How much Fawad Khan is too much Fawad Khan? The answer: Definitely not one single episode of a Marvel mini series.
Khan’s appearance in MCU’s most recent TV show Ms. Marvel was enough to ensure that even non-superhero fans from South Asia were glued to whichever screen they chose to stream Disney+ Hotstar on, eagerly waiting for the handsome actor to prop up in the show and immediately set unfair standards for all men to follow. He just has that power, we don’t make these rules.
But while the actor’s appearance as *BLANK* (we respect late-streamers in this family) in the show was everything his fans could have expected and more (the actor ~*acted*~ and looked like a dream), it was just not enough.
Fawad Khan Movies and TV Shows
So while we wait to see if the MCU overlords decide to show us more of the Pakistani actor in the show (anything is possible in the fictional universe where a billionaire businessman/scientist actually wants to do good in the world), here are some other ways you can get more of Fawad Khan in your lives.
Zindagi Gulzar Hai (2012)
If historians of the future track the rise of Khan’s popularity in India as the leading man of our lives, they will find themselves landing firmly on this Pakistani drama every single time. Surprisingly Khan wasn’t the only reason for the show’s intense popularity across the borders. The show featured progressive themes about female empowerment with a female lead (Sanam Saeed) who was strong and independent, a rare feature in Southasian TV shows of the time. It also helped that Khan’s Zaroon was the unicorn male character who grows from an entitled brat to a mature adult who respects and loves his strong-willed partner.
Khoobsurat (2014)
Everyone take a moment to collectively thank Sonam Kapoor for introducing Khan as a Disney prince to Bollywood in a movie that made us question: Why is Fawad Khan not playing an uptight prince in bandhgalas in every movie ever? The actor’s debut Bollywood film firmly planted him as a leading actor to look out for as he matched his swoonworthy-looks and inherently romantic Urdu diction with formidable acting chops, making him a double threat.
Khuda Kay Liye (2007)
Director Shoaib Mansoor’s film about the prosecution of Muslims in America after 9/11 and the misinterpretation of Islam became the first Pakistani film to release in India in almost 50 years. The movie showed a more intense side of Khan as an actor as he played a character with morally dubious undertones. The movie also starred Naseeruddin Shah and has one of the most solid OSTs of the past few decades.
Kapoor & Sons (2016)
Khan proved his mettle as an actor with this Shakun Batra dramedy. He played the role of a successful writer who is hiding his sexuality from his family. The story followed the titular Kapoor family that puts the ‘fun’ in ‘dysfunctional’. Khan plays Rahul, the more succesful of the two Kapoor kids, the other being Arjun (Sidharth Malhotra) who is resentful of his brother living the life that could have been his. The fact that the girl he loves actually loves Rahul does not help matters. Khan’s performance made this one of the most memorable and nuanced portrayals of an LGBTQ+ character in Bollywood. It was made even special by the fact that the actor took on the role after it was passed on by several major Bollywood actors, including Saif Ali Khan.
Humsafar (2011)
This romantic drama paired two of the most popular Pakistani-exports to Bollywood together, with the Khoobsurat actor starring opposite Raees actress Mahira Khan. The drama is also one of the highest-rated TV shows in Pakistani TV history. The story follows a couple who is forced into marriage because of unforeseen circumstances. Things get even difficult for the two when they realise they have a different perspective on most things, leading them to despise the other. But as they begin spending time together, feelings are felt and love blooms.
Dastaan (2010)
Widely considered to be one of thebest Pakistani TV series of all time, Dastaan is set against the background of India and Pakistan’s partition in 1947. The story takes place between pre and post-partition eras, with the tragic event defining the ill-fated love story of Bano (Sanam Baloch) and Hassan (Khan). The actor gave a powerful performance as a man torn between his political beliefs and the love of his life.
Bonus: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016)
The movie deserves a special mention here, even though Khan had a brief appearance in the movie, including an unforgettable song where the man dances like he’s about to put all other Bollywood actors out of business. To be fair, the actor was one of the few good things about the movie, aside from the rediscovery of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as a romantic lead and the title song. His turn as the douchebag ex that you just can’t quit will remain etched in our memories forever. RIP his short-lived Bollywood career.
