Well-known Pakistani director Saife Hassan recently opened up in an interview about what draws him to certain characters and how he approaches storytelling. Hassan, who has directed hit dramas like Sang-e-Mar Mar and Ehd-e-Wafa, spoke about why he is often more interested in negative or grey characters than straightforward heroes.
He explained that positive characters can feel repetitive because writers often keep them within safe, predictable boundaries. Grey and negative characters, on the other hand, allow more room to explore real human emotions, unpredictable behavior, and deeper psychology, which he believes is where genuine acting and storytelling happen.
Hassan also talked about what he looks for when reading a new script. For him, the most important thing is whether the characters feel real and whether the story has something honest to say about society. He said he prefers character growth that feels natural rather than drama that is forced or exaggerated just for effect.
The conversation also touched on the growing popularity of Pakistani television dramas beyond the country’s borders. Hassan believes this success comes down to the universal nature of human emotions, which audiences everywhere can relate to regardless of language or culture. He noted that while production values and technical quality have improved a lot over time, the emotional core of Pakistani dramas has stayed the same.
Beyond his views on scripts and characters, Hassan reflected on his early love for storytelling and encouraged newcomers in the industry to focus on learning theatre and honing their craft, rather than chasing fame right away. His comments offer a rare, honest look into how one of Pakistan’s most respected directors thinks about his work.
