KARACHI — July 20, 2025: With the recent release of Love Guru and the upcoming airing of Main Manto Nahi Hoon, acclaimed actor and producer Humayun Saeed shared insights into his career and what drives his passion for Pakistani cinema.
Speaking on the Geo Podcast with Mubashir, Saeed recounted his early days working as a general manager at a factory, balancing responsibilities while supporting his paralysed brother. “That factory really taught me how to work hard,” he said. During a celebration party there, he acted in a play, catching the attention of his boss—who was a part-time model—and was encouraged to try television acting. Saeed made his debut in the drama Karoron Ka Aadmi in 1995.
He humorously recalled hiding his first TV appearance from his religious father, who eventually learned of it through compliments from others. “I forgot about acting after my first job, thinking that was it, but offers kept coming,” he said. Soon, he left the factory to focus fully on acting.
Saeed was a pioneer in reviving Pakistani cinema as an actor-producer. His early films Main Hoon Shahid Afridi (2013) and Jawani Phir Nahi Aani (2015) were seen as risky ventures. “I invested Rs700,000 in the first film and didn’t see much return initially. People questioned me, but I kept creating,” he explained.
The gamble paid off with Jawani Phir Nahi Aani, made on a Rs600,000 budget and earning around Rs5 million at the box office. “The film was not dead; people wanted to watch good content,” he added.
Saeed admitted feeling pressure when producing Punjab Nahi Jaungi (2017), his first solo male lead film. “People challenged me, saying, ‘Let’s see if you can make this work.’ I did, and it surpassed the success of my previous films worldwide.”
Through his perseverance and belief in quality storytelling, Humayun Saeed continues to shape Pakistan’s entertainment industry.
