Ahsan Khan has spent years playing characters that stay with audiences long after a drama ends, but his recent role as Tabish in Aap Ki Izzat has opened up a different kind of conversation. The character’s behaviour, his relationship with the women around him and the reactions viewers have had to his actions have brought uncomfortable realities into the spotlight, with Ahsan reflecting on how unexpectedly the drama struck a nerve.
Ahsan Khan joins us on Gup Shup with FUCHSIA as host Rabia Mughni asks him about his recent character in Aap Ki Izzat and also the return of HUM TV drama serial Aangan on our screens. The actor opened up about the response to Aap Ki Izzat, his experience working with director Saife Hassan and veteran actor Sania Saeed for the first time, and what makes a drama truly connect with its audience. With Aangan also returning to Hum TV, Ahsan found himself looking back at another project from his career, remembering the performances, the atmosphere on set and the kind of storytelling that continues to bring viewers back years later.
This article is an excerpt form FUCHSIA Magazine’s YouTube interview.
Saife Hassan, Umera Ahmed and the Difference a Good Team Makes
For Ahsan, a strong performance is never just about what an actor brings to the screen. The people behind the camera, the writing, the direction and the overall vision of a project all play a part in shaping what eventually reaches the audience, and his experience working with Saife Hassan is a good example of that.
Ahsan spoke highly of Saife’s attention to detail, explaining that the director notices things others might overlook and pushes actors to get more out of their characters. Rather than describing their working relationship as one of disagreements, he credited Saife with helping raise the standard of the performances in their projects. With Saife bringing his experience as an actor, editor and director to the table, Ahsan found that working with someone who could offer a different perspective helped him look at scenes in new ways.
He also recalled hearing from Aap Ki Izzat writer Umera Ahmed after she watched the promos and episodes. Ahsan had not spoken to her about the character before she watched the drama, so receiving a call from her afterwards meant a great deal to him. He described her writing and storytelling as exceptional, with a particular appreciation for the way she builds characters and puts their thoughts into words.
For an actor, there is something especially rewarding about knowing that the person who created a character feels that the performance has done it justice. Ahsan explained that a script is deeply personal to its writer, almost like a baby, and bringing that character to life in a way that resonates with the writer is an achievement in itself. Having a director recognise the effort is another, but seeing the audience connect with the work is what brings the entire process together.
He also made an interesting point about the standards we hold television dramas to. Ahsan believes that actors, writers and directors put considerable effort into their craft and that audiences should be able to recognise the difference when that effort translates into something meaningful on screen. For him, praise is most rewarding when it acknowledges the skill and work behind a performance, rather than simply celebrating something because it is popular.
Working With Sania Saeed for the First Time Was a Privilege
Although Ahsan and Sania Saeed had met a few times before, Aap Ki Izzat marked their first project together. Sharing the screen with an actor he admires was an experience he described as a privilege, and he had plenty of appreciation for both Sania and Urwa Hocane, who were part of the drama.
Ahsan spoke about the easy rapport the three developed on set, recalling how he, Urwa and Sania would get so caught up in talking that Saife Hassan sometimes had to call them back to the scene. It was a lighter side of the production, but it also reflected the comfort they had with one another while working on a drama that dealt with some fairly heavy subjects.
He was particularly struck by Sania’s performance and the qualities she brought to her character. Ahsan felt that she had a naturally warm, almost motherly quality to her personality, which suited the role beautifully. Their on-screen relationship required a certain degree of emotional compatibility, and he believed that the connection between the actors helped bring that out.
Ahsan also spoke about working alongside two women as a male actor, making the point that it should not be treated as something unusual. For him, the foundation of a professional set is mutual respect, with everyone working towards the same goal. There is no reason for the dynamic to be different simply because of the gender of the people involved.
Ahsan also spoke candidly about the practical side of choosing projects. Acting is not just his profession; it is also his passion, his source of entertainment and a major part of his social life. He does not necessarily go out or socialise constantly, so being on set and working with people is an important part of his routine. Going too long without acting can leave him wondering when he will get back to it.
Did Tabish in Aap Ki Izzat Really Open a Pandora’s Box of Complaints Against Men?
Ahsan Khan knew that playing Tabish in Aap Ki Izzat would invite criticism, given the character’s behaviour towards his wife and his infidelity. What he did not expect was the extent to which the drama would resonate with women from different backgrounds, prompting them to speak about experiences they had seen or lived through themselves.
While many viewers began calling Tabish a villain, Ahsan explained that he saw the character as more than just a negative figure. His actions drove the story forward, but the audience’s response revealed how closely the drama’s situations mirrored realities within many relationships.
For Ahsan, the drama opened up conversations about the everyday ways women can be hurt, from body-shaming and disrespect to having their contributions at home taken for granted. He also defended homemakers, pointing out that raising children and managing a household is demanding work that deserves recognition, rather than being treated as less valuable than a career outside the home.
At the same time, he acknowledged that men face their own pressures and stressed that neither partner should judge the other solely from their own perspective. As he put it:
“You can’t judge others from your point of view. Everyone has their own journey, give margin to people, you should give space and you should not look down upon anyone.”
His message was about mutual respect, understanding and not taking one another for granted. If Aap Ki Izzat has encouraged viewers to reflect on their relationships and discuss issues they might otherwise avoid, Ahsan believes that is part of what makes storytelling meaningful.
Aangan Is Back on Hum TV, and Ahsan Khan Is Revisiting the Magic
With Aangan currently rerunning on Hum TV, Ahsan has been watching the drama again and finding himself drawn back into its world. The actor spoke warmly about revisiting scenes from the series, including the performances and visual treatment that had made an impression on him when it first aired.
Filmed around 2017 and released in 2018, Aangan was a project Ahsan had been excited about from the beginning. He had previously worked with director Ehteshamuddin and was keen to collaborate with him again. Although Ahsan’s role was a special appearance, it involved a double role, giving him something different to explore as an actor.
He remembered the atmosphere on set as a major part of what made the experience enjoyable. Ahsan appreciated the way Ehteshamuddin approached his work, explaining that a director’s effort and the environment they create can make an actor feel valued and bring out a better performance. It was not simply about showing up and delivering lines; it was about being part of a production where the people involved cared about what they were making.
Watching Aangan again also brought back memories of scenes that had stayed with him, particularly the emotional and romantic moments. Ahsan spoke about how much he enjoys exploring different kinds of scenes, even when they require an actor to approach emotions in an unfamiliar way. He recalled the intensity of the romance in Aangan, including the way certain scenes portrayed a woman’s feelings so openly and passionately.
He also reflected on the way the drama’s romantic relationships were presented. For Ahsan, love stories from earlier eras often carried an intensity that audiences still recognise, whether through the tragic romances passed down over generations or the larger-than-life stories of lovers who could not be together. Aangan gave him an opportunity to explore that kind of emotion within its own setting.
The rerun has also given viewers a chance to return to a drama whose appeal lies in more than nostalgia. For Ahsan, the experience of watching Aangan again is a reminder of what happens when a good script, thoughtful direction, strong performances and a committed production team come together.
Whether he is revisiting a character from years ago or discussing the conversations sparked by his latest work, Ahsan keeps returning to the same idea: a drama needs more than a familiar face, an impressive setting or a collection of dramatic moments to make an impact. It needs a story that feels alive, performances that make its characters believable, and something that audiences can carry with them long after the screen goes dark.
