‘It’s important to be a part of successful films like Raazi’
From playing a college lecturer in the 1989 campus serial Chunauti to the aging suspicious loyal Pakistani household-help in Meghna Gulzar’s hit Raazi, actor Arif Zakaria has come a long way. The actor feels the Alia Bhatt-starrer has taught him the importance of being a part of blockbuster films.
“Time has just flown by but my passion for acting remains undiminished. I’m still active, though the roles offered have been a few and far between. I’ve done interesting roles in Haunted (2011) and an upcoming film on down Syndrome, Ahaan. I also play a key role in a biopic on Rani Laxmibai, entitled Swords and Sceptres,” said Arif.
However, it is his role as Abdul, the staunch loyal servant in Raazi that once again brought Arif’s powerful acting skills into limelight. “It is difficult to say what would work and what would not. But Raazi has made me realise how important it is to be part of a successful film. When a film succeeds, your performance gets noticed. I’m glad I did this film,” Arif said.
And how did Raazi happen? “When I approached Meghna, she told me Abdul was the role for me. It was an important character because through Abdul, the protagonist’s true
identity (of an Indian spy) is exposed.” In fact, in real life, Abdul’s brutal murder by the protagonist Sehmat haunted her to the extent that she chose to settle down in the place that Abdul came from in India, as penned by Harinder Sikka, the author, Calling Sehmat — the book on which the film is based. “I play a catalyst in the drama. And that enthused me. It was also refreshing that though I play Pakistani, I am portrayed as a man of great integrity. This rarely happens in Hindi cinema,” he adds.
But, the actor refuses to see Raazi as a new beginning in his career. “I never stopped acting. I’m constantly in search of roles that challenge me. I’m currently doing a play, which explores the marriage of filmmaker Guru Dutt with singer Geeta Dutt.
When I approached Meghna, she told me Abdul was the role for me. It was an important character because through Abdul, the protagonist’s true identity (of an Indian spy) is exposed.
ARIF ZAKARIA ACTOR