Sarmad Khoosat Delves into Dark Comedy, Discusses Manto’s Lasting Influence on Upcoming Project

In an illuminating conversation with Khaleej Times, filmmaker and actor Sarmad Khoosat embarked on a journey to unveil the profound legacy of the legendary Saadat Hasan Manto. The interview delved into the intricate details of Manto’s enduring influence on Khoosat’s work.

With a keen and candid perspective, Khoosat skillfully navigated the intricate terrain of Manto’s literary brilliance, offering a captivating insight into the profound influence that this unparalleled maestro of words has wielded on the acclaimed filmmaker’s artistic journey.

Stumbling upon what he termed as frequent “snide remarks” urging him to “Aur bano Manto” (Become another Manto), Khoosat serendipitously discovered the literary genius. Recounting this fateful discovery, he shared, “While living in temporary quarters due to a house fire, I chanced upon Manto in my dad’s collection. Reading him left me dumbstruck that such scandalous literature existed in Urdu.”

Lasting Legacy of Manto For Sarmad Khoost

Khoosat further revealed, “I went to a boy’s school and had an English education but Manto stayed within me quietly, though, in college we discussed him animatedly.” Commending the invaluable contributions of the esteemed writer, the filmmaker eloquently expressed, “Manto wrote unfiltered that could sometimes sound crude but he struck at the heart of the problem and broke all stereotypes of gender, religion, biases and class.”

Khoosat, expressing a profound connection, actively embraces adapting tales from the literary genius Manto. He sheds light on his creative journey, emphasizing the meaningful relationship forged with Manto’s family.

“For TV, I had adapted a Manto story called Harnaam Kaur and his daughter found my number and called me,” Khoosat shared. “First she was angry that the channel hadn’t called her. Then we got talking and I went over for chai and bonded with his three daughters. His middle daughter Nusrat has worked with Ayesha Jalal. Whenever I perform Manto, the girls have front-row seats and attend with their families. In fact, they encouraged me with my other work as well and loved Kamli.”

In 2013, Khoosat’s cinematic exploration of Manto’s life aligned with Indian actor and filmmaker Nandita Das’s biopic starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Despite simultaneous timelines, Khoosat emphasized the uniqueness of each cinematic endeavour. The convergence of these narratives resulted in a meaningful encounter between Khoosat and Nandita at a Rekhta event in Delhi, where they discussed their respective works.

Shedding light on the same, Khoosat stated, “I want to do a dark comedy with an actress I haven’t worked with in a long time.” He added, “An artist is always ridden with self-doubt. But over the years, I have realised there is a loyal audience for my work. Thanks to them and Manto, my journey has just got more interesting and I have found a stronger voice.”

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