Fans believe Ahmed Ali Akbar is gearing up to play the villain in ‘Tere Bin 2’

When questioned about the possibility of portraying a negative character, star’s response added a dash of intrigue

In an apparent interview with Geo, Ahmed Ali Akbar, the multifaceted actor celebrated for his stellar performance in the recently concluded Parizaad, reportedly revealed his eagerness to embrace a negative role on the small screen.

In a conversation with Kehkashan Bukhari, Galaxy Lollywood quoted the actor as having shed light on his discerning approach to script selection, emphasising the importance of a compelling storyline. “I don’t have a particular intention to pick something different,” said the star. “If the story is good, I mould the character by sharing thoughts with the director. I guess I’ve been fortunate in scripts,” he articulated.

When questioned about the possibility of portraying a negative character, Ahmed’s response added a dash of intrigue as he contemplated the possibility of stepping into the shoes of an antagonist. “Well, I’ll definitely go for that. In fact, I’m in negotiations with the makers. Viewers might see me on screen in a negative role, not too soon, but after some time, revealed the actor.

As social media erupted with excitement over a tweet hinting at Ahmed’s potential dive into portraying a villain, rampant speculation ensued. The online buzz suggested a potential link to the sequel, Tere Bin 2, leaving users pondering the intriguing question: In this unfolding scenario, what role awaits Yumna?

Currently, the star will be seen essaying the fictional journalist Shahbaz Bhatti who commits to unveiling Iqbal Masih’s murder in Gunjal. For the Laal Kabootar star, the script’s dynamism reciprocated his energy. Speaking about his character with The Express Tribune, Ahmed shared, “Shahbaz’s role is actually not as intense in the beginning, as it is to the end and that arc is what drew me to the script.”

Given Ahmed’s penchant for unconventional roles, how demanding was Shahbaz? In response to the query, the actor-musician revealed that he refrains from approaching his different roles with a “certain method.” Ahmed described, “I think the answers are all between the lines when you read the script. I read it multiple times to truly try to understand who he [Shahbaz] is. I try to draw a past, with the director, with the writers.”

“It’s important to understand where a person comes from, what background, what social strata, what religion, what belief system, what ambition that person has. So you build on that and then you bring it up to the past which is the beginning of the story to see how time changes that person,” the star delved deeper into his artistic journey.

The bulk of this process demanded a thorough look into the past; from interviewing people to reviewing archives, Ahmed internalised the rigour of the film’s brief, action-packed timeline. “Gunjal revolves around a certain two weeks in Shahbaz’s life. I have a lot of empathy and respect for journalists, how they dive into new worlds, connect with new people, confront different challenges. They’re psychologists, they’re explorers, they’re discoverers, they’re so many things encapsulated in one person,” he added.