“Pakistan Needs Better Avenues for Entertainment” – Usama Khan Voices Concern

Usama Khan, who has performed impressively in dramas such as Sun Mere Dil, Ghair, and Qarz-e-Jahan, has made a name for himself as one of Pakistan’s most talented actors. In an interview with Maliha Rehman, Usama spoke about his journey, his thoughtful approach to scripts, and how he avoids overthinking despite public opinions.

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Picking Scripts and Winning Hearts

Usama Khan’s acting choices have been widely appreciated, and unlike many other actors, he has not faced much criticism from audiences so far. During the interview, Maliha Rehman said that even while criticising his co-stars, the public loved Usama himself so much. The way he picked meaningful roles has made him have a loyal fan base.

The Lack of Entertainment Avenues

Usama raised a valid concern when asked why his drama Nayab did not do so well, despite heavy promotions. “In Pakistan, there is no proper avenue for entertainment,” he said. Giving examples, he described cities like Lahore and Karachi as having little in the way of exciting spaces. “Whenever I visit Lahore, my friends usually suggest dining out on the Food Street. In Karachi, the seaside is the only real option, even on occasions like New Year’s,” he added.

Read more: Usama Khan Shares his Breakup that Led Him to Isolation

Usama also talked about cinema culture in Pakistan and said one of the biggest barriers to this industry was high ticket prices. “You can’t expect a group of eight people to watch a movie together when tickets are so expensive. If we want audiences, we need to lower cinema ticket prices,” he emphasised.

A Social Film, Not Romantic

According to Usama, Nayab had not done well because the subject it dealt with was more like a social cause than a typical romantic one. He expressed that these kinds of films do not attract people to invest time because they are not entertained.

Usama Khan elaborated through his concerns that cheap and diversified entertainment options will make the industry grow as well as help the audience connect more with the industry.