Smashing cultural divides and telling stories on the ground are the DNA of the brand that Khalid Al Ameri has become.
“We have our culture and our traditions but, at the heart of it, we’re all the same,” Khalid said. “We all want a happy home, loving relationships, kids who grow up to be amazing human beings.For some reason, people around the world don’t envision us sharing the same stories they do because of an ideology they have about our culture and religion. And I see no better way to break that barrier than through skits and comedy.”
Smashing cultural divides and telling stories on the ground are the DNA of the brand that Khalid Al Ameri has become. Case in point: His video on the gurudwara in Dubai, or the time he visited Kerala and Islamabad.
“My team and I have this rule now: We visit [places], we understand, and then we share the story. If you ask me what I think of Pakistan and I haven’t been there, I won’t tell you – because I don’t know.”
That approach, he said, will be crucial to dismantling the stereotypes from narratives pushed in the media. “The work is the legacy that I leave behind – and that’s what I love.”
(Catch the full interview in WKND on Friday, August 21)
karen@khaleejtimes.com