinema,” explained the actor. “In India, the dream for actors is to work in cinema, whereas in Pakistan, it’s been television. We’ve learned how to work on narratives for television, which is why I think we’re good at it.”