Popular for his comedy role in drama ‘BulBulay’, Agha Shiraz is an extremely talented Pakistani drama actor, model and director.
MM News got a chance to speak to him and ask him about his upcoming projects and why he does not want to work in movies.
MM: Do artists get paid on time in the industry?
Agha Shiraz: Some of the channels and production houses give cheques on time and few of them also pay an artist in advance but unfortunately there is one channel that does not pay on time which I will not disclose.
I am one of them whose money is still stuck. Artists ask for our money as it is our right. If a payment gets late you should wait for weeks, a month, or two but waiting for years is unacceptable. However, if one company cannot afford to pay you then it should not run a new project at all.
MM: What types of roles you like to do?
Agha Shiraz: I like doing a negative role in a drama. People love it when I do comedy but my favorite type of role is always negative.
MM: What type of dramas does the Pakistani audience like to watch?
Agha Shiraz: Most of the audience like to watch dramas based on domestic issues. Showing women in trouble, her struggling and overcoming the bad situation, such dramas are mostly liked and watched by the audience.
MM: If you ever get a chance, will you work with Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar?
Agha Shiraz: Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar is a great writer indeed but he is not a good person. I am saying this based on my personal opinion. I respect him but because I respect what he writes. Not more than that. I would never work with him.
MM: When will our audience accept dramas like ‘Churails’?
Agha Shiraz: People will do every obscene act in their home or in society, they will consume alcohol, watch dances like mujras too but if such acts will be shown on TV then every person will chant against it on roads. We need to get over this thinking.
MM: Which actress would you like to work with? Mahira or Mehwish?
Agha Shiraz: I would love to work with Mahira. I have already worked with Mehwish Hayat, she is a gem I must say.
MM: Who is your favourite singer? Momina or QB?
Agha Shiraz: QB. both singers are amazing but QB has a more attractive voice.
MM: Atif or Rahat Fateh Ali Khan?
Agha Shiraz: Both have a strong voice and one cannot be chosen over another. Atif has another level of singing and both artists have a strong image. One cannot choose between Javed Miandad and Imran Khan likewise one cannot choose between both singers.
MM: Who would you choose Ali Zafar or Bilal Saeed?
Agha Shiraz: I would say, Ali Zafar. Bilal Saeed has improved a lot.
MM: Just like cricketers, should actors retire too?
Agha Shiraz: Actors can never retire, in every profession, a person can retire but in acting, you get to switch roles, but acting is a never-ending job.
You will become a younger brother of the protagonist character then one day you will be the lead role of a drama or any project, sometime later you will become the elder brother, the father, uncle, grandparent but one does not retire.