ON HIS OWN TERMS

For cover star Aqil Khan, life is about embracing uncertainties and seizing opportunities

The idea of men earning a living for simply wearing clothes smacked of unappealing traits – narcissism, unintelligence and a lack of seriousness. But in more recent years there’s been a seismic shift in attitudes. As social media influence grows, so has our need to be influenced. And according to 25-year-old Paris-based model Aqil Khan (who also doubles as a commercial director for an import and export food company in Europe), having an authentic approach to connectivity is a key component to becoming influential on social media. The aspiring actor also believes that the craft of acting is like most arts – a beautiful and elusive thing, and the process is different for everyone. “Hard work and perseverance pays off. I’m a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan and, like him, I’d like to achieve great heights. In today’s day and age, there’s no room for complacency – it’s all about the hustle,” he says. There are multiple methods of learning how to act, and how to build a character. But in its simplest form, acting is about weaving a story together. For Aqil Khan, acting is about inhabiting a character and presenting a narrative. “The goal is for that character and the narrative to be truthful, authentic and entertaining for an audience – almost like how it works for a social media influencer. But, it can take years and years to master. There is no set formula, and while some people are naturals, most people need to learn to hone their craft to have a sustainable career,” he goes on to elaborate.