While the story might be over, the conversations carry on. And with them also, the characters stay back, for some audiences it might be Amal, for others, Wali or Maya, each character carried a vibe its own which is why, we couldn’t close the curtains on Parwarish without asking Director Meesam Naqvi to shed light on his casting choices in Drama Parwarish and we’re here for it!
“I have to be very careful while casting. I have to give the audience something believable, and if they can believe, then they will connect. If they can’t believe, how can they connect? This is how I cast.” It’s clear that Meesam Naqvi has a method in his casting choices, and we’re here to give you a peek into exactly what they were for each of the Parwarish cast members. Read on.
On Why Gen Z is the MVP in Parwarish casting Choices
Director Meesam Naqvi: “The best thing about Gen Z is that they are free-thinkers. I am always attracted to actors with whom I can have discussions, who are able to contribute while developing a character. They don’t want to be a puppet. Some people were in my mind because I had met them before, like Samar or Aina, because I had done Mayi Ri with them.” Meesam Naqvi launched the casting conversation with his choices for Maya and Wali.
“There were many factors I had to consider.” Elaborated the director. “What are the empathetic values in that child? What is his emotional IQ? What is his intelligence? This is very important because I don’t just focus on acting skills. I also consider the individual’s exposure to the world and then – what is his mindset towards the character. This is why I picked Samar Jafri because of his exposure with the US too. I felt that Samar can catch those nuances in Wali.”
With the same lens in mind, Meesam Naqvi zeroed in on Sameer’s character.
“Abul was best for Sameer.. I was clear about Abul Hasan because I keep watching his YouTube videos. As soon as I read Sameer in the script, I visualized this guy. I wanted a Karachiite who knew how to represent Karachi. I wanted a kid from Karachi who can give me the Karachi lingo.” He spoke passionately now, revealing the finer reasons behind what determines his casting choices.
And what of Maya, we asked?
“Aina,” says Meesam Naqvi, “I am a fan of her’s. She is immensely talented. Her expressions can change in seconds.” He observes.
“I go to every actor and explain their scenes, but Aina is a bright child and she understands the layers. I wanted a girl who can take both the burden and the comfort of the character and I couldn’t think of anyone else other than Aina for Maya. She read the script, we discussed the character and went through some difficult scenes together.”
On the Philosophy Behind His Casting Choices
“I look at the actor and then I look at the person. So I would talk to myself and say: Maya could have understood this, Aina could have understood this, or Samar could have understood this, they are intelligent, they will challenge me. And that’s why I picked them. Because I want a two-way communication on the set. “Every actor needs guidance, but if I have to give guidance, why not give it to new people who will bring new ideas, who will not be formula-driven, who will not wear the same fixed expressions? Only a new kid can bring new passion. Someone who says, I want to do something in life.” Meesam Naqvi
On Casting for Amal:
The director has this to say:
“I conducted auditions for Amal’s character.”
“It’s a very tedious process. I conducted auditions for Amal and after a few auditions, we met Reham and she was so good. I wanted a ‘Naina’ type – Ref: Deepika Padukone’s character in YJHD. I had a physical character in my mind.” Meesam Naqvi elaborated on his visuals for Amal. “We asked her to wear glasses, to pace her speed, to touch the glasses from time to time. And you know what? She did it and she picked it up in a second! This was important for me, that she pick it up instantly, because I’m not one to rehearse a great deal in dramas so I need actors who can give me instant input.”
On Aania’s Casting
Meesam Naqvi: “I had a clear understanding of Aania, her presence was very important to me. Her facial expressions, the way she looks at me, that had to be so intense. It’s when she was not doing anything but just gazing at someone without blinking. That says a lot!” The director spoke of his vision for Aania. And he found it in Nooray Zeeshan. “Nooray’s eyes, they speak to you, her facial expressions, silent yet intense. And that’s why, we all felt sympathy for Nooray’s character, Aania.” The director was very clear about how he imagined Aania and for him, (and all of us), Nooray matched the character to a T.
On Waleed’s Casting
“Hassam Khan who essayed Waleed was my student in Arts Council.” Revealed the director who believes staunchly on giving new actors a chance. “The more new faces are introduced in our dramas, the more the industry will benefit as a whole, and new talent will gain more visibility.”
“Every actor needs guidance. But if I have to give guidance, why not give it to new people who will bring new ideas, who will not be formula-driven, who will not wear the same, fixed expressions. Only a new kid can bring new passion. Someone who says, I want to do something in life.”
On Jahangir the Director Has a Lot to Say!
“I trust Noman bhai. He is my mentor. He guides me. I discuss life issues with him. You might have been hating on Jahangir but if you look at his rendition of the character, Nauman Ijaz has completely transformed himself into another person, and that was his win.”
On Mahnoor’s Casting
“Savera Nadeem’s pairing with Jahangir as Mahnoor was just amazing. She was not overdoing it, she was just right. I always wanted an actor who was clever enough to understand the dynamics of living abroad and in Pakistan. Who could look at things from an unbiased lens and also fully understand the craft of acting. Masha Allah she has done a fabulous job as Mahnoor!” Exclaimed the director, and we agree, say no more.
On Shamim Hilaly as Dadi
“Shamim apa was not overdoing it. She was doing it just right as the dadai we saw in Parwarish. Because I know that Shamim apa herself is not like dadi at all. She is very progressive. So that scene where they are sprinkling water to protect her family (Aania), she inquired: “Where does this happen?” And I had to explain to her that some people still do this. And no, it’s not about religion. It’s about that that antiquated thought process. People used to believe a jinn had taken over the child. People don’t talk about it anymore.”
On Haleema Ali as Mashal
‘I wanted Maya’s younger sister to have a bubbly and infectious personality. I had worked with Haleema in Mayi Ri so she instantly came to mind for Mashal’s role and she did a great job in the audition. She was definitely in!”
On Bakhtawar Mazhar’s Casting as Sadia
“Bakhtawar’s talent, I am well acquainted with through NAPA. She had played the character of Beenare in a stage play we did together – Khamosh Adalat Jaari Hai by Vijay Tendulkar, and Bakhtawar blew me away with her performance. I was a fan since. So I waited till I had a character who could deliver all the nuances and depth she is capable of delivering, with all the arcs and transitions, and that’s how Sadia was cast. I finally had the role for Bakhtawar!”
On Nazar ul Hasan as Shaheer
“It’s a delight to work with Nazar ul Hasan.”
“Nazar I knew from NAPA, but he is on another level entirely. He’s a pure actor. And if I tell him I want four emotions in a scene, he will deliver them. I share a great comfort zone with Nazar. Shaheer needed to take a complete turn; a character whom we despised and who could then shift that audience hatred towards a liking for the character. I couldn’t think of anyone who could deliver Shaheer better than Nazar ul Hasan.”
On Saman Ansari as Panna
“I had watched a NAPA play ‘Jasoosi Dunya’ directed by Khalid Ahmed in which Saman had acted, and she had done a wonderful job. Her Urdu dialogue delivery, the way she essayed her character…, I spotted in her performance, a home maker, an innocence, a softness, a ‘thehrao,’ and I knew then that I had to work with her at some stage, and in Parwarish.”
On Sulaiman’s Casting with Saad Zameer Fareedi
“This time, I wanted to do something with Saad and something positive.” Revealed Meesam. “And then I saw Sulaiman, and Saad was the instant choice. We have worked together on multiple projects; from Betiyan on TV to Shakespeare’s King Lear on stage directed by Zia Mohyeddin and I have worked with him a great deal in NAPA too. It has always been a great experience.”
On Arshad Mehmood as Dada
“I wanted a dada who could understand music in real life too. I felt Arshad Mehmood could play dada’s character so well. Arshad Sahab’s musical background as well as his love for music made him just right for the role. He was also my teacher in NAPA, I had seen him up close and he occupies a special place in my life. For me, he fit the role like a glove.”
On Fahad Mustafa
“We wanted to show the different places where Wali was finding success in his journey—through concerts, making songs, and videos. In Pakistan, even drama OSTs are considered a big achievement, so we wanted to include that as well. For this, I couldn’t think of a better name than Fahad Mustafa. He’s always been someone who gives chances to young people—like Aur Band with Kabhi Mein Kabhi Tum, or even me, or Fajar Raza, or Bilal Atif who’s now making a film. These are all young guys Fahad believed in. So having him make a guest appearance felt right—it adds to Wali’s journey”
On Kiran Siddiqui – The Writer
“Kiran was always with me throughout the process. Even during auditions, some of them were taken by her, and she would tell me whether an actor had a certain quality or not.”
On Himself – Meesam Naqvi as Boss
“When I spoke to Kiran Siddiqui on the casting, we both agreed that teachers also have a role in ‘parwarish’, in shaping and mentoring young people’s minds. We needed a mentor in this story and Kiran suggested that I play the character. Since Samar and I share a similar relationship in real life, I understand music as well, so ideally, we had in me, a real life mentor who could play the role onscreen as well, and the chemistry that we were seeking in this role, I could deliver it aptly. And although many characters could have delivered a great ‘Boss’ as well, I was very well acquainted with the ins and outs and finer points of the story, hence Kiran suggested I take on Boss.”
On another note, the director revealed that: “I actually passed out as an actor from NAPA. I did another year for direction. I have been acting on stage previously and have been an actor from the beginning. So I hope you enjoyed my take as Boss.” Summed up the actor-director humbly. And we have to say, Boss was ‘Bossing’ with complete aura in Parwarish!
Meesam Naqvi caps off by telling us he’d love to do a ‘behind-the-scenes’ for his projects:
“I would like to do a program where we walk audiences through the process of making a scene and how it all comes together, to give insights into the effort undertaken behind the scenes and our thoughts and objectives on why we shoot it in a certain way.”
And that, dear folks, are the casting choices revealed for some of your most loved characters from drama Parwarish. Do tell us which one you’re missing the most!
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