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| Guru: 'Shaved my beard, waxed my arms, then put on full makeup, now I'm ready' Ali Rahman |
"Transgenders are mentally and physically the most solid and strong people in our society. It takes a lot of courage to go back to the world the next day as the person you criticized yesterday, mocked you, and I have a lot of respect for him.
These thoughts belong to Pakistani actor Ali Rehman Khan, who is playing the lead role of Guru Sattar in the drama serial 'Guru' presented on the private channel 'Express Entertainment'.
The story of 'Guru' is about a eunuch who adopts an abandoned girl from the roadside and becomes a doctor.
The drama is produced by Shazia Wajahat and Wajahat Rauf and directed by Bilawal Hussain Abbasi.
Apart from Ali Rehman Khan, Hira Khan, Humira Asghar Ali, Jhale Sarhadhi, Mohsin Ejaz, Umar Alam, Irfan Motiwala, Shehryar Zaidi, Fauzia Mushtaq and child artist Rewaha have also worked in the cast of the drama.
"The challenge was what would people say if they saw me in this form?"
Looking back on the entire career of Pakistani actor Ali Rehman Khan, he appeared as a hero or villain in films and dramas. Usually, successful actors in lead roles are not seen playing a eunuch, but Ali Rahman said he knew he had to play the role.
In an interview with BBC Urdu, Ali Rehman Khan said that he had heard the story of 'Guru' from a friend somewhere else two and a half years before doing this drama and immediately said that he wanted to do this project but that Ai Gayi Ho Gayi and Hina, the producer of Expressress, casually mentioned the project.
I don't know why I suddenly clicked that this story is not like this. So he said yes, this is the same story. I think sometimes fate is written.
Despite liking the story, Ali Rehman had some concerns. Ali says that it was a challenge for me that if people see me in this form, and what will they say about what they are going to do. I was also focused on how authentically and honestly I could do it.'
He said that he did a lot of research for this play and made sure not to copy what had been done before. Perhaps this is the reason why Guru Sattar looks so different from the transgenders we usually see on the TV screen.
"We met with the community as much as we could get access," said Ali Rehman. I went and sat with them, sat in their homes, talked to them, and did as much video research or archival research as there is, I saw documentaries, films, and what old people had done and decided that I did not raise any of them.'
Talking about the time spent among the transgenders, Ali said that they say that we are normal people like you. Well, I did it as a character as art, but a person is criticized every day for the way they look, the way they dress, the way they walk, the way they dress, then It takes courage to sleep at night and get back up the same way the next day to do the same thing again.'
"I want them to have the same respect in society that maybe you and I get."
'I didn't mean to mock him'
The Guru introduced by Ali Rahman in the drama serial 'Guru' is completely different from the sketch that is usually presented on television.
About this, Ali Rehman says that I did not want to make a satirical sketch of him. If you think of eunuchs, you get a picture in your mind that eunuchs walk with a certain style, tone, and gait.'
To my question, is that diagram not correct? Don't they talk and walk in a certain way? Ali Rehman said that I think it is his show. When they meet people, they come across in a very formal way, but when they are in their home, they are not at all like that. They are completely normal and talk normally. They also have normal problems. How to bake bread at home, where to buy, these are all the things.
I wanted to show how they are in homes. How do you talk to each other? How do they behave with each other? We don't know why they have been sketched derogatorily and I shouldn't have done it.
'Shave your beard, wax your arms'
'Guru' producer Shazia Wajahat shared a transformation video of Ali Rehman Khan on Instagram, in which Ali was being made up. This video went viral.
I asked Ali how he felt when he first got ready for the look test and saw himself in the mirror.
He laughed and said that it was a bit strange because I had a beard at that time. We were testing clothes, makeup, and wigs. Of course, you have not seen yourself in that form, so when you saw yourself for the first time, it was a little funny.
He further said, 'After that, I shaved my beard, waxed my arms, then when I did the look test, I said something was happening with the full make-up. Then I felt that I was ready for it.
In the first scene of the first episode of 'Guru', Ali Rehman is seen dancing on stage with his disciples at a function. This clip also went viral and people appreciated Ali's performance.
Ali says, "Earlier it was a very common thing for eunuchs to attend marriages."
They used to come and dance, they were invited, so I have also seen them and I have seen them in my childhood.
Did he also learn dance for the play? On this question, Ali smiled and said 'Dance was my passion from the beginning.'
There is a great need for transgender actors in the industry.
As soon as the first teaser of the drama serial 'Guru' was released, the influential personalities of the transgender community objected and said that even if there is a role for transgenders, they are not given, but a male actor is cast.
When I asked Ali Rahman what he would say to transvestites who have complaints, he said, 'I would encourage them to come into the field because we might have one or two transvestites acting full-time. There are but not many.'
He added, 'You know there's a lot at stake in making a play. You have to shoot for a full 56 days. So you cannot sit with an actor in it. You need continuity but I will say that there is a huge need for transgender actors in the industry, who can play such roles more effectively.
In 'Guru' with Ali Rehman Khan, his three disciples play an important role in moving the story forward. The roles of these three disciples are played by actors Ahmar Hussain, Omi Butt, and Hasan Kamal who are relatively new faces in the industry.
Along with this, the performance of child actor Revaha who played the role of Guru's daughter was quite impressive.
Ali appreciated the work and tireless efforts of all his senior and junior co-stars. He believes that child actor Revaha is so confident that she will go far in the industry.
Appreciating his co-stars, Ali said, "My three disciples are Surya, Bijli and Graksha. These three actors are perfect. I do not recognize them when I see them outside the Guru. Ahamar came once with a beard and was not recognized by me. He is so beautiful and his Nin Naqsh is very good, but they were shooting a scene and all the eunuchs were there and they said, "Dude, you are very beautiful."