Humayun Saeed was born in Karachi on 27 July 1971 making him a Leo. This 6 feet tall handsome guy is married to Samina, a housewife and is the eldest sibling of 5 brothers. He worked as Production Manager in a Local Garments Concern from 1991 to 1995. According to him, he was a very shareef and shy boy at school and was made the Headboy at school just because of his sharafat and masoomiyat without having the elections for the Headboy. His first play was "Yeh Jahan" and he says that he would have been an engineer or doctor if he was not an actor. He loves the colour black and biryani (odd combination but thats what he loves!) Not just a run-of-the-mill star but a prized-catch, an actor whose presence in any project is a guarantee of success. How does it feel to be up there on the pedestal? The experience of being a star is really overwhelming and I'm enjoying it to the hilt. The feedback too is something which I cant describe in words. I mean the fanmail and the phone calls that I recieve is mind blowing. Everything is simply fabulous. Believe me, I'm not exaggerating that I receive a minimum of 50 calls every day. Can you top this?
Judging from that, who do the people like most- Humayun Saeed the actor or the person? Ofcourse, the actor because they hardly know Humayun Saeed the person.
When people are busy in making career moves, you were fixated on being an actor. Did your parents take this deviation well? No they always used to make fun of me especially my father, he used to loath it like anything. Because like any other father, he too wanted me to become a doctor or an engineer. All my brothers were pretty good students so he too wanted me to concentrate on studies which I couldnt no matter how hard I tried. I remember my father used to say "Humayun tu hamara naam kharab karay ga". Though now he is quite proud of me.
In the beginning you accepted every role that came your way just to be on the scene and wasnt even bothered about taking up second fiddle roles. Was it because of your fascination with the medium?
Stars lilke Sylvester, Arnold also started their career with insignificant roles. I didnt have a godfather who could launch me with a bang. I started my career on my own and have proved myself as 'THE MOST WANTED ACTOR'. I have more offers in hand than any other actor around. But now when I look back, it feels good to see the long distance that I have traversed, achieved as a result of my own efforts.
A complaint made against you is that you show a lot of air about yourself, and thats why you cant get along with most of your colleagues. How far is it true? I admit I dont get along with everybody. And frankly, I dont need to. That is not my job, I come, do my work and I leave. I dont sit around to gossip and be friends with them. I intentionally keep the distance from my co stars. I am only arrogant with people who act smart but never with my friends, people like Nabeel, Sadia Imam, Nadia Jameel, Vinny.
Its also said that you abhor criticism. A couple of years back, while reviewing one of your long play, 'Farar' that you did with Mehreen Jabbar, a scribe critcised your penchant of acccepting roles just to stay in the limelight. You were quite disturbed and wanted to have a few words about it ? I think that it was a very powerful character and I managed to do justice to it. Her critical analysis did me upset because I took it personally which I shouldnt have. Now I understand that I was wrong in doing that. It was her personal opinion and I had no right to behave that way. But you see, I am honest enough to admit my mistake after all these years. But yes I seem to have a problem, I cant take negative feedback.
Is it true that you collect every news clipping featuring your name? Its the truth that I just love to see my name in print. So whenever I see my name in any newspaper or magazine, I just keep it with me. You wont believe that I got my first US visa because of these itsy bitsy clippings,reviews and interviews. When I applied for the visa, I sent all these clippings and didnt face any trouble for the interview. In fact, they even changed my visa category and people who were travelling with me also eased through the process because of me.
You are considered to be the highest paid actor in the entertainment circuit. How does it feel? This helps to be selective in the kind of work that I take up. Producers sign me because they know I am good. When I'm getting the price that I demand why go back? If I do this I would be a fool.
How much do you charge? One million dollars (laughs). He adds, Aray income tax walay peechay lag jain gay.
We heard you charged a hefty amount for the commercial of an edible oil that you did? That was Dalda. You see, I am not a model by profession. There were so many other good models who could have been utilised for this but they didnt need wooden faces. They opted for me because they wanted somebody who could act, with pleasing expressions and gesture. I asked them an amount that I thought I deserved.
People often comment that you look a lot like Sunil Shetty, do u think so? Yes, I do but I am his better version.
Were you excited about working with Meera and Resham in Inteha? No not at all. Infact they were the ones excited for working with me.
Now since you have an experience of Lollywood, who's your favourite heroine? Nirma.
So have you made it to the Lollywood list of scandals yet? If it were not for my wife, I would have surely been a part of it. Having her around casts away the evil eye.
Why did you get married so soon, then? Wouldn’t it have been better to wait for a while? Well, my family was quite keen that I should get married soon. Haath se ja raha hai, kaheen bigar na jaye (laughs). But I must admit it becomes a little tough for the man.
You recently produced Tum Hi To Ho, a serial based in the United States. When every actor is joining the director's bandwagon, you opted for production, why? I will never do things just because others are doing it. I may take up direction after two or three years but not now.
Apart from your showbiz pursuits, you are involved with garment business and run your own outlets. What made you decide to get into this arena? I have quite an extensive experience of imports and exports. It was my younger brother Amir who thought of opening up a men's boutique at Zamzama. Recently I opened another outlet at Tariq Road. So far the response has been over whelming.
What do u think acting is all about? It is something I really enjoy and, ofcourse, there are monetary gains that go with it. But it's a strange feeling: at times you question yourself about what you are doing. The funniest part is that people think you are acting even if you are in one of your normal moods.
