“I met a taxi driver in LA and asked him if this was his full-time job. He said, ‘no, no, I’m a funny guy but he’s never been funny.’ I thought that was why he was still driving a taxi. But whenever someone wants to present themselves as a genius, they usually claim to be a funny person. Because actors are respected all over the world, except Pakistan,” said actor Yasir Hussain to host and former model Frieha Altaf.
The editor recently appeared on Frieha’s Why podcast? to discuss a number of issues, including but not limited to comedians who are viewed as inferior in Pakistani society, portrayals of women on Pakistani television, and the importance of promoting the health of the mind.
“My favorite poets are Umer Shareef, Moin Akhtar, Anwar Maqsood and I like to read Patras Bokhari and Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi,” he said. “I like different humor. I appreciate them. I am actively looking for people who are funny in any way. Among the Western actors, I like Jim Carrey, Jerrie Louis, Charlie Chaplin, Robin Williams,” added the Lahore Se Agey actor.
When Frieha pointed out how Yasir has recently been speaking out for women’s rights, and has always been under the radar for his controversial comeback, it was detailed. by Yasir the way he got it from his father. “So was my father. He was friends with poets, very social and straightforward. Society is different now. I mean, there were people. Well, it’s either a compliment or a bad thing. Similarly, if someone is good to his wife, as I am good to my wife, I am not doing anything strange. As you indicated by calling me a good husband but I think it should be normal.”
Yasir further explained why one should not look up or look straight ahead. “Being ‘honest’ or ‘straightforward’ should not be a compliment. It should be so. I think these qualities are rare in today’s society so passing is a big deal. People here get hurt when you say no to them, I say no to a project, not as a director or a writer. I could have a reason. I can’t be good with a role, with lines, with a story. But that doesn’t mean I’m criticizing anyone’s work. Maybe I’ve made up my mind.”
While discussing mental health, the main character blamed parents for ignoring their child’s mental struggles when faced with them. “They ask, ‘He’s a child, why would a child have a mental problem?’ It is as if mental health problems are only problems of the elderly. We don’t even know what mental health is!”
He also explained why mental health is not a priority in Pakistan. “Because in this country, it is still hanging on the fulfillment of basic needs. Until the basic needs are met, how can we focus on our creative needs? If a wall breaks in my house and I don’t have bread at home, I go to get the bread first and then think about my wall. That is the case with mental problems. We cannot focus on mental health as a nation until we overcome many other problems,” Yasir said.
He emphasized, “How can people think about their mental health if there is no electricity at home? The lack of necessary resources increases the mental struggle of anyone, that is what people will focus on solving first.” Frieha supported Yasir’s views, adding that the reasons itself causes many public causes to be abandoned in Pakistan. “I want to tell everyone, when the issue of street rape came up, we did a group on WhatsApp is planning and protesting and Yasir was the first to raise his voice.We all went to the press club for the same thing.
He then asked the actor to offer his two cents on women being judged for their clothing in society, to which Yasir said, “How can I stop people from judging women for their clothes but I am involved in a business that to this day, shows women wearing pants and shirts when they have to do something modern or bad on TV ?I personally know many women who wear shalwar kameez and these days.Why is western clothing the guide for modern fashion?We are the ones who practice and learn. our female viewers.”
He added, “Our dramas also teach men and women that if a man comes to your house, threatens your father and abuses you, you should love him.” If you argue that Indian movies like Kabir Singh are glorifying the same kind of behavior, I will say that people buy tickets for movies, they come with a warning, and they do it for a specific age group. What comes on TV is free, everyone sees it, and it can make or break a society.”
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