Age is just a number, says Ahad Raza Mir
Adding that he knows couples who are 12 years apart and some who are 6 years apart, he said, "I think when two people come together, when it makes sense, when there's love there, it doesn't matter. Looking at a lot of couples around me, age is not really a thing as long as those two people love each other."
Talha, Ahad's character in Meem Se Mohabbat, is significantly older than his co-star Dananeer Mobeen's character, Roshi. Despite this fact, the two are praised for their onscreen chemistry.
Speaking more on his character's archetype, he said, "There's a reason that this type of male character is brooding or arrogant, that he's cruel to one person but loving to another."
He credits the story and the people he works with for enhancing his ability to do justice to a character. "The story really allows me to dig into a character and ask myself questions about why my character is acting a certain way."
But praise and recognition also make room for criticism, though Ahad takes it all with a stride. "I don't find that I censor myself in any way. When it comes to judgement and criticism, I think that's going to happen no matter what. People aren't going to like everything I do. I might even have to bring some people to my side by doing better work," he acknowledged.
The Ehde Wafa actor added that the roles he picks up are always close to his heart. "If it's a story that needs to be told or if it's a character that I think I haven't explored before, then I hundred per cent go for it. But on a societal level I think that I have a very open mind. I don't necessarily restrict myself when it comes to work," he said.
Diving into the impact that his upbringing in both Canada and Pakistan has had on his mindset, he added, "You kind of understand both places differently, and you also realise that it's not fair to compare. Every country has its pros and cons. You have to be sensitive of where you are."
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Express Tribune
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I'm done with people trolling me: Alizeh Shah
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Express Tribune
19-04-2025
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No preaching, no horror
Is there any tried and tested way of handling the pressures of being a role model from making a living in front of the camera lens? During a recent appearance on YouTube podcast Sunday Times, television heartthrob Ahad Raza Mir thinks he knows the answer – and it is a refreshingly laid back one. "Whatever you see on TV or in a film, you need to remember that it's just a story," muses the star, having only recently wrapped up his latest drama, Meem Se Mohabbat, earlier this month. "You shouldn't think too much about it. Just sit back and enjoy it. But it's great that people watch something and they're so moved that they feel this desire to communicate how they feel about it." Driven by the urge to be part of a story that moves people and leaves them, on the whole, feeling happier than when they first sat down to watch, Ahad stresses that he is not weighed down by a pressure to preach any lessons in any of his work. "We need to tell stories that uplift people. Everything doesn't need to have a social cause," he insists. "You should watch something and feel good about it. If you've watched a story that helps you develop new perspectives that's great – but I never think, 'This is the objective of this drama.' Let people experience what they want!" There is one thing, however, that as an artist, Ahad takes very seriously. "Our responsibility is to show good characters and show how people develop in life – there's always a lesson you learn from every story, every character," he notes. As anyone who will have gleaned after glancing at Ahad's catalogue of work, ranging from Yaqeen Ka Safar to Hum Tum, this is the lens that the actor sees all of his projects through. "When I choose something, I think, what am I going to learn from this?" he adds. "And I think, maybe the audience will feel the same way. At least, that's kind of how I look at it." Which medium is best? Television drama fans will mostly be familiar with Ahad's work on the small screen, but the TV star is no stranger to the stage either – not that he has any preference for one medium over the other. "It's all about the story you are telling," remarks Ahad. "Of course, every medium has its own technical aspects. When you're doing a TV show, there's no audience – but then you get to experience it with your audience every week. And in theatre, of course, every night is different. I don't know which one I'd say I like more. It really depends on the mood." Having trained in Canada and performed in Pakistan, Ahad is well qualified to gauge the differences between local and international acting, but is cautious to avoid painting either in a worse light than the other. "There's convincing acting, and there's not convincing acting," he reflects matter-of-factly. "If a story is moving you, it's good. I think we all adjust our styles depending on the story and the genre." Stage or screen, and international or local, there is one thing that Ahad is able to say with concrete certainty. "I'd go crazy without acting," he states, leaving little room for doubt. "As human beings, we evolve and forever change with our highs and lows, and in acting, you pick up things from the people around you." Crediting the highs of his career to the large gamut of colleagues he has worked with, Ahad continues in gratitude, "Anything you need to do to be successful is just a representation of the people around you – the writers, the directors, the actors. I've been very lucky in that respect." Career preferences Like viewers, Ahad, too, has certain genres he will gravitate towards, and it will surprise very few to learn that the laid back actor has a penchant for "romance and comedy". "I love a good thriller, too!" he adds. "There is one genre, however, that Ahad is adamant he will never touch. "I won't do horror, because I get scared," he confesses. "I don't watch any horror at home either. I don't like anything that spoils your mood or leaves you feeling unhappy or depressed!" Even within the scope of his preferred drama genres, Ahad points out that the target audience for Pakistani television is expanding ever more – and that it doesn't matter how a traditional Pakistani story is played out, as long as it remains captivating. "Our audience is not just an Urdu speaking audience – I've run into viewers from Mauritius or Nepal who don't speak Urdu, who just watch our shows with subtitles," shares the actor. "Our way of telling a story may have a set pattern, but it has nothing to do with being traditional or modern. At the end of the day, a story is a story. It's how you tell it that matters." Regardless, Ahad concedes that the showbiz industry is forever adapting to keep up with an evolving audience and a fresh wave of actors. "I think that trends are changing, and we have to change with the time," he admits. "If you compare the industry with the past seven years, a lot has changed, and if you look five years ahead, then a lot will change. It's when more new people start coming in and start pushing their ideas that change happens – and I think that shift is happening." Shift or no shift, there is one unwavering thing that Ahad is grateful for above all else. "I'm very lucky to have a large fan base of supporters who really understand who I am," he says with warmth. "It's a nice feeling to be so supported and loved." Ahad is next scheduled to appear alongside fellow star Iqra Aziz in Pakistan's long-awaited, star-studded first-ever Netflix show, Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo, rumoured to be released this June.
Express Tribune
08-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Ahad Raza Mir and Asim Azhar have strings attached
Asim Azhar has done it again; this time with a stripped-down, acoustic version of Beqarar Ye Dil, the soul-stirring OST from hit drama series Meem Se Mohabbat. In a dimly lit studio setting, Asim crooned the melancholic melody with just a guitar in hand, letting his voice do all the heavy lifting. The performance, posted on Instagram, was part nostalgia, part live jam, and full of heart. But what really caught fans' attention was the playful banter in the comments section. Ahad Raza Mir, who plays the emotionally tormented Talha in Meem Se Mohabbat, cheekily wrote, "You sound just like the guy who sang the original." Asim, ever the quick wit, replied, "You look exactly like the dude in the drama, too." The light-hearted exchange sent fans into a frenzy, and it didn't stop there. Singer-songwriter Shuja Haider, who composed the OST, dropped a heart emoji and simply wrote, "Aim." Nehaal Naseem, who plays Ahad's conflicted younger sister in the drama, commented, "So flawless." And perhaps most adorably, Asim's mother, Gule Rana, chimed in with, "My king, my child." One fan even suggested a musical collaboration between Asim, Ahad, and co-star Dananeer Mobeen, commenting, "The fans would love a full song. Imagine a monologue with Ahad's voice, and maybe he could sing, too! And Dananeer's magical voice would make it even more magical." Speaking of fans, Dananeer recently responded to the rising chatter surrounding her off-screen dynamic with co-actor Ahad Raza Mir, amid the soaring popularity of their drama, Meem Se Mohabbat. Some even began to speculate that the two might be tying the knot soon. Speaking with Faridoon Shahryar in a recent interview, Dananeer addressed the rumours head-on, "As an artist, I'm deeply grateful for the love people show for my work," she explained. "But I would really appreciate it if people could understand that who I am in real life is completely separate from the characters I portray. What you see on screen is a performance, not a reflection of my private life." Buzz about a possible real-life romance had been swirling ever since behind-the-scenes footage and candid photos of the two stars surfaced online, showcasing their close camaraderie. Speculation intensified when Ahad's mother, Samra Raza Mir, was spotted preparing a meal for Dananeer, while Ahad and his father, veteran actor Asif Raza Mir, gifted her garlands to mark her graduation milestone.
