Khalilur Rehman Opening up about the gap and his battle to cast Mehwish Hayat

The recent presence of Pakistani screenwriter Khalilur Rehman Qamar on Ahmad Ali Butt’s Excuse Me Podcast caused a stir as it provided an honest look into the world of the celebrated author. Qamar’s talk offered a raw and fascinating look into the workings of the industry, revealing anything from his thoughts on famous people like Mehwish Hayat and Mahira Khan to insights into problems that arise on set.

When Butt inquired about fights that took place on set, Qamar questioned, “What fights?” Then, in a very direct manner, he disclosed that if an actor is not being truthful in their work, he takes them off his set. “I am not at odds with any actor I have collaborated with twice. Both I and he are in love with each other. No one in Pakistan can throw a bigger tantrum than me if you’re throwing them. Put me at your feet if you are the project’s owner and you are honest about it. Openly, I will sit there,” declared Qamar. He said, “If God has made you reach here, respect your work and protect it.”

Qamar further declared that a writer should never be treated disrespectfully. Additionally, he refuted the existence of a “city war” between Karachi and Lahore, asserting that the two cities are alternately abusing one another. “You’ve sunk the industry in Lahore once, you’ll sink it in Karachi again,” he added. Additionally, the author disagreed with the term “entertainment.” “Call it a university, not entertainment,” he insisted. The most important things we’ve learnt come from dramas and movies, not from our parents or institutions. Are you not seeing this today? Dramas don’t teach, do they? Why is the topic of this argument so heated?

Butt also asked Qamar, who acknowledged that all of his writing is on women, who made him a “self-proclaimed” authority on the subject. He answered, “Don’t agree with my writing.” “Have I made a request? I just make my argument. Provide a refutation.” In response, he clarified his writing about women rather than men by saying, “I don’t believe in males. Women are in charge of society. I’ll talk to whoever’s working. A man’s ‘dou number.’ It is impossible for a man to say no. It is what he is missing. Loyalty and dignity belong to women.” He added, “No one speaks about women’s rights more than I do.”

Regarding director Nadeem Baig, Qamar mentioned that they had a “dosti jaisi dosti.” He did, however, add that he could never betray his integrity in the workplace in exchange for friendship. This was related to the occasion when he was asked to select between London Nahi Jaunga and Punjab Nahi Jaungi. Opting for the former, he claimed that the latter was “half badly directed by Nadeem Baig.” He went on to say that it wouldn’t have done better commercially if Punjab Nahi Jaungi had been a poorly written movie.

“It was a better film than Punjab Nahi Jaungi,” Qamar stated. “I am telling you, that was not the calibre of Nadeem Baig’s direction.” He said, “I will not place blame on anyone but him, he’s the only responsible person in the film,” in response to the question of not blaming Nadeem. What did I do wrong? It was praised globally for being an excellent writing.” Qamar was reminded by the host that casting was his responsibility. How was the casting done? Don’t go into this just now. But the primary lead worries me the most. I allow the rest of the cast some time to talk. I am positive about two or three persons. I hold them,” Qamar retorted. Butt egged him on, saying that he wasn’t admitting his mistake. “London Nahi Jaunga was a better-written film than Punjab Nahi Jaungi,” reiterated the writer angrily.

Qamar also shared his thoughts on celebrities like Mahira, Mehwish, and Humayun Saeed. He stated, “I have had many disagreements with Humayun Saeed, but you are a witness to the ardor with which I have witnessed that person work hard—he is currently the nation’s largest producer.” He’s really grounded both personally and on set. He is positioned at the director’s disposal like an actor, not a producer.”

Speaking of Mehwish, he said, “I phoned Mehwish after two or three years after I saw Teri Meri Kahaniyaan. I wasn’t comfortable conversing with her. I also gave her permission to work on my telefilm.We had a friendship.” The writer admitted, “I’m not upset at Mahira,” after becoming sidetracked by a query on Mahira. I detest her behavior. I’m not a man full of hate. I’m not enraged with her. I can be angry with you, Humayun, and Nadeem Baig. That is not a major problem. That concludes it. Hatred doesn’t. He argued that Mahira’s request for forgiveness is vitally important. “There was a great deal of respect between us. Mahira Khan was the person I respected the most, maybe even more than Ayeza Khan.”

Returning his attention to Mehwish, he expressed his displeasure with her for not participating in Kaaf Kangana. “Your angels are unaware of the manner I have portrayed her in Punjab Nahi Jaungi, Ahmad Butt.She believed that because my director and producer weren’t ready to cast her, she wouldn’t be in Punjab Nahi Jaungi. I battled for her. I battled like I was anything. Furthermore, I had no intention of hiring her. She asked me what I was doing as soon as she learned about it. I assured her that the movie was specifically written for her.”