'The level of professionalism is low' - Shahood Alvi Over the years Shahood Alvi has emerged as quite a familiar name for the regular television viewers. Loaded with a convincing combination of talent, good looks and enthusiasm, he is an actor who has always proven that no matter whatever the role he is being signed for, he is capable of handling it with utmost ease.

Besides having high profiled television moguls backing him, he has never strived to materialise contacts for gaining work, leaving all those behind who are still labouring under false notion that only the people with support make it big here.

"When I decided to join this field I wanted to act. I was a bit materialistic and acting was nothing but a source of quick money for me," Shahood admits quite audaciously and continues, "but Iqbal Ansari, my uncle, wanted me to learn things related with direction and postproduction.

Due to his pressure, I worked as programme controller, boom operator, editor etc. Meanwhile, a private channel offered me work and the next thing I found was myself was directing the plays for that channel.

I found that I was good, as I knew about the sound, I knew how to manage the frame, and I knew how the camera moves. The results were coming good and my work was being appreciated.

It was the time, when I realised that sans any doubt it was Iqbal Ansari, my mentor, who recognised the dormant reservoir of immense talent inside me and motivated me to an extent that I'm here being interviewed today."

For Shahood, for whom once acting used to be his first love, now direction is where he finds his inner satisfaction. "You feel happy when one of your friends is blessed with a baby but when you get your own, you feel to be the happiest man of the world.

The feeling for a director is the same for the projects he works on. As an actor my inning had been quite long, but the level of immense pleasure, which I have accumulated in last one or two years as director is worth remembering.

Its not like that I want to see whether my name runs or not but if my project does well then that is what's more important for me. I truly believe in the quote, which defines 'director as the captain of the ship',

but at the same time, I feel that when a project fails to register an outstanding impact, it's the director alone responsible for the whole nightmare. But if it does well the whole team is the equal shareholder of the success the project attains."

With a number of channels around to question the PTV monopoly, quantity has alarmingly increased, but the quality is the one most ignored chapter. Although, the competition is healthy but in our case the quote seems misquoted.

"I call it a grooming stage," Shahood precisely concludes but doesn't a couple of years enough time to get settled in an environment where with every new dawn, a new channel appears as a force to reckon with, leaving behind our three or four year old local babies (channels).

I think they are improving if you compare with the time they were established they are emerging as good ones. But I agree that the level of professionalism is low and that's may be because of the available resources, not sufficient enough to compete with the foreign channels.

Once the problem of resources is over I'm sure the things would be dramatically improved."

Recalling his early days of struggle, Shahood has some convincing stories in store, which changed his life and contributed as an acid test of his potential patience and talent.

"When I joined the showbiz the first person who gave me the toughest time was none other than my uncle, Iqbal Ansari. On the very first day of my debut play 'Kala Pul', I was told that he disgusts non-punctual people and he would not tolerate it even in my case.

The relationship that we shared were of a student-teacher where family relations was an issue totally out of question, and I used to be treated like any other person on the set," said Shahood.

While adding more he went on, "Once, in order to motivate his cast to work hard he assured to award a prize of two thousand rupees to the hardest working person on the set.

The Eid was approaching fast and I wanted to win the prize in any way as I had a wife and a daughter to support, which was difficult in rupees sixteen hundred, which was my monthly income as production controller and boom operator.

I worked painstakingly, six days and five nights, and I can vividly recall the last day when I got fainted and taken to a clinic where I was given some drips to gain instant energy.

A friend of mine told me that Iqbal saheb was very angry and I felt as all of my inputs were wasted. Later, when I met Iqbal saheb, he gave me the prize and told me that everybody on the set had told him how much had I worked hard. He was happy and it meant a lot to me."

Shahood made his directorial debut with the play 'Chipkalee' which dealt with an intense topic regarding human psychology. Then he directed a few plays of 'Ambulance' and then two single plays 'Sunno Na' and 'Wrong Number' of 'Mera Naam Hai Mohabbat' series.

Then he did a play for the valentine day 'Kutch Hota Kiyon Nahi'. "In all of my plays I have tried to give variation. In a short span of one year I have tried almost everything from comedy, suspense, thriller to love stories. I don't want to be known as being limited or choosy that's may be because I truly believe that art has no boundaries."

In the directorial camp of Shahood, you won't find him a man who's wedded to his opinions, everything seems open and above board. "I give space to my artistes and that gives me best returns. A director should be open to ideas in order to improve and by comparing notes the same may be attained," prophesises Shahood whose desire to come up with something meeting international standards is growing by geometrical progression.

Although, acting and direction apparently feel two not-so-different things sharing similar wavelength but its true that one cannot justify the both jobs while performing at the same time. "I have done two projects like this where I performed and directed at the same time and I feel I couldn't satisfy myself.

I feel I could have done that much better as an artiste if I wouldn't have to direct it the same time. That's may be one of the reason, I may agree to act in three or four projects but would refrain from taking them for direction."

I argued if others who are directing many projects at one time are dishonest? "I'm talking about myself!!!" Shahood became defensive and continued, "Its entirely upon the person.

He must go ahead only when he or she is dead sure that he is capable enough to deliver the equal level of attention to each project under his belt. But frankly speaking direction is the toughest job especially in an environment like ours where he is being deemed as a fighter dealing with all odds coming his way."

Shahood counts himself among those few fortunate artistes who have been offered the best scripts to act. "It was a stupendous experience of my life when I did few plays written by Ashfaq Ahmed and Bano Qudisa.

I loved to deliver those lines. It felt as I'm the character myself and the event was a part of my life. They are institutions and an asset for our country." Among the new people, he likes Seema Ghazal while thinks that Jawad Dawood is equally good in sitcoms and drama.

A good well narrated and well-placed role with a good team are what few simple pre-requisites, which Shahood follow before accepting an offer to act. He feels that no matter how technically advanced the Indian Channels are or would be the real 'drama' is here.

"Yes if one intends to enjoy 'drama' in its true sense then he should have to tune in to our channels. If somebody believes that we stand behind from some foreign channels in drama then please accuse me!!! They are living in a fool's paradise.

Yes, we are weak but not in 'drama'. Its glamour, its presentation and the technical side where we stand little behind from them. Once we overcome that professionally, I'm sure our monopoly of being best Urdu drama producer would be restored."

In future, Shahood wishes to see people recognising him as a director and actor of substance. Like every normal human being he desires to be on top. Today, Shahood touches on the topic of responsibility quite frequently.

His success has enlightened his vision and objectives and he seems working doubly hard to attain them today. "I'm here and intend to remain there as long as the time allows me.

I never set targets in life," Shahood recollects the definition of life to him and continues, "I believe in delivering my hundred percent to whatever I do and my conscience is quite satisfied that I have maintained that honestly.

Today, I feel amply repaid for my efforts and in order to avoid from being repetitive I always try to bring myself out of situation by genuine means."