"One of the best moments of my career was when Farooq Abdullah hugged me." - Hasan Zaidi

Actor Hasan Zaidi whom we have seen give a stellar performance in several television shows was recently a part of a film titled 'Sargoshiyaan'. The actor also attended the first screening of the film which was held in Kashmir and he had a rather amazing experience. 

Talking about it on the eve of his film's release, he says, "The premier of the film in Kashmir was a wonderful experience. It was amazing to see all the hard work that was put in the film on the screen finally. Everyone got emotional and they loved the film."

Ex-chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah was also present at the screening. Hasan says that meeting him was a special moment for him. 

"Farooq Abdullahji was there too. And when he hugged me, it was really one of the best moments of my career," he adds.

Speaking about his role in the film Hasan shares, "I play the role of a Kashmiri pandit called Aryan Raina who has grown up in Mumbai but is originally from Kashmir. His father has warned him against going to Kashmir with several different stories of how it is not safe there but when a friend asks him for help, he agrees to go there. Once in Kashmir, he finds out some deep answers about the true meaning of his existence."

Interestingly, this was Hasan's third trip to Kashmir. 

He says, "I had been there once for a bike trip. It was a road trip from Himachal to Kashmir to Leh and then Ladakh. The second time I went to Kashmir was for the film and then again for the screening; so, total thrice in life." 

Talking about shooting in Kashmir, Hasan says, "Kashmir is like a mother who has both emotions - anger and love. It basically embraces you whenever you are there. It is so beautiful. At the same time, I feel that the issues need to be solved and understood, which we have failed to do so. It was brilliant shooting there. The production team was fabulous. The hospitality that we got was so nice. The people there are so warm and kind."

The icing on the cake was the response that he got for the movie from the people of Kashmir. He recalls, "People who saw the film were very happy. They got emotional too. The film did not have any sensitive issue like terrorism; it is a normal story of normal people, which is why people praised its positivity."

The previous films which Hasan has worked in include 'Dhishkiyaoon', 'Horror Story' and 'Ex-Zone' which are yet to release.