In a candid interview with Something Haute, Iqra Aziz and Shuja Asad opened up about their upcoming drama Paradise, set to premiere on Express TV. Directed by Aziz’s husband, Yasir Hussain, the series promises to bring a refreshing change to the world of Pakistani television.
The plot of Paradise revolves around a significant lie being revealed, and the duo shared details about the stellar cast, which includes Gul-e-Rana, Rehan Sheikh, Umer Alam, Maham Aamir, Aoun Ali Khan, Atiqa Odho, and Bilal Yousufzai.
During the interview, the conversation veered towards the increasing popularity of ‘toxic’ heroes in dramas, who often have glaring flaws and red flags.
Asad remarked,
“When it comes to playing toxic characters, you have a lot of room for performance, but I truly believe it’s time for heroes to return to our industry. We’re done with anti-heroes and villains. The heroes I grew up watching were kind, gentle, and helped others. They saved the heroine, and that’s the kind of hero I think we need again.”
Shuja Asad, who plays Taimoor in Paradise, further revealed that Yasir Hussain encouraged him to channel his inner Shah Rukh Khan to bring his character to life.
Iqra Aziz also shared her thoughts on what makes a hero. “A hero should display a range of emotions. He should get angry, cry, feel jealous, essentially, embody all the emotions that are a part of every human’s life. We have already changed the narrative for girls through our dramas. Now, it’s time for boys to experience that same depth of emotional expression.”
Aziz added that Paradise is more than just a romantic-comedy, even though it may appear that way at first. “When Yasir showed me the concept, I instantly wanted to be a part of it,” she said. As Hussain’s first full-fledged project as a producer, Aziz noted that working on Paradise felt like being at home.
For Shuja Asad, Paradise marked a shift from the intense roles he’s known for in dramas like Khaie and Aye Ishq e Junoon, providing him with a refreshing break.
Iqra Aziz, who has been selective with her projects recently, emphasised the importance of maintaining a work-life balance.
“Being a mother to Kabir has made me even more conscious of my time,”
Further she said,
“I prioritise dropping him off at school before heading to the set. If there’s a gap between my call time and Kabir’s drop-off, I use that time to be with him.”
