Farhan Saeed
The Renaissance Man
Remember being a part of the fan army that cheered for Farhan Saeed back when he was the charming frontman of the famed band, Jal? Lucky for his huge fan base, Farhan’s star has only risen from that point. Those who adored him back then now also know him for his profound roles that he played as an actor in highly acclaimed drama serials like Udaari and Suno Chanda. With chartbusters like Pi Jaon and Halka Halka Suroor and, more recently, Maula, he has made sure to let the musician in him thrive. GLOSS met with the multi-talented star and talked about his illustrious past, his high-rolling present, and the very promising future that Farhan Saeed is looking forward to.
You have come a long way in the Pakistani media industry. How are things different now? What has not changed?
A lot has changed. I started as a singer with Jal. It was a long journey from that to being a solo singer and then coming into acting. What hasn’t changed is my drive to do more every day.
How did you get into Jal and what was it like to have that kind of success and celebrity status at such a young age?
I feel like it was destined. Xulfi from Call was my senior at college. He introduced me to my band members. Music chose me rather than me choosing music. For any teenager to become the front man of what would go on to become South Asia’s most famous band, was unimaginable and unbelievable.
Do you remember your first pay cheque? What did you do with it?
I don’t remember a pay cheque but I remember my first earning and it was thrilling. I think I bought a flat screen TV. It was also a great moment for my parents.
Was your family comfortable with all the hype and fame that surrounded the band?
They were caught by surprise, as was I. It all happened so fast that it wasn’t easy keeping up. At my first concert with Jal, I didn’t tell my mom where I was going. I just said I was travelling. Then ‘Woh Lamhe’ came out and the video was on every channel. It was an overnight sensation. There was hardly any time to react to it or discuss it. Of course, they were supportive, their only condition was for me to complete my Bachelors which I was pursuing from FAST.
What has been your favourite live performance so far?
That’s a difficult question. All live performances are very thrilling for artists. Going on stage for the first time is a very special feeling. My first performances in India, Lahore and Karachi, were phenomenal. All artists have firsts, like the first music video, first award, first international tour. Every first is important. you can’t pick and choose just like parents who can’t choose a favourite child. However, it has been a very memorable journey.
You have also been working as a playback singer. What do you prefer, making your own music or playback singing?
Both have their own charm, whether it’s your own composition or someone else’s.
With playback singing, if you get a good composition to sing, that’s like a cherry on top of the cake. With making music you get to design everything yourself and you can say no to what you don’t want, that’s a liberty you have with your own music. I just feel as long as the audiences enjoy themselves its worth it. It’s them who you need to keep in mind.
Music chose me rather than me choosing music. For any teenager to become the front man of what would go on to become South Asia’s most famous band, was unimaginable and unbelievable.
Most of the musicians in Pakistan now prefer to release singles, not albums. Why has the music industry come to this point?
I think the most important reason is the digitisation of media. I remember having to release CDs. People would not access music the very next day. They would have to go and buy the CD. That is where record labels and artists would make money. Now its all instant. You release a song and the next hour it’s everywhere. You can download it all for free. There’s no royalty for us, record labels don’t want to release albums.
As an artist, I feel that a more functioning royalty system is imperative and the only place you make money now is concerts.
This process can take a few more years and then it may come back to albums. I don’t blame record labels for not wanting to release albums, but I feel like in a few years we may be able to come up with a solution that is a win-win situation for everyone.
Looking back over the years, was there ever a gig where you felt “I shouldn’t have done that?”
I don’t think that’s a good approach for an artist. Whether it’s a gig, a video, a concert, a drama or anything for that matter. You can’t think ‘I shouldn’t have done it.’ You need your mistakes to get better. To evolve into a higher self, and that’s the whole point of being an artist.
Was transitioning from singing to acting difficult? Did you have to train a lot, or did it come naturally for you?
It wasn’t difficult, it was just new. I watched a lot of actors on screen, learned and grasped as much as I could. If you are a keen observer you can excel at anything, especially acting. That’s exactly what I managed to do.
As long as you think something is right, and the public wants it, you are both on the same page. That’s what makes you successful whether you are an actor or a singer. It doesn’t have to be difficult, a slight change in approach is necessary. If you really got it, people would eventually catch up.
Singer, actor and style icon, is it overwhelming to be Farhan Saeed? Do you feel under pressure? How do you deal with the stress?
There’s no stress. I don’t really give it a lot of thought. It’s God’s blessing that people love you for what you do. You enjoy it as it comes. Overthinking makes it difficult to concentrate. I tend to go with the flow. I do exactly what my heart says as things come. I don’t dwell deeply on one particular thing. If people are accepting do what you are doing and keep moving forward. As you grow and learn, you channel your experiences to become better and better.
Since you have experience in both the drama and music industry, what is one thing you feel needs to change in the two?
We always pinpoint things that need to change. I think we need to change ourselves first. It doesn’t matter what a hundred shortcomings I pinpoint and blame in any industry. The right way to do is, If you want to change something, you just change it. Whether its tv or film, it has to start with you. This is also a major issue with us as a nation, we wait for others to come and change things for us rather than helping ourselves.
What is that one role you want to play?
To be honest I don’t have a particular choice because if I single it out then I confine myself. If I get a script and I like it, I would try to design it according to me. If I am able to tune it according to myself it should work. Still, some roles are special for you and you should definitely pursue those.
Being a celebrity, and thanks to social media, the world is always watching you. How has the public scrutiny affected your life?
As a public figure, it is bittersweet. You enjoy it but it’s also mildly concerning to not be able to get a moment to yourself. Before I met my wife, it bothered me somewhat but now it’s slightly more difficult. It’s not easy to enjoy our alone time as a public couple. You are always in everyone’s eyes. It’s a price you pay but it’s a small price, as we are doing what we love, for audiences who we love. That is what matters.
Your wedding received a lot of attention. What did you see in Urwa that made you steer towards such a big decision?
In this age of social media, people like to talk about anything and everything. And when public figures get married it garners a lot of interest and attention from everyone. The attention was unanticipated. We tried to stop the media from covering anything but, of course, it got out and then it just became a thing. As I said, that’s the price you pay. It’s overwhelming at times to realise how much people want to become part of your life.
What steered me towards Urwa was the fact that she is upfront and straightforward. I wanted that in my life. She is the check and balance I needed. To be honest she has done a lot to improve me as a person, as an actor and musician. Whatever improvement or motivation is in me is because of her. The best thing a man can ask for is a supportive wife, who is there to talk him through anything. Thanks to her I am very focused and enjoy everything that I do.
The two of you belong to an industry which takes a large chunk of your time. Is there any advice you would like to give couples who may be in a similar situation?
Of course, it does. Sometimes she is working sometimes I am away for days. It often becomes hard to catch up with each other as husband and wife. At the same time, it’s very charming to catch up. It’s like a date every time we spend some time together after a while. The best advice is to remain friends before anything else. There’s nothing we don’t talk about. For me being with my wife is like being with the greatest of friends so it’s very comfortable and naturally easy. I think all couples should do the same.
Do you think engaged or married actors and actresses are treated any different from ones who are single?
No, I don’t think so. Not in Pakistan at least. Even in Bollywood, actors are getting married. The world is maturing in this regard. I think it’s just a myth that marriage changes things. I don’t think it does. Even the ones who aren’t married are planning to do so. You should just be focused on keeping your professional and personal lives separate, it should not be bothersome or concerning.
Who has given you the best advice in terms of relationship and work so far? What was the advice?
I can’t really say. I think we are both lucky and mature. We know how to take the relationship forward. We just figured we had to be best friends. Career-wise we advise each other a lot and she has definitely given me some of the best ones. My father once sat me down to talk to me about working in music. He said no matter what I do I should be the best at it. As time passes by you realise in retrospect what words mean and how much value they hold, especially from parents. So, from a singer to being an actor and winning all sorts of awards, I think his advice really stuck to me. Therefore, always remember that whatever you do, give it your all.
Is it difficult to shop for Urwa? What are some easy gifts to give her that you are sure she will love?
I think the hardest thing to do is to get gifts for her whenever I am coming back home. She is very picky so what we do is we Facetime together when I am shopping for her before coming back and that way she’s shopping with me in real time. It works!
Coming back to your work, your latest project, Suno Chanda, was quite a hit. Did you expect it would go this big?
No, we didn’t. We gave it everything we had and more. It wasn’t easy. It was back to back for 30 days. It was one of the most difficult projects to carry out as a team. However, the director Ahsan Talish, all the actors and crew were on the same page and we were all equally motivated. When we saw the results it was completely worth it. We expected some fruits but we weren’t expecting it to get this big. Even we didn’t see that coming.
What do you think was the unique selling point of this project?
I think there were quite a few. The most important would be the chemistry that I, Iqra and Ahsan had.
The director is the captain of the ship. The script was tricky. It was too easy to get it wrong and have it mixed up with just everyday comedies and cheesy banter. I think how it got executed, the situations, the timings, it was spot on and it worked.
In times when tragedy is so popular to sell, ‘Suno Chanda’ was very refreshing because it was very different from what had been going on. Everyone did brilliantly. The main selling point was the collective hard work of the team, especially the director.
How did you and the team celebrate its success?
By the seventh episode, we realised it had become a huge deal and every day on set was an adventure for that reason. We would celebrate daily but it was still a race against time because we were shooting every day and airing the next. So, we didn’t have a lot of time set out to celebrate, but we were all very happy.
Udaari and Suno Chanda are two of the biggest milestones in your career if you MUST pick one, which one would it be and why?
I can’t pick one. ‘Udaari’ was a great learning experience. It made me realise how important it is to personalise your characters. Whatever I did in ‘Suno Chanda’ was a result of my lessons from Udaari. Suno Chanda brought me a lot of recognition as an actor. Hence, they are both special in their own way.
What do you think about the latest work happening in the Pakistani drama and film industry?
Pakistani dramas are huge wherever the language is understood. I did a show in Thailand and even there, Indians and Pakistanis could not get enough of ‘Suno Chanda.’ So, the reach is phenomenal.
I feel the film industry is also going in the right direction. The right people have come into the business. I expect it to become the biggest industry in the country. Investors will follow, budgets will go up and more cinemas will come into being. I really think the world should look out for our film industry and how fast it’s emerging. Pakistan will witness great times in film and TV in the next ten years.
From music to acting, what does the future hold for Farhan Saeed?
I am sure it holds both music and acting as I am enjoying both exceptionally. I have never felt better in my career and both disciplines complement each other perfectly. I am loving it. It’s going to remain the same.
Who are your favourite musicians or bands and what is currently on your playlist?
I really like rock music and pop rock as well. I like Led Zeppelin, Guns n Roses, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, of course. There are too many to name. I love Pakistani eastern music, and some of my favourite musicians from the area are Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ghulam Ali and Fareed Ayaz. Right now, my playlist is mostly a mix of eastern and western.
Are you following any TV shows? If yes, which one?
I don’t get a lot of time honestly but sometimes a light comedy can help me kick back. Even so, I am unable to binge watch. I can watch an episode or two at max. I spent my college years enjoying Friends. Recently I watched a little Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad. They are both great.
What inspires you?
Mostly it’s an innate sense of doing more and I can’t thank God enough for this motivation and drive. I feel if people respect you and appreciate you for what you do, you owe it to them to get better and of course, you owe it to yourself too. Since day one I have had the same energy regardless of what I set out to do. I can’t be thankful enough.
If you could see one change in the world for the next generation, what would you hope it to be?
A more just Pakistan, where the opportunity to strive for greatness is not stolen from anyone. Especially the youth. They need all the support they can get from their environment.
Pakistan is an exceptionally talented country and it’s sad for me to realise that thousands of young people are not able to pursue their passion and exploit their talent the way they should be able to. I really want this to change.
Any message for our readers?
Never stop believing in yourself. Never stop hoping. Never doubt yourself. Once you get all of this done, tell yourself no amount of belief can help if you don’t work hard. Work harder every day of your life. Not just one day or one week. Consistency is key. When you witness the fruit of your labours, thank God for the opportunity that has been given to you to become your best self.
