KARACHI: Pakistani actor, producer and director Sheheryar Munawar sat down for a candid conversation about his evolving career. He shared thoughtful views on balancing artistic depth with commercial success while embracing personal growth and multiple passions.
From corporate world to full-time acting
Sheheryar began his journey with modelling after A-levels and later studied finance at the Institute of Business Administration. He worked in advertising, starred in commercials, and held corporate jobs at Engro Foods and Rocket Internet. Yet acting offers kept coming. He eventually left his stable career to pursue acting full time, a decision that shaped his path.
Moreover, he explored the other side of the camera as an assistant director and later co-founded Vision Factory Films with Asim Raza. The experience of producing films like Ho Mann Jahan and Parey Hatt Love gave him fresh perspective. This knowledge now enriches his “second innings” in television, where he enjoys acting far more than before.
Finding beauty in flawed characters
Sheheryar deliberately chooses complex, grey characters over perfect heroes. He believes humans are never flawless and finds beauty in their imperfections. In Ae Ishq-i-Junoon, he portrayed an ideal brother in a way that kept audiences slightly uneasy, wondering what lay beneath the surface.
He also stressed the need to strike a balance between art and commercial storytelling. “If people don’t watch it, it’s not art,” he remarked. For him, the real challenge lies in delivering meaningful messages through entertaining content that audiences actually want to see. His production house, Three’s Entertainment, aims to create such balanced projects.
Sheheryar remains a lifelong learner who reads extensively, plays sports, builds intricate Lego sets, learns music, and explores history and psychology. He describes himself simply as a student of the performing arts who keeps improving every day. His dedication and diverse interests continue to inspire many in the industry.
