Sang-i-Mah was shot in Dadar, near Shinkiari and Balakot. Its up in the mountains and a fairly remote area recalls Saife. Atif Aslam was supposed to arrive on set in three, four days, and we suddenly got a query as to whether his vanity van was ready.

Up there in the mountains, there was no concept of a vanity van. We quickly made enquiries in Lahore and there was no van that was free. Karachi was too far off to be a possibility.                              He continues: We then decided that, instead of arranging a van, we would find a nearby location where Atif and his team could retire in between shoots. This turned out to be difficult. The nearby homes were occupied by [conservative locals] and there was no concept of allowing unknown men into their homes to rest.

Finally, we found a shed where a man used to tie up his cattle. It was near the location where Atifs character would rest and spend time at the graveyard. Within four days, we cleaned up the shed. We eliminated the smell of cattle and we made it so comfortable that Atif and his team would sit there all day and they never realised that animals would be tied up in this very room!

Saife has more anecdotes for Sang-i-Mah fans  and Atif Aslam fans.

Atif was very generous. When his acting spell ended, he handed out money to all the crew that had been working in the drama. There were three or four boys and they got 50,000 rupees each. The rest of the crew got envelopes containing 100 dollars.                       I was sitting with Naumaan Ijaz at that time and I asked him what I should do if Atif gave me an envelope. Naumaan advised me that it would be wrong to refuse the envelope at that point, and that I should take it. Hell probably give you a little more than 100 dollars, he said to me.

It turned out that I got a cheque for 200,000 rupees, Saife laughs. For quite some time, I didnt cash the cheque but then I got a call from Atifs manager asking why I hadnt cashed the cheque. I eventually cashed it. Do lakh say khaa pee leeya [I spent it all on food], laughs Saife.                                                                                https://www.dawn.com/news/1737742/prime-time-behind-the-scenes-on-tv-drama-sets

I have been getting acting offers all these years but I was waiting for something special. I wanted to do something crazy. I was initially skeptical as to why they wanted to cast me. But when I read the script I knew that this was something I wanted to do. It was poetic, there was a rhythm to it. I felt a lot of the character was close to me.

Had he read Hamlet and was he aware of how complex the character was?

I actually havent seen Hamlet and when I asked, I was told not to, he says. So I had to tap into my inner Hamlet. It wasnt easy for me; it was tough to set the level of madness in the character. The monologues were long and complex, often they were tongue twisters, and it was difficult to do it for the first time. I looked within and found the poet and the philosopher and just enhanced those qualities.

Im not revengeful though, he laughs.                                                       I was scared, I was nervous and I questioned whether I should do it or not, he says. Everyone I met, from my family, to my industry, to my friendseveryone said I shouldnt do it. I was the only one adamant that this is something I want to do. I didnt want to regret not trying. I was unsure of how it would turn out but then the feedback started rolling in and I realized that people are loving it.

Did he agree with critique on the near-perfect disposition of a character that lived in the wilderness? Whatever he goes through will throw him off track and his appearance will eventually get disheveled. But yes, I think right now he has too much hair spray on hand! he laughs again.                                                                       https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/950492-atif-aslam-on-how-to-be-or-not-to-be