For an actor playing the lead in a hit prime-time drama, it is incredibly easy to let the glitz, glamour, and constant praise inflate the ego. Despite the intense spotlight and the massive success of his character Zain, Humayoun Ashraf remains fiercely resistant to the pitfalls of celebrity worship. For him, the ultimate goal isn't maintaining a larger-than-life persona; it’s making sure that fame never gets to his head or distorts his reality.
Humayoun’s approach to stardom is rooted in a unique kind of professional fear. He admits to being deeply afraid of losing his grip on a normal life, stating that he consciously avoids the "abnormal" lifestyles often associated with fame. "I am actually afraid of this. I don't want to become abnormal like some people. If someone doesn't recognise me today, I shouldn't go crazy over it. I want to stay grounded always, because whatever has been given to me is from Allah. And if it isn't given, that is okay too."
To protect this normalcy, Humayoun relies on a highly practical, modern disguise: wearing a face mask in public. By wearing a mask while out and about, he is able to navigate the streets of Karachi, run ordinary errands, and experience the city just like any regular citizen without getting swarmed by fans. It is his way of ensuring that his identity as a regular person remains intact.
This fierce desire to stay grounded stems directly from his childhood in Karachi. Reflecting on his youth, Humayoun shared fond, adventurous memories of playing street cricket and climbing poles to install lights for the neighbourhood matches.
He worries that today’s youth are missing out on the joy of simple milestones because of immediate digital gratification: "Our generation is missing out on the 'struggle' because everything is right there on your laptop, your mobile, and the internet; they are missing that journey." Calling it a joy ride, the actor further continues saying, "Today, you can give a child the absolute best thing, and the element of joy still won't be there. For us, if we got even a tiny thing, we would be so happy it felt like we had won the world."
When asked about understanding the opposite sex, dubbing himself the self-proclaimed "king of romance" in his roles, he remarks on the age-old complexity of relationships, stating that, "If men could finally understand what women actually think, then all the problems in the world would be solved instantly."
Even when discussing his current acting work, Humayoun maintains a refreshing level of honesty. Analysing his role as Zain in Mahnoor, he candidly admitted that while the script made sense on paper, the final television execution of Zain's rapid transition from Mehwish to Mahnoor had missing details and logical flaws. In his view, Zain likely never truly loved Mehwish; she was simply the only option available to him at the time.
Talking about his personal life, Humayoun brought a mix of humour and traditional values to the table. While he joked that being single comes with "countless benefits," the biggest one being that you never have to ask a partner what they want to eat, he remains still reamins an avid believer in the institution of marriage. "A person should get married; it is a very beautiful relationship," he noted, emphasising that human beings are fundamentally wired for partnership and lifelong companionship.
Humayoun revealed that he is currently shooting every single day, including Sundays, to wrap up three major concurrent projects. With two of the shows expected to clash and air at the same time due to network demands, Humayoun admits he is exhausted and plans to take a much-needed sabbatical the moment the directors call a final wrap.
from Latest Lifestyle News, Fashion & Celebrity News - The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/V8hRCqe
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