Adnan Siddiqi is a well known senior (both in terms of experience and age) artist who has played leading roles in various plays for more than two decades (22 years in acting to be precise as his first drama Uroosa was in 1992 but he was into modelling since 1990-91). Recently drama Maat having Adnan Siddiqi in leading role is aired on Zindagi channel in India, which introduced this senior Pakistani artist to indian audience. Adnan is also interviewed by Press Trust of India which is shared below. Adnan’s interview by Indian press is continuation of series of interviews which Indian press is doing once a drama is aired on Zindagi. Earlier Sanam Saeed, Umera Ahmed, Samina Peerzada, Osman Khalid Butt and few others are also interviewed by Indian press after successful launch of their dramas.
Actor Adnan Siddiqui, who has impressed the Indian audience with his performance in TV soap ‘Maat’, says that Pakistani dramas are as big as Indian films in terms of quality and popularity.
The actor, who is now seen on ‘Mere Qatil Mere Dildar’ on Zindagi and has been a part of many successful dramas back at home, feels storytelling in Pakistani serials is at par with that of Bollywood.
“Our dramas match Indian movies. We tell the story in a similar manner like filmmakers in India do. Our main focus is the content and it is no less that of Bollywood. We put emphasis on the script and performances. Indian directors make wonderful stuff and Pakistani dramas match that quality,” Siddiqui told PTI over phone from Karachi.
The 44-year-old actor feels Indian soaps on the other hand need to grow out of saas-bahu stories and be more realistic, like Pakistani serials.
“There was a time when Indian soaps had an amazing fan following in Pakistan. That is still there to some extent, but I think there should be more realistic serials, the stories, direction, everything needs to move on from the old stuff, according to me,” he said.
The actor says he wants to act in Bollywood but is not desperate to be a part of Hindi films.
“I would love to do a Bollywood film but I will not approach people for work in India. In fact, once I was asked to give an audition for the role of a villain in a Hindi film. I was shocked because in my 22 years of acting career, I have never given any audition or test in Pakistan,” Siddiqui said.
“Look at Fawad Khan or Ali Zafar; they have become popular in India because people have recognised their talent. Indians have an eye for talent. I feel they don’t waste any opportunity in grabbing a good actor,” he added.
Siddiqui plays a villainous character in ‘Mere Qatil Mere Dildar’ and is glad that the Indian audience will see him in a different avatar.
“People will see my versatility as a performer and I only wanted that. I have never played a villain before ‘Mere Qatil Mere Dildar’ so it was a challenge but I enjoyed,” the actor said.
Rashid Nazir Ali