HAILED as the Best Television Actor in the third Lux Style Awards, Humayun Saeed claims he likes watching movies but generally forgets them the day after he has seen them! Laughs he, “The impression stays with me all of one hour.” Hence, he may have thoroughly enjoyed many films but doesn’t recall most of them. It seems, though, that he has a penchant for romantic action epics, for the few that he does remember are all with strong storylines accompanied by action.
Not surprisingly, among Humayun’s favourite movies is Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe. A movie about a general who becomes a slave and then a gladiator who defies an emperor, the film has spectacular action sequences. He also claims to have thoroughly enjoyed Braveheart starring Mel Gibson, which is as famous for its action scenes as for its moving story. The other film that left an impact on his mind is Legends of the Fall, a gripping action film about three brothers all of whom are in love with the same woman.
But, of course, the film that the actor-cum-designer remembers most vividly is Troy, since he saw it recently on the big screen in Dubai. Says he, “My favourite actor is Brad Pitt and I felt both he and Eric Bana did an excellent job with their roles. Although the story is very simple — it could easily have been the plot of a Pakistani movie — the characterization is great, particularly of the King of Troy, played by Peter O’ Toole. The picturization is just as fantastic and the action scenes are very effective and interesting. My favourite scene is when the king comes to take the body of his son to minister the last rites — its dialogues were superb.”
Humayun watches Indian films as well, and prefers romantic stories like Kuch kuch hota hai and Dil to pagal hai. However, an exception to the rule is Parinda, which he describes as “a dark gangster movie with a very different screenplay and excellent acting.” Its cast includes Nana Patekar and Jackie Shroff.
As for his taste in music, Humayun Saeed claims he loves all catchy popular ditties. “I don’t have unusual taste in music and in fact all my favourite numbers are hit songs that most people are fond of,” he says candidly. Among Humayun’s favourite songs are Ali Zafar’s Channo, Faakhir’s Sab to soniye and Asad Amanat Ali’s Meray watan, pyaray watan.
Humayun admits he is not too fond of listening to ghazals or classical music and doesn’t particularly care for English songs, either. His favourite singers are Sajjad Ali and Sonu Nigam. Fond of Pakistani and Indian numbers, he says he listens to them mostly when driving, or once a week when he gets together with friends. Humayun also jogs and claims that he always carries his walkman and listens to instrumentals when jogging. Interestingly enough, he does feel that he has an unusually good ear for music and claims that he was the first person to appreciate the song that catapulted Fuzon to fame, Aankhon ke sagar. “I had bought the song for my serial although friends dissuaded me that it didn’t sound right, but I was sure it would click. I made them change some of the words though, and the ditty became a super hit.”
It seems reading and Humayun don’t go together, for he says he has never been fond of it. “Even in my student days, I read only enough to get good grades and would spend all my spare time watching movies rather than reading books. The only time I did go through a slight phase of reading was when I read Ishtiaq Ahmed’s stories. Otherwise, I am ashamed to say I have no knowledge of politics or the likes. I don’t even read comics and the only magazines I do go through when travelling are showbiz related, such as Stardust, so that I can keep abreast with what is happening in my field.”
Favourite Movie: Gladiator
Favourite music: All popular Indian and Pakistan numbers, particularly Channo
HAILED as the Best Television Actor in the third Lux Style Awards, Humayun Saeed claims he likes watching movies but generally forgets them the day after he has seen them! Laughs he, “The impression stays with me all of one hour.” Hence, he may have thoroughly enjoyed many films but doesn’t recall most of them. It seems, though, that he has a penchant for romantic action epics, for the few that he does remember are all with strong storylines accompanied by action.
