Iqbal Khan: “Tumhari Paakhi on Azaad cuts across all class, culture and language!”

The actor known for his effortless natural performances on TV, films and web series, Iqbal Khan, has always stood apart in the fraternity for his choices and conviction. One of his top rated shows, Tumhari Paakhi currently airs on Azaad, India’s ‘FIRST Premium Hindi Entertainment Channel that will feature Content Exclusively for the ‘Rural Mindset’.  With a powerful storyline adapted from Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel Naba Bidhan and produced by Shashi Sumeet Productions, the charismatic actor Iqbal enacted the author backed role of Anshuman Rathore in Tumhari Paakhi. Also starring in the show is the beautiful and talented Shraddha Arya and the show airs on Azaad, every Monday to Sunday, at 8 PM. With his mantra for success being staying happy and content with all he does, Iqbal shares his journey that relives his experience shooting on Tumhari Paakhi after the fabulous response the show has received from rural audiences on Azaad.
The show airs at 8PM, Monday to Sunday, on Azaad. The channel is available on DD FreeDish Channel no 36 and Select local DPO’S
Q: Was he surprised at the story Tumhari Paakhi resonating with the rural audiences?
Iqbal: No, I’m not surprised that rural audiences love this show on Azaad. The channel has selected some shows that have a universal appeal and are ones that have a timeless connect for not only the rural audiences that comprises of nearly 70 percent of our population settled in the hinterland of India but also for TV audiences around the world. I’m happy that the show continues to be a success on a new channel like Azaad which is the first initiative from Beginnen Media. Tumhari Paakhi is one show that surely has a worldwide connect in the last eight years since it was launched. The entire cast, director, producer and crew on the show loved doing it and all our suggestions helped in creating a mind-blowing, fabulous series. It has aired in a lot of international countries and I still get compliments about my role from fans in Bulgaria, Argentina, Latin, America, Indonesia. Chile, Thailand and Romania amongst several other places. The story and the emotion is universal and cuts across all class, culture and language.
Q: Shraddha and you were considered an iconic TV pair and won many awards for Tumhari Paakhi. How was it shooting with her?
Iqbal: We had a lot of fun on the sets since Shraddha is fun loving person. I think it is very important to work with an actor you are friends with and that is something that has really helped me.
Q: Do you recollect any experience during the shoot of this series?
Iqbal: There are many memories but one incident happened that I will never forget. We were shooting a car scene in Film City, Mumbai and I was to drive a car near the edge of an uphill road. Another car was behind and as it went past the curve, we saw it fall into the jungles beneath. I got out of the car that I was driving to run back and check if anyone was hurt as we could see the car toppling over the side of the edge of that winding road. Thankfully, neither the car or the driver were injured due to the thick foliage of the surrounding forest area in Film City.
Q: Tell us something about your role in the show Tumhari Paakhi on Azaad?
Iqbal: My character, Anshuman is a very successful businessman. He’s arrogant, a show-off and is somebody who can do anything to keep his reputation intact. But one lie that he utters changes his entire life as his child-marriage is revealed in front of the media. After the child marriage held years ago, they went their own separate ways. How their lives change after Shraddha agrees to marry Anshuman is surely a story worth watching.  
Tumhari Paakhi was loved by viewers. Was it difficult to shoot a story written by a famous writer or was it tougher to do Anshuman’s role?
Iqbal: Difficult is not the right word to use for anyone of us on the show since we had a lot of fun on the show. We worked hard to improve our characters daily and the end result was that audiences not only in India but, all across the world loved it.
Q:  What made you take up acting?
Iqbal: My father is a retired IAS official, my siblings have done double post-graduation and two of them are also doctors so I come from a family of professionals and acting is a field that no one in my family has ever done. I did theatre since school and was modelling in college while studying in Delhi. My first play as Karan in ‘Karan, Son of Surya’, in my college days with National School of Drama put the germ of pursuing a career in acting inside me. That’s how I came to Mumbai to become an actor.

Q: How does it feel to be called a natural performer?
Iqbal: Coming from TV, where audiences see everything that is over the top, whether it is performances, music, direction, story, it’s a huge compliment for me to get feedback that I am a natural actor. And, this is the difference between acting in a web series or on TV. Audiences preferring web series like natural performances whereas TV audiences like over the top drama. I like being natural.

Q: Tell us about working on OTT platforms?  
Iqbal: OTT has changed everything. I have loved every show that I have done. In the last 4-5 years, I have got the opportunity to do different themes and different characters.  For any creative person, actor, director, writer, OTT is like fuel. You work on a series and you can last on its success for the next six months. I have shot three web shows since Covid started last year. They were shot outside Mumbai as there weren't so many restrictions. I love doing shows on the web as the script is locked and adhered to whereas on TV, the script keeps changing as per the ratings that the show delivers every week. The audiences are different on both mediums. I have some new shows releasing this year but can’t share details right now.