KARACHI, 26 February 2005 — Moin Akhtar is perhaps Pakistan’s best comedian and humorist. Some of his decades-old jokes are still popular and oft quoted in comedy circles. He has been called Pakistan’s asset. His fans include President Pervez Musharraf who has complimented him on his extremely popular “Loose Talk” which is currently aired weekly from ARY TV.
Arab News caught up with Moin Akhtar recently in Karachi at his Gulshan-e-Iqbal residence. In a navy blue shalwar kameez, puffing at a cigarette (against his doctor’s advice), many medicines on his bedside table...(He is a heart patient) the 55-year-old Moin Akhtar looked pensive far from the funny man we are accustomed to seeing on TV.
“I’m not a funny man but rather a serious person. People have this notion that since I’m a comedian I will be cracking jokes, but that’s not me. Humor is an inborn ability and that I do professionally.”
Commenting on his current hit show “Loose Talk”, Moin Akhtar said, “Anwar Maqsood, the writer of the show got the idea from Tim Sebastian’s Hard Talk on BBC. He said, ‘Moin you can be a different guest each week.’ We approached ARY but initially they were not interested so we went to PTV and they showed a lot of interest. But we did not want to air it from PTV because that’s a government channel and we knew most of the stuff would be censored. We hate censorship because that really kills creativity. But ARY had a change of heart and I’m sure they are not sorry, “Loose Talk” is one of their most popular programs and we are flooded with positive feedback.”
In “Loose Talk” Moin Akhtar has dressed up and mimicked Saddam Hussein, a Christian nurse, a Sikh man, well-known politicians and scores of others. He has the uncanny ability of not only capturing the mannerism but also the voice, accent and tone of the person he is playing. “My only sorrow is that Pakistan lacks the special makeup facility that is required to give a perfect touch to each character. Right now Mussarat of Depilex has to come down from Lahore each week to do my make up.”
Moin Akhtar’s conversation was punctuated with thankfulness to Allah and references to the Qur’an. There were rumors that he has become very religious and is planning to quit. Was that true?
“What do you mean I’ve become religious? I am a born Muslim.” He said a bit angrily, then simmering down, he added, “You can say I have made a conscious decision not to do shows that are female dominated or vulgar and cheap.
From the religious point of view, I can do something like a “Loose Talk” which shows only two guys talking. And yes, I am very aware of my Creator and grateful to Him because what I am today is only because of His blessings upon me. There’s no second man in Pakistan who does the kind of job I do. Allah has enhanced my talents.”
Moin said he was disgusted with vulgarity and cheapness that was shown in the name of humor. The government should have a code of conduct for comedians. We are the performers of drawing rooms and bedrooms. That’s where televisions are usually kept.”
But hadn’t Moin Akhtar himself acted in a few cheap stage plays?
“Yes, I had and I’m sorry for that. But for the past 15 years, I have not done that.
Talking about his health, Moin Akhtar said he had a major heart attack and is an insomniac. “My doctor advises me to retire and not work so hard. But I can’t sit idle. I don’t do too many overseas tours because that is hard on my body. He also tells me to quit smoking. And I have quit many times before. But smoking becomes part of your psyche. Whenever I write some of my jokes down, my hands automatically reach for a cigarette.”
What does Moin Akhtar think of Shekhar Suman, Jay Leno and other comedians?
“They are good but their jokes are written by a panel of different writers. In Pakistan unfortunately panel writing is not popular. All writers have such egos that they would refuse to become part of something. They believe in individual work. We have genuine talent here.”
Moin Akhtar started as a comedian in 1967. “We were not rich and being the eldest in my family I had to work and struggle to support my family. I wanted to become a lawyer, but fate had something else carved out for me.”
He started when a friend of his invited him to perform in the annual function of the Dow Medical College. For 45 minutes he entertained everyone without a script...just spontaneous humor. “And I went on for 35 years after that. Practice makes one perfect”.
Who makes Moin Akhtar laugh? “Writer Mushtaq Yusufi. He has very clean and simple humor for instance,” he says. If you see a man open the car door for his wife, you should know, either the car is new or he has a new wife.”
