Adnan Shah Tipu, a familiar face in Pakistan’s entertainment industry, sat down with BBC Urdu to reflect on his 25-year journey. During the interview, Tipu explained that he doesn’t mind whether his characters are part of the narrative for a shorter or longer period as long as they resonate with him. “For me, whether a character is one page long or 10 pages long, if he’s making sense to me it’s a challenge, and if through him I can bring some positive change in society, then why not?” he said.

The In Flames actor also reflected on his career as a character actor, lamenting that the Pakistani entertainment industry has yet to shift focus towards character-driven films and shows. “I’ve always considered myself a hero, whether I’m playing the leading role or the supporting role. The quality of work makes you a hero or a zero,” he asserted.

Highlighting how different the situation is globally, pointing to the success of actors like Nawazuddin Siddiqui in India, he said, “In India, someone like Nawazuddin will get the leading role because the film revolves around the character, not his appearance. Over here, even if they make a film like that, they will cast someone who doesn’t fit the role to play that role.” Tipu did not shy away from expressing his frustration over the Pakistani entertainment industry’s fixation with appearance and social media following. He said, “If people started casting actors based on our standards and based on their following, actors like Robert De Niro and Al Pacino would quit.”