The iconic Asif Raza Mir shares more about his current drama, Jhok Sarkar, his decision to leave Pakistan in the past & his lessons from bankruptcy.
Currently seen on our screens as the conniving, lethal, village lord Peeral in Jhok Sarkar, here is an opportunity for his fans, old and new to get know a bit more about him and his journey. Asif Raza Mir’s journey has been starry, long, somewhat off and on and clearly, iconic. A highly acclaimed veteran actor and producer, he also headed an advertising agency and a production house called A&B productions in the past. Son of a film director, Raza Mir who was also the first cinematographer for the first ever Pakistani film, Teri Yaad in 1948. Father to Ahad and Adnan Raza Mir. He was PTV’s first colour play hero and has 45 years of experience in the entertainment industry.
Beginning his acting journey at the age of 17, he has gone on to feature in numerous movies like Miss Hongkong, Daaman, Wafaa, Playboy, Badalte Mausam, and Saathi, sharing the screen with various cinema luminaries. He has also been a part of several well-known television series, including Darwaza, Samundar, Tanhaiyaan, Tansen, Choti Choti Baatein, Roshni, and Ishq Gumshuda. He made his international debut in the British series Gangs of London.
The icon visited FUCHSIA HQ and sat down for an exclusive with Rabia Mughni, editor, FUCHSIA. He said maybe this is quite possibly the first interview he has done in 10 years.
On His Interesting Role In Jhok Sarkar
As he said he is enjoying the feedback of his character in Jhok Sarkar.
“I think I have done a drama after 5 years. But what I found interesting in this character was, it’s not just a villain, it’s not just a bad guy, it’s not just a typical Vadera. So, I thought that we can add some variations in it, which is really encouraging.” He further credited the director Saife Hasan for doing a great job.
Asif Raza Mir
How He Joined The Show Biz & Why He Kept Leaving
“I never had a special interest in acting. My father was in the industry, he was not in favour that I should join this industry. My mother though was always very encouraging. She always said you should do it. So, the circumstances were such that I got an opportunity to do a small little role on television – There was a series called Ek Mohabbat Sao Afsane, by Mohammad Nisar Hussain. And it just happened that he was our neighbor. So, he asked me to try it out during the summer holidays. I tried it out and it turns out he gave me the second script after the first one, and the third one.”
“I have a love hate relationship with this business. I leave it and then come back. This has happened multiple times. Honestly I get bored because there comes a point in acting where the challenge is over. I don’t want to do roles just for the sake of doing a role and just to be on screen. When the challenge is over, I leave it. Then I go away, I do other things. Then again acting calls me back.”
Entering The World Of Advertising
If you are wondering, how did the actor end up with an advertising agency, here is how:
“With regards to advertising agency, while working then in entertainment at that time, the era changed a little. On TV, on the film industry, at that time, the head of states started having an impact. So the industry shut down, the only options was television. Television restrictions also started to set in place. I was personally against all these things. So, I left acting in that process. Then came an opportunity from an agency in Lahore, they said, you should work with us. They had many other names in the same way, from the industry. I said, sure but I didn’t know anything about it but they said, no, you can do it. It started slow then they sent me to Karachi. I worked with them in Karachi for 4-5 years, then I started my own agency.”
What He Would Advice People Who Might Be Dealing With Bankruptcy
While sharing how he went through it after his advertising agency went under, he further gave advice to people to guide them if ever they face it.
“It’s possible you would think to either hang yourself, commit suicide, or die in guilt that but you have to realise it’s business. Where people made millions from you, they have to realize that these situations can happen in any company and there is a set way forward/procedures in the world if you are ever in such a situation. It is not the end of life, your life keeps on going. At that time we didn’t have any option, the only difference is that I stood up and faced it. I said, this is it. After that I left. I didn’t come to Pakistan for 10 years.”
“You have to take the first step. If you see no way out, trust that Allah taala nay agar ek rasta bandh kia hai to doosre raste bhi khulte hain. So this is not the end of the world. Go and talk to people. It was never easy. But now it’s a common thing on social media. People talk about each other like they are sitting at home. But at that time it was a little difficult. The biggest problem was that when the conversation reached your parents, they would give you a lot of trouble. But then that’s the price you have to pay.”
His Decision To Leave Pakistan In The Past
After winding up his business in Pakistan, Mir left for Canada where he lived with family for some years. On why he took that decision, he says:
“No, my decision was very simple, I needed to take a fresh start. My kids were very young. I did not want them to grow up in an environment which was toxic for me. And they should not suffer because of what I did. So we started afresh in a country like Canada. I will always be grateful because that country has taught us a lot of things. Sabse important, ethics sikhaye, tolerance sikhaye, religious tolerance aur doosray ka point of view accept karna.”
Asif Raza Mir
On His New Production House – Studio 647
He is set to start a new venture with his sons, Ahad Raza Mir and Adnan Raza Mir. He says this was part his sons initiative and part owing to the discussions they would have at home. “We used to discuss, that we have to build something in Pakistan. We need to bring a lot of things that we learn from outside. So this discussion was always happening. So I said, you go to someone’s set and share this learning, there is no point. It is better if you do it yourself. So that idea eventually evolved and then we met more people who wanted to join us.”
His Marriage, Love Or Arrange?
“I married about 35-32 years ago and it was absolutely an arranged marriage.” On whether he is a romantic or not: “Ask her (his wife), maybe too romantic. I don’t know about the romantic part but you know we’ve had a good life, we’ve worked together through thick and thin so that is more than enough. Romance toh aata hai jaata hai, circumstances pe depend karta hai but otherwise we’ve had a great life.”
His Advice To Young Couples
“I think the only advice that I can give is that you need to respect your partner may it be male or female in every way in front of other people and in life genuinely think that she or he is your partner. Arguments hoti hain, point of views different ho sakte hain. That doesn’t mean that the other person is any less. Kyun kay humare yahan ek approach hoti hain, nai nai aapko nahi kuch pata so you need to involve your partner into every conversation. To yeh important factor hai, pehle din se husband aur wife they need to understand that they are partners, equal partners.”
Asif Raza Mir
What a great conversation! You can catch the full conversation here:
