‘Six months are over, I’m here’: Fahim Burney recalls how Wahaj Ali earned his first role

What does it take to turn a casual conversation into a life-changing opportunity? For actor Wahaj Ali, it was six months of dedication and an unwavering belief in his abilities. 

In an interview with Fuchsia Magazine, director Fahim Burney opened up about how he came to recognise Wahaj Ali’s potential as an actor and helped him take his first steps into the entertainment industry.

He first met Wahaj Ali on Nadia Khan's set, where Ali was working “as a very active and hardworking” line producer. “I called him over and joked about whether he could seriously pursue acting”, he remembers.

Burney describes the encounter during which Wahaj asked for his guidance in acting: “I looked at him and teasingly said, ‘You think you can act?’ He confidently replied, ‘Tell me when you want to see me transformed.’ Amused, I gave him six months to work on himself and asked him to come to Karachi if he was serious.”

The director realled that he had “almost forgotten about him” until one day, when he was casting for a project with Resham, someone mentioned Wahaj had come to meet him.

“I didn’t even remember his name initially. But when he entered, I saw the transformation. He confidently said, ‘Fahim Bhai, six months are over; I’m here for the role.’ Impressed, I cast him as a devar (younger brother-in-law) in the HUM TV project. He acted alongside Resham and did a fantastic job.”

Burney later worked with Wahaj on Mere Dil Mere, in which the actor shared the screen with actor Asfar Rehman and others.

Reflecting on Wahaj Ali's journey, he said, “Seeing his growth and dedication fills me with joy.”