Actor Hafiz Khan wants Afghanistan to shine through his acting in Bollywood

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghan actor Abdul Hafiz Khan, who has been given a role in a new Bollywood movie, starring super star actor Aamir Khan, says he wants Afghanistan to shine through his achievements in the arts.

After more than 50 auditions, the 21-year old finally landed a role in Aamir Khan’s new movie, Dangal, which is scheduled to be released on December 23rd of this year.

The young Afghan actor will play the role of “Samar” in the movie, which is being directed by Nitesh Tiwari. The movie is a biographical sports drama about a professional Indian wrestler and Olympic coach, Mahavir Singh Phogat.

Phogat is known in real life for training his daughters to be world champion wrestlers. One of his daughters, Geeta, became the first Indian female wrestler to win a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

In the year 2008 Khan’s father sent his son to India for better life and education. Khan started his studies in New Delhi. He was only in sixth standard of school when he took interest in field of art films and Indian cinema.

In the year 2012, he graduated from CSKM Public School, one of the most affordable and reputable schools in India and then he focused on acting.

Khan has attended acting school in his college days and got professional degree in acting and film making from India.

He appeared in two episodic serials like ‘’CID’’ and ‘’Savdhaan India’’ in the year 2013-14. Apart from this, he has done many stage dramas and comic roles in theaters in his school life. He has done many plays as Ek Tha Raja, which he performed in annual day, last year of his School.

His favorite actor Shah Rukh Khan’s movies and acting inspired him to get more interest in this field. Hafiz Khan was more famous as Shah Rukh Khan in his school and college life.

Currently a student of engineering in India, the actor told Pajhwok Afghan News during an interview that he had always loved watching Bollywood movies.

Even in childhood, he was interested in Indian cinema. He was in class 5th when he started saying dialogues after watching any movie. “As a kid I could never imagine that one day I will be so passionate about acting.”

Khan said he loved working in Indian cinema because he had grown up in India. “It makes me feel comfortable working in this industry.” He grew up watching senior actors and their films and learnt a lot from them.

The actor said it was not easy to find work in Indian cinema or movies. “I have worked hard for it. I attended professional acting classes and attempted almost 70 auditions.”

He said it was his mother who encouraged him to become an actor realising his passion. The role for Hafiz Khan in an Indian movie is a dream comes true. “I had an amazing experience working in Indian cinema and, specially working with such a great team, they are all talented and well known personalities.”

Khan said Indians considered Afghanistan a friendly country as evident from the history and had a huge respect for Afghanistan and its people.

“They have decent thoughts about Afghans. Afghans based in India are comfortable with Indians who think it’s an honor for them to give hospitality to Afghan people based in India.”

Khan’s favorite actor and inspiration is superstar Shah Rukh Khan. He says Khan is the only person who motivated him through his skills, films and honest acting. He says it is his huge dream to work with Shah Rukh Khan in future.

Khan said there were a lot of chances for Afghans in Indian cinema, not only for Afghans but for everyone wishing to join Indian cinema.  ”But the fact one should be a good actor, hard working, passionate and have patience.”

”This is a big industry and many talented actors. But yes I would love to see myself working in more films and continue working as an actor in different roles and characters. And I believe that will take time.”

To a question, the actor said his message for the people of Afghanistan was to keep love alive among themselves.

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