Pakistani Actor Adnan Siddiqui on Taking Creative Control: 'Give Me Something Good Or Listen To My Offer'

Known for his work in T.V. shows, roles in Bollywood film ‘Mom’ alongside Sridevi and 2007 Hollywood film ‘A Mighty Heart,’ the Lahore-raised actor is also a series and film producer

- ANURAG TAGAT

ADNAN SIDDIQUI BELIEVES AN ACTOR has no boundaries, certainly not politically drawn ones that define geography on a cultural and sociological level. Toward the end of our conversation, the Lahore-raised actor and producer reminds us how – once upon a time – India and Pakistan were one country.

He does this in the context of the hate comments he received via social media for mourning the passing of former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf in February. “The kind of hatred in those comments [online] that was really sad to see. Just because our two countries are not in a good situation, it doesn’t mean you should say, ‘Accha hua chala gaya’ [good that he died]. My heart bleeds to see such comments.”

Siddiqui can speak about these topics only because he’s an actor who has built stature and experience over the last 31 years, a contemporary to the likes of Humayun Saeed (who are also close friends) and also crossed over into Bollywood with 2017 film Mom, alongside the late actor Sridevi. In 2007, Siddiqui also shared cast credits with the likes of Angelina Jolie and Irrfan Khan in the Hollywood production A Mighty Heart, which detailed the kidnapping of American journalist Daniel Pearl.