Pakistani actress, director and writer Amar Khan has delivered winning performances with diverse television projects, including Belapur ki Dayan, Ghughi and Dil-e-Bereham.
Her latest starring role is in Hum TV’s episodic mini-series Choti Choti Baatein, which addresses societal pressures faced by women and how they overcome them. She will also be seen in Mar Gaye Ishq, where she plays another very challenging role.
Eastern Eye caught up with Amar Khan to find out more.
How would you describe your time on television?
Television is the most progressive medium we have in Pakistan, as compared to film and theatre. All that defines an actor and all the crisp ideas that are generated for entertainment come from TV. My experience on TV has been brilliant. It’s been a great learning experience. I hope we produce more believable stories for others to watch and learn from.
Which project is closest to your heart?
The telefilm Chashm-e-Num I did for Hum TV, because I played the role of a girl who was physically challenged. It was very emotionally-engaging and an old school romance. I think performing the life and experiences of a girl who is blind was a different experience altogether that I truly learned from.
Tell us about your latest TV project?
I am currently working on a Geo TV presentation Mar Gaye Ishq. The name is still tentative, but it is very interesting and you will see two girls coming from two different classes, and witness the difference in their personalities; how one girl is very confident and strong-headed, while the other one is the complete opposite. These days our audience likes realistic storylines, and you’ll find this one fascinating.
Your roles are very powerful. How important is the subject of woman empowerment to you?
I think it is extremely important to exhibit this social phenomenon through TV and hope it reflects from our work. We need to do the kind of work that shows the world that women don’t need to let anyone dictate what they want from them. It is our time to show how powerful we girls are, and we are working to bring more fearless stories from around us.
Why do you think Pakistani dramas are so popular globally?
Because they don’t bring unrealistic dramatic stories. They give more real-life-based dramas and that’s why people like them so much.
What would be your dream role?
It would be to play Geet from Jab We Met.
What is the master plan going forward?
It would be going into feature films, and soon you will see me there.
Where do writing and directing fit into the whole equation?
I have graduated as a filmmaker and am an active writer as well. So for me, a writer, actor, director and everyone else working on a project is interconnected, and all of them are especially linked with the basic concept of good storytelling.
Tell us, what do you enjoy watching?
I love different kinds of films and TV shows, and the latest serial I have watched is MoneyHeist.
What inspires you?
Anything that has a lot of positivity inspires me. We live in a world where cyberbullying is very common; people are so negative and judgmental that any kind of nicety and positivity is rarely found now. A nice compliment, constructive advice and a positive message, all of it inspire me to the core.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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