"Characters were not written for women like that.”
Usman Mukhtar appeared on popular talk show Mazaaq Raat where he spoke about his role in Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay.
Usman opened up about the backlash he received for playing Aswad in the popular drama which also starred Mahira Khan and Kubra Khan.
He was asked by Imran Ashraf to shed light on what inspired him to take on such a role.
The question revolved around the fact that Aswad was a supporting character, whereas the women played the lead roles, something which is rarely seen in Pakistani serials.
Usman said: “I don’t think it’s a bad thing if – see, for how long have we seen the man as the hero and the women as supporting characters?
“Characters were not written for women like that.”
Imran went on to ask Usman if he had taken into consideration the negative impact his character would have had on his career.
The actor replied: “Sir I thought about it, but the backlash was far greater than what I’d thought.
“When our dramas are made, I’m not talking about myself, but other actors.
“Especially you [Imran], the way you play your character, it seems so real that the fan, the audience truly -”
Imran then playfully began to act shy and hid behind his table, encouraging laughter from the audience.
The host then concluded:
“The backlash was for the character, there was no backlash on my brother’s acting skills.”
Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay revolved around the lives of three cousins, Aswad (Usman Mukhtar), Mehreen (Mahira Khan), and Mashal (Kubra Khan).
The story progresses when Mashal is found dead and Mehreen is framed for the murder.
What follows is a story of the classic ‘whodunnit’, leaving viewers hooked and coming up with their own theories surrounding Mashal’s death.
Usman’s interview gained much appreciation and fans praised him for his calm manner and professional interview skills.
One comment said: “Usman Mukhtar is a good actor. I like his acting, it’s very different. Good job.”
Another read:
“Usman Mukhtar is such a calm and composed man. I’m just in love with him.”
During a Q&A session, Usman Mukhtar was asked what inspired him to become an actor.
Usman revealed he went for a theatre audition in 2006, but he had always wanted to become a film director.
He was successful in his audition and since his first time on stage, he did not look back.
He was then asked to give his opinion about Hania Aamir, to which he replied that she was a bubbly girl who brought a lot of entertainment to the drama sets.
Usman is a talented actor who has performed in dramas such as Anaa and Sabaat, being praised in the latter for his role as psychiatrist Dr Haris Ahmed.