Pakistani singer and actor Farhan Saeed has candidly opened up about the emotional toll of portraying Anas in the widely praised drama serial ‘Bas Tera Saath Ho’, revealing that some scenes left him feeling anxious and mentally exhausted.
A viral video circulating on social media captures the actor reflecting on his experience of playing a character who has endured years of abuse and trauma.
Farhan shared that he was surprised by viewers questioning the realism of Anas' suffering, stressing that such painful experiences still exist in society.
"Mein bara hairan ho raha tha ky kuch log keh rahy thay ky ab aisa kaisay hota hai, but unfortunately aisa hota hai ab bhi. Ye sochna ky aisa nahi hota bohat hi lame soch hai. Hota hai aur us sy bhi bohat bura hota hai" (I was quite surprised that some people were saying, how can this happen nowadays? but unfortunately, it still happens. Thinking that this doesn't happen is a very lame way of thinking. It happens, and even far worse things happen) he said.
The actor explained that while watching someone being subjected to cruelty can be difficult for audiences, survivors of similar experiences may find comfort in seeing such stories represented onscreen.
"Jis ky saath hota hai, they kind of feel... unko zara consolation bhi milti hai. Wo console ho jaty hain ky iska end acha hoga, bura hoga, kya hoga. So it's another story of the character" (The person it happens to, they kind of feel... they also get a bit of consolation. They find consolation in knowing whether its end will be good, bad, or what it will be. So it's another story of the character) he added.
Farhan emphasized that he had to remain faithful to Anas' personality, shaped by years of mistreatment since childhood.
"Mujhy aisa karna tha. Mein usko aisy to nahi kar sakta tha. Wo character hai, us par bachpan sy zulm ho raha hai, to you know wo aisy hi hoga bichara" (I had to do it this way. I couldn't just handle it differently. That is the character; they have been abused since childhood, so you know the poor thing is bound to turn out this way) he remarked.
Speaking about the impact the role had on him personally, the actor admitted that filming certain sequences often triggered anxiety on set.
"Mein Qasim ko keh raha tha ky mujy kaafi set py anxiety rehti hai, kuch scenes kartay huay. Mein to hairan hoon Saira Jee duniya sy chali gai hain, unko likhty huay kya feel hota hoga, kyun ky feel karna na, it's a job and a half" (I was telling Qasim that I experience quite a bit of anxiety on set while doing certain scenes. I am just amazed. Saira Jee has left this world; I wonder what she must have felt while writing them, because feeling it, you know, it's a job and a half) he shared.
Also Read: Mishi Khan takes aim at Iffat Omar’s podcast over ‘Explicit Content’
Farhan praised late writer Saira Raza for penning such emotionally charged scenes and noted that he could not tone them down on his own because they were integral to the script. He also credited director Qasim Ali Mureed for guiding him through the demanding sequences.
Also Read: Urfi Javed recreates viral ‘Mujhe desi khana zeher lagta hai’ meme
It is worth mentioning that Farhan Saeed has been receiving widespread acclaim for his portrayal of ‘Anas’ in ‘Bas Tera Saath Ho’. The character is depicted as a young man who has suffered brutal emotional and physical abuse since childhood, growing up orphaned in his uncle's house and struggling to stand up for himself despite years of oppression.
Also Read: Fans praise drama Bas Tera Saath for its thoughtful Nikkah scene
His nuanced performance has resonated deeply with viewers, many of whom have praised the actor for bringing authenticity, vulnerability, and compassion to one of television's most heartbreaking characters.