The director of Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri, Shahid Shafaat spoke to us about his drama, his journey and why he casted Dananeer & Khushal. Here is more below.
Shahid Shafaat is a director, writer, producer and actor in the Pakistani television, film and theatre industry. He shared his journey which started from the chemistry department at Karachi University, led him to stumble upon fine arts and in doing so transitioned into doing theatre. He also told us he studied from TATA school of arts in India since NAPA had not been established as yet.
Prominently known for his projects as a director, Shafaat started his on-screen career in the early 2000s and directed more than 10 television plays. He received a Lux Style Award nomination as a Best TV Director for his drama Dil Mom Ka Diya. Shafaat started his career in theatre, also directed several theatre plays, most prominently Main Adakara Banu Gi. In 2016, he directed Khuda Mera Bhi Hai which received critical acclaim. In 2018 he directed Khasara which was a commercial success and next his highest rated play in Pakistani television history; Dil Mom Ka Diya. He then ventured in social causes television series, including Surkh Chandni and Bikhray Moti.
He sat down with Rabia Mughni, editor FUCHSIA Magazine to discuss his current hit drama, Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri, his journey and his thoughts on the industry at present.
Is The Drama Propagating Eloping?
When Rabia Mughni asked him what most audience’s want to know about – Whether the drama is propagating eloping or vilifying it, the director offered an interesting take: “We are not giving out any messages, we don’t give out messages and we shouldn’t give messages either.” He says “the misfortune of our society is we dont have or create dialogue, we have stopped. App dialogue say ghabratay hain. Ek acha mawshra ek direct conversation say banta hai. Mera kaam yeh hai kay questions raise kero! Aur jo apnay poocha wo he tou sawal hai.”
He says it is still seen how “Muhabbat ka lafz bohat sari families mai kehna ajeeb lagta hai. Kay larka larki say muhabbat karta hai. Log dekh leingay likin bolna ajeeb lagta hai.”
The Characters & Whether They Are Black & White
On the characters in the drama, he said: “Mujhay kisi ko bhi villian nae banana tha warna wo debate khatam hojati. I conveyed the same to my actors, how I dont want to show that it is the parents who are wrong or the children who are wrong bas yeh kay situation galat thi aur usko handle nae kar raha koi.”
He added: “even many educated families are unable to handle the situation and the youth/children are in a hurry. We see both in the drama, we also feel sympathetic for the kids who are regretful and feel guilty. It’s not all black and white, there is a grey area.”
Casting & Getting To Know Dananeer & Khushal
On his process of getting to know his actors to help them shape into the characters, he says he carries out at-least 10 to 15 discussion, which he did with Dananeer and Khushal too. He would usually sit down with them for coffee at 7 am in the morning and ask them to tell him all about themselves so that he could understand them as people. Many suggested me to cast much more established and known actors for Saim and Zubia’s role but I preferred to cast Dana Neer and Khushal because I believe the actors age should be similar to the characters.
The Responsibilities He Feels He Has As A Director
He says as a director he feels he has certain responsibilities. On his teaching methods, he said he usually begins with telling his actor the meaning of the word acting, “which is a greek word meaning hypocrisy. Jo apko apnay app say bhi dekhani thi aur samnay walay say bhi. Ek illusion create karna hai, dhoka dena hai aur dhoka kitni khoobsurti say detay hou wo tumharay pay hai. ” He adds, he tells his actors to not focus so much on the expression: “Expression kay baray mai kabhi na socho, expression koi cheez nae hoti, sirf feeling hoti hai.”
Not A Believer In Ratings
He doesn’t believe in the concept nor the power of ratings: “I don’t understand the concept of ratings nor do I wish for them. For me, the process is the most important part, if I am working on something or creating art and I don’t find happiness in it then its success doesn’t give me any happiness either. For me its about how the process went, how creative was it, how wonderful was it and how healthy was it.”
He revealed a fun fact about a part of the plotline where both Saima and Zubia were seperated; he told the actors “you guys will not talk to each other, you will stay detached. They wouldn’t even talk to each other.” Wow, talk about really playing the part. Though dont worry guys, he said the audiences will for sure get a definite ending – so maybe Saim and Zubia in Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri, will have a happily ever after?
You can check out his interview in full here!
