Veteran Pakistani actor Nauman Ijaz believes that every man carries a hidden mischievous streak, and that tapping into his own was the reason his character in “Bismil” connected so strongly with audiences.
During a recent podcast appearance Ejaz reflected on the popularity of his character, TT (Tauqeer), and the approach he takes to acting more broadly.
“In Bismil, I think one reason it connected with so many people was that I showed a certain mischievous side of myself,” he said. “A lot of people related to that because, in my opinion, there’s a little bit of a ‘bad boy’ in every person. Some people suppress it, while others let it come out.”
Ijaz then explained how he built the character, saying that he leaned on his own personality rather than treating TT as a purely scripted role. “I just added my own mannerisms and personality to the character,” he said. “That was part of the fun.”
He went on to describe how he approaches scenes that call for a character to lie, saying total conviction is what separates a believable performance from one that falls flat. “But suppose you find yourself in a situation like that in real life. I can do it,” he said. “If you have to lie, you have to lie convincingly enough that it sounds like the truth. If you’re hesitant or unsure while saying it, the other person will immediately figure it out.”
He added that eye contact is central to selling a lie on screen. “So, when I have to make a lie convincing, I look the person straight in the eyes,” he pointed out.
Nauman Ijaz has spent decades building a career as one of Pakistani television’s most versatile actors.
He is known for a string of acclaimed performances, including “Mera Saaein,” “O Rangreza,” “Raqeeb Se,” “Parizaad,” and “Sang-e-Mah.”
He won the Lux Style Award for Best TV Actor, Critics’ Choice, for his role in “Dar Si Jati Hai Sila,” and remains one of the most respected names in the industry.
