Actor Haris Waheed has agreed with audiences assessment that he is underused as an actor, but said that he has moved beyond that assessment and no longer wants to fit into the typical Pakistani television hero archetype.
In an exclusive interview with The Current, Waheed stated that his approach to acting has changed as he now wants to create his own version of a television hero, with relatability, entertainment and depth rather than relying on the familiar image of a hero.
“I do agree — but I’m far ahead of that statement now, honestly. My approach has changed. I don’t want to fill the shoes of the typical Pakistani television hero archetype,” he said.
Waheed said that he wants his characters to give audiences something beyond appearance and styling, with performances that allow viewers to connect with and reflect on the character.
“I want to create my own version, one that gives people more relatability, genuine entertainment, and depth in a character, so they can connect and reflect, rather than just posing and styling,” he said.
Asked whether he will choose a commercially successful but predictable character or a challenging role in a project that may not perform as well, Waheed stated he does not see the choice as either-or.
“I can play both, honestly. But I won’t rely solely on the script or the director to give my character its due — that responsibility is mine too,” he pointed out.
Waheed said that an actor can also change how a character comes across regardless of how predictable the role may appear on paper. “I can make a commercially predictable character unpredictable, or vice versa. I think that’s part of the job: taking whatever comes your way and making it more interesting, more honest,” he opined.
His approach to acting also shapes how he plays characters who do not fall neatly into good or bad categories. Waheed remarked that he focuses on understanding the details behind a character instead of judging the person he portrays.
“I’m observant, and I try to pay close attention to detail — things aren’t always the way they appear on the surface. Humans are complex, and I enjoy exploring that complexity through character, trying to bring it to life honestly.”
For Waheed, understanding a character also means drawing from real life rather than simply performing what appears on the page. “I always try to draw inspiration from real life. An actor’s job is to live the character, not to judge it,” he stated.
The actor also spoke about Pakistani dramas portraying toxic behaviour in the name of romance and whether he questions the messages such characters send to audiences.
“Yes, I always do. Honestly, the overall narrative being projected to us is questionable at times,” Waheed observed.
He added that commercial considerations can limit the space for television producers to take risks with characters and narratives. “But in the name of entertainment, Pakistani television producers are often chasing numbers and commercial viability — which tends to leave little room for risk, or for better, more layered characters to be portrayed on screen,” he said.
Waheed has also faced repeated offers for characters similar to roles he has played before. While he said he does not worry about being associated with negative roles, he admitted that repeatedly trying to make similar characters different has become tiring.
“The real challenge now is trying to do good work against conventional norms,” he remarked.
In Bas Tera Saath Ho, Waheed plays Shayan, a character who remains protective of his sister Shehreen. Asked whether brothers need to take matters into their own hands to protect their sisters or communicate with them and let them make their own decisions, Waheed said that it depends on the relationship between siblings. “Shayan is protective of his sister, but even he can’t save Shehreen from her own decisions.”
He added that a brother will naturally become alert if he senses someone has bad intentions towards his family.
Shayan has also drawn attention from audiences despite being a character they may be expected to dislike. Waheed, however, said he never intended for audiences to dislike the character.
“I never actually wanted people to dislike Shayan — or any character I play, for that matter. I believe every human being deserves some scope for redemption, almost like chapters unfolding on screen,” he said.
He also stated that that complexity, along with Shayan’s comic side, has helped audiences connect with the character despite his flaws.
