C E L E B R I T Y
W
ith a career spanning more than
two decades and having more
than 500 movies in his cap,
Shaan Shahid has established himself as
one of Pakistan’s most popular actor, writer,
model, and film director in the industry.
“
Movies are art and art in
itself is an intoxication
”
His graceful acting and charming
personality have wowed everyone from the
older generation to the current one. He
made his acting debut in 1990 alongside
Reema Khan in Javed Fazli›s film Bulandi.
After that, he not only starred in Urdu
feature films but also Punjabi movies.
There has been no turning back for the
superstar since then. In 2007, he starred in
Shoaib Mansoor’s international Blockbuster
Khuda Kay Liye with Iman Ali and Fawad
Khan. In 2013 came Waar, O21 in 2014
and Yalghaar in 2017 opposite Humayun
Saeed, Adnan Siddiqui, Armeena Khan,
Ayesha Omar and Bilal Ashraf.
Arth 2 is the improvised version of Mahesh
Bhatt’s original Arth released in 1982.
The new version is a modern take on the
original with a minimal resemblance to it.
The movie also marks Shaan’s comeback as
a director and casts Shaan himself, Uzma
Hassan, Mohib Mirza and Humaima
Malick in pivotal roles. In addition to that,
the screenplay is also written by him.
“There is a very little resemblance to the
original Arth as we have only picked 10-
20% of it and have rewritten the screenplay,
adding fictitious elements to the new one.
As I believe that telling the same story isn’t
what creative minds do,” Shaan said.
“In Arth 2, the most challenging task
as a writer was to take that film out of
a condensed art form and add flavour
to it, making sure the new product is
something that keeps the audiences hooked
and entertained. From the story to the
cinematography, from the acting to the
musical score, everything needed to be spot
on,” Shaan further elaborated.
“Movies are art and art in itself is an
intoxication. Thus, the nation as a whole
should look to promote Pakistani cinema,”
said Shaan. “Arth 2 is all about human
relationships, and how the characters find
their respective destinations following their
failures or successes with a lot of substance,
deep music, intense dialogues and acting.”
interested in taking up any such projects
as yet, because, Pakistani entertainment
industry is going through a revival itself.
Thus being the patriot that he is, Shaan
replied that “Being a Pakistani, I feel like
I have a lot of responsibility as a citizen of
my country.”
We started peeling the layers of different
characters in the movie and asked Shaan “We, as a nation should come together to
about his intense role of a rock star named promote our talents and industry, rather
than wasting it. The film medium has so
Ali.
much potential, but it is not being utilised
“Ali, who is a divorcee returns to Pakistan properly,” He answered.
after 10 years from the UK to make a
professional comeback,” he told us. “Ali As we concluded our interview, his message
is someone who once had everything, but to every Pakistani was to enjoy their soil,
now is left with nothing, on unknown love each other and live peacefully. He
and strange streets. This is where he finds further continued, “Live your dream, be a
a friend, and their story begins. It is all Pakistani and be proud of it.”
about the good things in life.” He further
As Arth 2 has hit the cinemas, 2018 awaits
explained.
the release of Zarrar, another action-packed
When asked about working abroad, Shaan movie starring Shaan, Kiran Malik and
was of the opinion that he personally is not Adnan Butt.