After Noor Jahan, how many scripts did Ali Raza reject?

In the entertainment industry, where most actors accept any role, rising star Ali Raza rejected 16 scripts to chase only lead roles.

 Appearing as a guest on Something Haute hosted by Amana Isanai Haider, the Noor Jahan actor discussed the importance of rejecting roles to clear the way for main leads.

Ali Raza said, “I rejected 16 scripts, after ‘Noor Jahan’, because my debut as a lead was with Kubra Khan I got 16 scripts. I counted them properly and they were lying at my house. I told them, "I am not doing it. I am only doing the main leads.’”

The Mohabbat Gumshuda Meri actor highlighted the importance of setting boundaries in an actor’s career.

“Our actors, especially those in supporting roles, as someone's friend, or as part of a parallel lead, don't say ‘no’ to anything. Unless you start saying ‘no’ to certain roles and make it clear that you only want to do main leads, no one will ever offer you a main lead." 
Ali Raza also touched upon other opportunities that came his way, “While I was doing Noor Jahan, I was offered a role from the office for a character that Emmad Irfani eventually played in Jaan-e Jahaan. Musadiq Malik (Noor Jahan director) told me, ‘Look, you're doing the main lead here. If you do this other role, it will be a second lead.' I thought it through and decided not to do it. It was actually a scheduling issue because the dates they wanted overlapped with Noor Jahan's shooting schedule.”

 
 “First, Jaan-e- Jahaan aired, after it concluded, Noor Jahan aired. It was a smart decision on their part to space them out, and I think I also made the right decision by not taking that role," Raza added.

 
Aamna Haider Isani then asked, “How was your experience working with Naumaan Ijaz?” 

Ali Raza replied, “It was great, though we had limited interaction. But whatever little interaction we had was excellent. Noman Bhai guided everyone, telling us, 'Don’t deliver the line like this; say it like that.' He’s incredibly helpful to everyone. The biggest lesson I learned from him was that all actors should give their best performances in a scene, so the scene as a whole turns out perfect.”

Currently Ali Raza is starring in two dramas, DuniyaPur and Iqtidar.