Veteran Pakistani actor Shabbir Jan recently shared his opinion on the current state of acting in Pakistan. Speaking on Tabish Hashmi’s show “Hansna Mana Hai”, he said that while Humayun Saeed is talented and hardworking, he is not the best actor in Pakistan.
Shabbir Jan compared actors of his generation to modern performers. He said that in his era, actors treated their craft like a Test match. They rehearsed thoroughly before performing. In contrast, today’s actors are like T20 cricket players — they work fast and often skip rehearsals.
He criticized many new actors for not rehearsing at all. “They just act without preparation,” he said. “This leads to poor dialogue delivery, yet the drama still airs with these mistakes.”
Shabbir Jan also remarked that many contemporary actors resemble models more than performers. “It seems that looking good — having perfect hair, body, and appearance, matters more to them than truly portraying their character,” he added.
On Humayun Saeed, he said: “He is a good actor and works hard, but he is not Pakistan’s best actor. Today, the number of truly great actors is very small.”
Shabbir Jan’s comments sparked discussion among fans about the differences between past and present acting standards in Pakistan. His remarks highlight the challenges and changing priorities in the entertainment industry, where appearance sometimes takes precedence over depth in performance.
