Iqbal Khan

I’m an actor and as an actor, the medium doesn’t matter. I go there and act.” – Iqbal Khan

You’re one of the most under rated actors in the entertainment industry but an amazing performer, why do we see so less of you on screen?

I am an artist by heart, not only by profession and somewhere, where I feel that the art is not utilised in the proper way, I feel disconnected and I kind of go into hibernation, and that’s one reason why you see less of me. Its hard for me to accept things purely on the basis of economics or purely on the basis of a name or something. There has to be art involved in it so that is one reason, though sometimes, you know, life puts you in situations where you have no choice but to do things. I am purely an artist by heart, I don’t feel comfortable after a certain amount of time if I’m doing something that I am not liking.

“Where I feel that the art is not utilised in the proper way, I feel disconnected and I kind of go into hibernation.”

Tell us about your character in the Voot Select show Crackdown?

The name of my character called is Zorawar Kalra, he’s at a high post with an intelligence agency, he’s an extreme patriot, he really believes in the law, the rules, he really goes by the book. Nothing matters more to him than his job, whether its family, children, friends, nothing. He’s completely focused, there is sometimes no level of humanity in him, when it comes to the country.

Are there any more web series that we can look forward to seeing you in the near future?

Right now, there is nothing, I can’t talk about anything that is happening. But yes, Insha’Allah, maybe in a week or 10 days I will be should be able to give you more info on that.

Could you tell us of any of the fun anecdotes while shooting?

For me, playing Zorawar, was fun. My talking style is exactly (not exactly) but 70 percent of how our director, Apoorva Lakhia is. So for me I find him very interesting in terms of as a person. I’ve put certain traits of him in my character, the way he talks anyway. That was very fascinating for me. No matter who did what, it was finally his word, it happened in a very funny way in the set, no matter which actor it was. He can get away with murder in a very funny way, so it’s amazing.

“As long as you know how to do your job, you’re the boss. That’s the best part about this industry.”

When you look back, how has your journey been as an actor?

It been really fantastic, my journey as an actor. The journey as a human being and journey as whatever you’re doing professionally, when you grow as a human being you grow as an actor also, or whatever profession you are in. So basically, that is what the focus is. And, no matter what ups and downs you face in life, they only make you stronger, they only make you smarter, they only get you, if you are lucky, they get you closer to God. If you understand your ups and downs and get closer to God, when you get close to God, life is a cake walk. Whatever profession you’re in or lifestyle you have, whatever you are as a human being or as an actor, there is only growth.

You’ve done TV, films and now web series - which medium do you like the most?

I’m an actor - so for an actor the medium doesn’t matter. I go there and act. If as a creative person, I see, that TV has a certain kind of limitation when it comes to creativity. Because the people who deal with television, they and their research team says that, and I don’t say that, their research team says that the television audience doesn’t understand certain kind of content, which I don’t believe in. So, there is a certain kind of limitation to that. Other than that, web and films are amazing.

What is the one thing you love about the entertainment industry?

The best of it is that it is ruthless in a very good way. Which is, if you are good at your job, you will get a job. Whether you are black, white, man, woman, Hindu, Muslim, we don’t care. As long as you know how to do your job, you’re the boss. That’s the best part about this industry.

“What I don’t like, which is related to the industry, is the public access to people who are actors.”

What is the one thing you don’t like, or hate about the entertainment industry?

…What I don’t like about the industry? There is nothing I don’t like about this industry. What I don’t like, which is related to the industry, is the public access to people who are actors. Its just that over the years, social media, I don’t know, people somehow have indirectly been given the right to say anything to someone who they only know by the work they have done. Gaali denge usko, maa behen ki gaali denge, it’s just that access I just feel is useless.