'People just have so much to say': Farhan Saeed on his work and keeping his married life private.

Pakistani audiences are calling Farhan Saeed TV's most romantic hero. It's a declaration that I see frequently on social media, made by the plethora of online accounts created by Farhan's fans. The comment is usually accompanied by heart emojis and short clips from Farhan's dramas - visuals of him half-smiling, besotted by Urwa Hocane in Udaari or Iqra Aziz in Suno Chanda or, most recently, Hania Aamir in Mere Humsafar.

Farhan, it seems, has a flair for all things sappy and sentimental.

This observation turns out to be a great way to start my interview with him, breaking the ice promptly. So you're TV's most romantic hero, I ask him. Farhan smiles. 'I wouldn't mind people thinking so. Perhaps some actors prefer to be cool about such things and shrug off the compliments. But to my mind, it's like a dream come true! What could make me happier?'

What's the secret to his success in romancing his leading ladies so well? One would assume that he's very romantic in real life too. 'I am not that expressive in real life,' Farhan tells me. 'Perhaps that's the reason why when I come in front of the camera, I let my emotions out so easily. There's no formula, though. I think that what's most important is that the female lead should have great energy and the environment on set is not toxic. All the female leads that I have acted with - Urwa Hocane, Iqra Aziz, Sohai Ali Abro and Hania Aamir, for instance - are generally good people. When everyone is getting along, I find it easier to connect with my character and perform better.'

Farhan Saeed is living his dream, receiving love and admiration from an ever-increasing fan base and exclusively working on projects he believes in. What is Farhan's secret? And what's next for Pakistani television's king of romance?

He continues, 'I also think that the TV audience takes a liking to certain characters and gets involved in their stories. People have so many problems in their homes and they want to see happy endings on TV. I tend to play a part in achieving that happy ending.'

Mere Humsafar

Mere Humsafar

One such drama of Farhan's is currently inching towards its happy ending, albeit slowly and painfully. Mere Humsafar, airing on ARY Digital, is a 40-odd episode long emotional rollercoaster peppered with plenty of pain, tears, slapping about and - here's where Farhan comes in - romance. The drama is a huge hit with every episode hauling in high TRPs as well as YouTube views, and there are entire fan pages dedicated solely to the romance between Hamza and Hala, the characters played by Farhan and Hania, respectively.

The story is an emotionally debilitating but romantic one. What does Farhan think is the reason behind its colossal success? 'I think a lot of our dramas are dominated by pain and tears, and there is no saviour. Mere Humsafar may have its sad moments but people also have hope that Hala will be saved by Hamza. In fact, the drama was...