Mosharraf Karim is the most wanted man in the media, being the top choice for both the audience and the directors. Characters and
dramas are even created, with Karim in mind.
After trying for weeks, I found out that Karim would be shooting in a house at Uttara one night, and I arrive on time. After he’s done with a shot, Karim comes and greets me and leads me towards the makeup room. He introduces me to his wife Jui –who is also an actress. He tells me that shooting is likely to go on deep into the early morning, so the question-answer sessions will need to be taken during the breaks.
Karim tells me that he has done around 15 TV plays for Eid so far. His wife reminds him of the titles, as he struggles to come up with all the names. He also informs me that some of his works this Eid are extraordinary. One drama will show Karim playing three different roles. “It was tough playing the role of twins and their father. I’d never done three characters in a single drama before,” he says.
He is called by the director for the next shot — where he acts with Marzuk Russell. The duo rehearses before the scene. The rather long sequence takes a while to shoot.
The director rushes the crew for the next scene. The rehearsal itself, however, takes around 30 minutes. By the time the scene is shot, the clock has hit midnight. Karim sits with me again at the makeup room. The interview resumes, as he tell me about his character in the Eid play “Cha Khor”– where he plays a man who is addicted to tea.
Karim also mentions that he will have to work till three in the morning. Although the shooting for “Red Signal” is done for the night, he and his wife will now have to shoot for a different Eid drama — the shooting for which will take place inside a bus. Nostalgia hits Karim as he talks. He reminisces on his days with Nattya Kendra, and the 17 years he spent on the stage. Karim also informs that he is working with his wife on a serial he wrote himself — “Bishesh Droshtobbyo”, which is being aired by SA TV.
“Taking on too much is not a good idea. I don’t want to do so much work, but the directors don’t leave me alone,” says an exasperated Karim as I prepare to wrap up the session.
As the night wears on, Karim starts donning the makeup of an old man. The next shoot is for a story from the Pakistan period. Although it is dark outside, the night is still young for the actors.
-With The Daily Star input
