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 A veteran actor sheds light on his glorious career and gives vent to his keen feelings about the contemporary media.
A versatile personality gets off his Civic at DHA market, enters his office while smoking a Davidoff, whoever meets him would definitely get confused at first while meeting such a high profile actor, at least that’s what I felt at first. Keeping acting aside, the demeanour of this living legend of our TV screen depicted a person who really believed in the quality of life and kind-heartedness.
He was born in the fifties in DG Khan and initially studied in Multan and then did his bachelors from Government College Muzaffargarh since his father was doing business in southern Punjab at that time. Then he moved to Lahore, where his career as an actor started and in the same year he took admission in Mass Communication Department of Punjab University, which really helped him in building himself and that knowledge is still benefiting him.
After completing his degree, he gained experience in advertising. Then after doing CSS, he was appointed in the Export Promotion Bureau, and at the same time he used to write columns for newspapers regularly. At that time he did not have any idea that he was going to become such a great actor in life. As his family always supported him in whatever he wanted to do, so it was not hard for him to pick acting as a profession. “I worked at different places, as water flows in the river, probably I flowed towards my destiny and that was acting.”
When he entered into this field, there was a single television channel, which had to cover everything from the country, so it was like a magic box, which always used to create masterpieces, “In 1979 I got attached with this magic box,” says Tauqeer Nasir.
 “I had never thought that I would be selected for the lead role in my first play, I was just expecting a good role but when I was told about my role, I was really shocked.”
He got an opportunity in the play called Parwaaz which was directed by Arif Waqar. “Though I got 800 rupees for doing my first play but it was my passion and I got spiritual satisfaction, it was a pleasure doing it,” says Tauqeer Nasir with a smile on his face.
When he entered into this field it used to be very hard for actors to make their mark, though PTV was the sole television channel but at that time, we had competition, to produce quality work. PTV was like a magic box and it used to be a trend setter, ten families used to sit together and watch television, PTV was creating masterpieces, at eight PM everyone used to stick to the television and no one wanted to be disturbed till the end.
“Though everybody at that time were amateurs, Naseem Abbas and many other companions were studying at that time but they had the passion to create masterpieces, they worked so hard and it was their team work which promoted the channel a lot.” commented Tauqeer Nasir, when he was asked about his experience of PTV.
He has spent thirty years in this field, so we asked him about the expansion which is coming in our local media these days, he said, “Team work and passion for work was visible in their performance in the past, despite the media boom now directors and actors hardly converse with each other. Without coordination between the whole team, how can we expect quality from them? That is why you do not see me on television that much anymore,” stated Tauqeer Nasir, “I have worked in five movies and none of them had any script, even then we sustained. Then how can people expect the Pakistani industry to compete with the Indian industry? The stars in India are living like princes, we do not have that resources, that we have survived in such restricted circumstances is more than enough.”
Tauqeer Nasir is a man of principles, he never compromised on his values, and he always did quality work with an intention to work for the betterment and motivation of youth. The quality of his dramas and his role as an artist are reflected in his positive approach towards drama as a medium of instruction through many of his plays. He did those plays not just for the sake of fame but for the counselling and motivation of youth and society. “We did not work for money or entertainment, we did not use girls or vulgarity for coming up and getting popularity, the trend which our current television media is following these days,” opined Tauqeer Nasir.
Commenting on the concept of Indian dramas that are being run on Pakistani channels and Star Plus, he says, “Joint production is good for both the countries but compromising on moral and social values is not a practical decision at all; new channels are just showing substandard concepts of dramas and this increase of low quality work will let them down.”
“I would advise them to set up textile mills and but do not sacrifice your values”
Channels follow their marketing policies. The marketing departments finalise the dramas, and they are not picking quality and thus broadcasting the inferior kind of dramas that they are currently doing is affecting society badly.
Actors and directors making new dramas are just busy in the race for making lots of productions, but what they lack is enthusiasm for making masterpieces. Their motive is just to earn fame and money, that is why, there are lots of actors who are working in many plays but people hardly know them by their names.
Actors of our generation did wonderful jobs, that’s why they are still well known, like Firdous Jamal and Tauqeer Nasir himself. “When people recognise me, I feel really great. When fans call me from far flung areas it boosts up my passion,” says Tauqeer Nasir. “We had an impact on the viewers,” he added.
“Acting is not my achievement, I put passion in youth.”
 Under training by Ashfaq Ahmad, a well groomed Tauqeer Nasir worked a lot for the promotion of social values and against social evils to shape the youth. He also worked as a director and producer but did not continue with this as he never thought of compromising his values. He introduced almost 40 percent of the new faces through his productions. He neither supported favouritism, nor used it for himself. Favouritism and lobbyism is another drawback. Directors opt for their favourite actors, this miscasting leads to poor quality work, which is damaging our dramas.
Telling more about his teacher Ashfaq Ahmad, he commented with a smile that he was very warm-hearted and a loving personality.
Telling us about his favourite television personalities, he named Roohi Bano and Qavi.
Regarding his personal interests he told us that he likes to read books and enjoys listening to music.
He gave a message to all the newcomers in this field: that they should always work for the good of nation; never compromises on their moral values and to always try to do something for the motivation of the people not for spoiling them.
Quick fire
Marriage
An agreement of companionship
Love
A feeling which should be pure
Family
A tie, a relation which always supports you
Friendship
A level of sincerity from both sides
Any regrets
I’m blessed, faced depression and I’m satisfied
 Greatest award
Pride of performance & Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, as he is the youngest person who succeded in grabbing such an prestigious award.
Plays
Panah, Aik Haqeeqat Aik Afsana, Samundar, Dehleez, Dard Aur Darman, Parwaaz, Kanch Ka Pul, Matay Ghurub, Seen Aba Seen Aba Achoo Achoo Mehran, Yaad Piya Ki Aye
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