WITTY, CHARMING & UNABASHED

by Mariam Khan & Sidra Khan

Imagine waltzing into a room echoing with chatter and laughter, giving you a much-needed boost of energy on a lazy afternoon. Now, imagine that vigour resonating from three gorgeous ladies.

As playful as kittens, Sanam, Hareem and Tooba tease each other while munching on their favourite delectables. Who says actresses can’t be friends? The girls present a picture that goes against an otherwise popular notion.

Accompanied by a hefty star cast on the set, one can only imagine how much fun it must have been to shoot for their latest big screen project, Dobara Phir Se. MAG lets you in on the candid chat. Excerpts:

Sanam Saeed

City girl or country life?

City girl

Idea of a perfect life?

Travel three times-a-year.

If you could, what is the one thing you want to change about yourself?

I wish I had picked up on things faster.

One thing you can’t leave home without?

It was never my phone, but it has become now for that’s the only way you can stay connected to friends, family and work.

Long kameez or short kurtas?

Long kameez

If you could act alongside anyone from anywhere in the entertainment industry, who would it be?

Could be any, Meryl Streep, Irrfan Khan, Nauman Ijaz, Saba Qamar, Christian Bale, Tabu

Three words to describe yourself…

Peace loving, confused and passionate

Favourite TV show?

Mad Men

What do you do when you’re not working?

I’m home spending time with friends and family.

What do you spend the most on?

Food! I’m a foodie! My favourite cuisines are Pakistani, Thai and Italian. I’ll enjoy spending on a good meal and outing with friends.


Hareem Farooq

Most memorable moment?

Meeting Anwar Maqsood

You’re most nervous when?

Before starting any new project

You’re most satisfied/comfortable when?

Spending time with friends and family

One person you’d like to bring back from the dead to meet?

Moin Akhter. I was supposed to meet him the week he died.

Someone you’d like to kill to bring him back?

Tahir Shah! I didn’t like his song, Eye To Eye already and my fans kept sending me the song, saying it was made for me *shudders*

The most embarrassing rumour you’ve read about yourself so far?

Nothing so far and hopefully, nothing in future.

If you could go back and undo something, what would that be?

Absolutely nothing! I believe everything has been responsible for me being here today.

You wish you never have to...

Choose between family and work

You can’t live without?

My family

You get most emotional when?

I get emotional during every drama and movie *laughs*

Your favourite movie?

Queen


Tooba Siddiqui

City girl or country life?

City

Idea of a perfect life?

Travel three times-a-year, some months of urban/mountain life, some of city and some comprising of the both

If you could, what is the one thing you want to change about yourself?

I wish I could have more time for this industry’s madness for I can’t give too much time to it anymore

One thing you can’t leave home without?

Phone. Sadly, it’s true for all of us, it’s an addiction

Long kameez/short kurtas?

Short kurtas

If you were to be stuck in one TV show, which one would you want it to be?

Friends

Three words to describe yourself...

Dreamer, patriotic and straightforward

If you could act alongside anyone from anywhere in the entertainment industry, who would it be?

It keeps on changing, but I would LOVE to work with Leonardo DiCaprio

Favourite TV show?

Game of Thrones

Favourite soundtrack?

Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar

What do you do when you’re not working?

I’m playing with my kids.


All the world’s a stage

On her school’s bonfire she would don a huge bow and shades and lip-sync to I Will Survive. On spotting mere curtains, be it shower curtains or beaded ones at a relative’s house, she would set up a play. What an average soul saw as a water tank, this thespian looked upon it as a stage – a platform where she could be whoever she wanted. As for an audience, she always had them handy – “I would gather kids and tell them you would be so and so, these are the props and we acted out a story,” Sanam Saeed, the lady who oozes sophistication, shares the passion she always had for the stagecraft.

Sanam Saeed All the while she attended plays as a child with her mom, Sanam would always be studying the characters which later helped her in her profession, making the public go through a spectrum of emotions through her work on-screen. “I want to make people laugh, cry, make them fall in love with me, want them to hate me. Whenever I got moved by a performance, I had it registered that I will be that expressive too,” she speaks about her infatuation for the craft which lets her do all the things she wouldn’t have been able to do had she not taken up acting as a profession.

Actors, this evergreen lady believes, are slightly shy in real life. The audiences know her as Shazia from Mera Naseeb, or the strait-laced Kashaf from Zindagi Gulzar Hai, but she isn’t half as naïve as Sania, nor is she as giggly and bubbly as Samar, her character in Dobara Phir Se (DPS). “I don’t think we ever get close to performing the real us. If you look at the TV projects I have done, I would say my roles have a lot of me in them, but I don’t think I have done a closest version of the real me.”

This “Hollywood-inspired” leading lady got the key to the modelling world when she was 16. “I was doing a play with Aisha Alam and Shayan Malik was having a show. She asked me to attend the modelling rehearsal with her. I had no desire for I was rehearsing for my play. All the top models of the time, Nadia (Hussain), Vini (Vaneeza Ahmed), Iraj (Manzoor) and Gia (Ali) were there,” Sanam goes down memory lane recalling her runway venture which lasted 10 years… and then the world of acting unfolded.

“I didn’t have an audition. My first sitcom was Sath, but the first proper serial I did was Mehreen Jabbar’s Daam. I remember Mehreen coming to my house and she brought Sarwat with her. It was in my living room only that she penned a scene and asked me to act it out. She asked me to work on my Urdu for it was always funny as there was a lack of flow,” and from then on, the journey for this starlet has been a smooth sailing.

Many who venture into the world of glitz come for fame, while others go for the money it has to offer. But for this lady, her point of view was always clear. “I knew what I always wanted to do – to act. Whether it’s the big screen, small screen or stage I just want to act. I want to keep challenging myself, leaving an impact on people, not playing, but cracking into their emotions.” And she utters, “I have come a long way. I was a lot more confused, shy then and was not sure about the kind of roles I wanted to do. Back then I wouldn’t have worked in films; same goes for TV like I never thought I would go for it,” Sanam, who always wanted to be part of stage, shares. “I can never imagine being a Pakistani TV actress and deliver monologues in Urdu,” but then things changed for this musicals-inspired silver screen lady. “You find out what your roots are, what your social responsibilities are and how you can use them to your advantage,” says a more patient, resilient and less stubborn Sanam who believes, “One should constantly allow oneself to change and evolve. And when a point is reached and one is forced to change because of the circumstances, that’s when control comes in. Be smart enough and comfortable enough to keep evolving with time and I have learnt to do that,” she shares her secret on adapting with time.

The lady who is mostly seen on screen as “a simple girl, with no make-up and lose clothes” hears it from many that she is type-casted. “Now I get to hear that why am I casted in the same characters. But I make a conscious decision to do them and make them fun, they mean something and are much more powerful than a sweet-cake faced role,” Sanam talks about how she is stereotyped on playing “harsh, strong roles”, but then the steadfast actress has an opinion, “It depends on what you want to take as a challenge, which then becomes one.”

As for her take on the upcoming movie, will it be a different genre for the local audiences? “I don’t think our audience is still polished enough; we need all types of movies; sophisticated, literate, those that go over the head, action movies; DPS’ genre hasn’t been established yet, so it’s going to be another stepping stone. Another layer to the onion,” says the star of the silver and small screen for whom “Lollywood is a different creature altogether”.

Sanam is a dreamer who lives in her own world, as she sets it out, “Main apni dunya main bohat rehti hun aur asal zindagi main nahi reh sakti,” and as she expresses, a fantasizer’s hue is what spreads across her face, and energy of that positivity envelops all those around her.

Surprisingly, this ingénue has had no creepy, stalker moments. “I have had no weird encounters, and am received with a lot of respect, maybe people have Kashaf in mind,” she says with a hint of glee. The norms of this star-gazer are closely perfected. “I’m conscious of the way I dress and the roles I opt,” says the diva who is a role model for the young ladies.

One who constantly lives in the fictional world, it has become so difficult for this shining star to stop being the character in real life too. “I feel there should be a common thread between me and the characters that I perform; like I don’t want them to believe in Kashaf, I want them to believe in me,” she signs off.

Basking in a world of enchantment

Laughing and chirping, Hareem engulfs everyone with her contagious vibes. A star in her own right, she is as friendly and down-to-earth as one can be, being a prime example for those who confuse stardom with vanity. She looks as fresh as a daisy and is having the time of her life, joking around with her girlfriends when she invites me to join her. It is hard to believe that it has been almost two years already since the last time MAG caught up with the actress. While she remains the same lovable lass to the core, a lot has changed for her as a performing artiste. So, I pick up our conversation right where we left it the last time, when she told me that she was working on her first home production, Janaan.

Sanam Saeed Fast forward and the movie has broken multiple records and has fared all too well locally and internationally. “We never thought it would become such a hit,” Hareem says with utmost humility and continues, “Yes, we wanted to make something that would create an impact, but we were not worried about the numbers. We were more concerned about how people were going to like it. We wanted our film to help the Pakistani cinema.” She shares that one thing she is absolutely adamant on is to introduce fresh faces. “Imran (Raza Kazmi), my partner, and I, both agree on it. We are from Islamabad so we can very well understand the struggle within yourself, plus to succeed in this field. So, we want to give a platform to people who don’t know what to do but really want to do something.” How has this past year changed her as an artiste, I inquire. “I like that question!” she laughs and dives back into her memory in a contemplative mood. “I have learnt so much, and I always try to come out of a project learning something new, be it good or bad,” she reveals and further says, “As an actor, you can never be satisfied. If you say ‘bas, mene seekh lia’ or ‘mujhay acting aati hai’, that is the day you will turn into the worst actor. If I ever come across an old project of mine, I immediately think, ‘Oh god, that was terrible’. I’m lucky that I have this realisation. Though, I think people can be better judges of whether or not I have improved.”

All Hareem can talk about these days is her fabulous work in Dobara Phir Se. I ask her what she thinks of her role in the film. “My character is very shady,” she laughs and explains that “there is an alluring mystery to her andshe is quite the opposite of Hammad”, which is Adeel Hussain’s character in the film. She continues, “I think she wants to be independent but she is not. How I see it is that this entire film is the journey of her breaking out of her shell and coming out of her comfort zone.” But this is definitely not the only thing in store for those who are planning to visit the theatres. “The beauty of this film is that it is not focused on any one kind of relationship. It is not the typical boy-meets-girl-they-fall-in-love story. From mother to son, to brother and friends, we explore every relationship.” Even though I ask her how similar the roles are to her own personality, and if that clouds her emotions and makes it difficult to keep her sanity intact, she insists that “the similarities are just an after-thought”. The Diyar-e-Dil star points out, “Initially, you think that you can relate to the characters completely. But you have to learn to isolate yourself and see the character as someone different. You think you know how to play it because of the similarities, you get over-confident, but you should understand that it is not that easy, otherwise there is no fun or learning in it for the actor. So, how I see it now is that yes, my character has some shades in it that resemble me, but she is her own person. She is also quite mellow, which is completely unlike me.”

The girl with enviable locks sighs at the idea of having worked with one of the few directors that she looks up to and has great regard for. “One fine day, I got a call from Mehreen and she asked me for my dates. I was more than happy to say ‘yes’. As an actor, you have a list of directors you want to work with. I personally believe that a director is the most important person in the team because it is his vision that gives things their specific shape, he is the captain of the ship. Mehreen is one of the top ones (directors) in my list. So, I consider myself lucky to have been included in this project,” she says, revealing that she was caught off guard when the project was offered to her and admits that it was “absolutely wonderful working with Mehreen (Jabbar)”. As a director, Hareem shares, the creator of hit serials like Daam and Jackson Heights is anything but dictatorial. “The beauty of working with Mehreen is that you don’t even get to know that you are being directed; she is able to do everything important in the process and still gives you the freedom as an actor to do your own thing.” This is one of the major reasons why she is respected and appreciated both, inside and outside the industry. Like many others working with Mehreen, Hareem confesses of being guilty of trusting her completely with every decision. “Well, they [script and role] are always the first and foremost thing you see in any project, and they should be, but that is the thing with her, if you know it is Mehreen, you know that it is going to be something good. There is a lot of trust factor between us. She has that sense that she wouldn’t do something mediocre. She doesn’t do commercial work, but no one can say that she doesn’t do good work.”

Having created a wave with her production Janaan, I ask her what she is expecting from this one and whether the pressure to do better has started to get to her yet. “What I honestly think is that everyone would be able to relate to some or the other character, especially the ones living abroad, whether it is about the struggles of living on your own in a foreign country or those that one has with people in their life. When you work hard for something, you obviously want it to be well-received and be appreciated. It could become a cult, or just do well in the cinemas with the audience applauding our efforts, either way it is good. But for me, I always think that there is a surprise factor, you never know what the film could achieve and how much it could touch people’s lives.” Hareem exudes a lot of exuberance and for her, the world is her oyster. Gazing outside the window, as if she could see the future already, she excitedly tells me that she “plans to focus more on producing than acting because our industry needs that right now”. She shares that the next film her production house is working on is Parchi – a “clean, no vulgarity, no-nonsense comedy film that will employ lots of theatre actors,” including her. After it finds its way to the theatres sometime next year, the ambitious and feisty star will move on to her third venture, something she has already been thinking about.

Signing off, Hareem addresses her fans and followers, “Please watch the movie. I wouldn’t say that people should come out to support Pakistani cinema because that phase has already passed. People gave us the due support, they trusted us and appreciated us. They did all that they could. It is now time to focus on the growth of this industry. For that we need your feedback, we need you to write about the movies and your views about them. Fans are very important. So, I want to know what you feel about the movie. It would be great if you wrote to producers about the kind of movie that you want to see, as well. You are the ones who make us, it is as simple as that.” 

All work and more action

She played on the streets, cycled around Islamabad and explored, say hello to Tooba Siddiqui, the explorer! “I was more of a tomboyish girl, as I was surrounded by guys. My cousins and I lived on one street; in the evening, after school, I remember I used to be out on the streets with them and no other girl used to be there and my mother and khalas would say ‘for God’s sake come inside’ and I would say ‘Why? They are all my family guys!’,” says the champion of the fashion runway who moved to the economic hub when she started modelling 15 years ago.

Sanam Saeed A firm believer in dreams, Tooba loves setting goals. “I give myself a time frame and then I give it my best to achieve everything that I have aimed for,” says the mother of two. “Now, I have become extremely choosy, for I have to give time to all aspects of my life,” says the fun-loving soul who cherishes good company.

She fondly recalls the first time she went for an audition. “I went with my mother and Tariq Amin got me that audition. I was playing Sania Saeed’s daughter; it was my first play and that was the time when I shrieked with excitement for I was going to be on TV,” and the zeal still shines bright as she shares the memory.

For Tooba, who took the glitzy road, the journey wasn’t so smooth, after all. “Tariq Amin introduced me in this field and the story is too old to even mention now. But it was somewhere in the middle that we didn’t get along and had an issue; that was a period which was a bit hard for me as a lot of people from the fashion industry stopped working with me so I really had to self step up. That was the only time, after that it was all good.”

“When I started, it was easy in a way for there was less competition but we really had to set a mark and work hard. But now it is so much easier for there is social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter; so it is easier to get your name out there without having anything to your credit and become famous overnight,” Tooba recalls the days when she started acting.

The lady who transitioned from a tomboy to having her “female button switched on”, loves dressing up. “After this turning point, I was like ‘OMG! This is how I should be looking! And since then I love making an effort to look my best,” she lets out.

Tooba will be seen on the big screen very soon playing the role of Natasha. “She is a Wall Street banker, who is straightforward and practical. She knows how to get things done and is head-on with life,” she evades revealing the story but wraps it up by disclosing “there are two sides to the character”. Talking about her character in Dobara Phir Se, the elegant actress brings to mind the pleasant memories she made with her co-actors. “The girls lived in a separate apartment where we would chill, listen to music and all of us got along really well.”

As we speak, the tensions with our eastern neighbour prevails. And Tooba, who was offered a role in a Bollywood film almost six years ago, holds a stance. “There are no boundaries for actors. I think we make an issue out of it just because it’s India. However, if we get offers from Hollywood or even the Iranian industry, we will do it, but my priority has and will always be working for my country.”

This globetrotter holds infatuation for mountains. “I love scenic views; I have travelled all across northern Pakistan as a kid and not being close to the mountains frustrates me a lot,” says the travel enthusiast who takes cruising across the world as a learning experience.

She grew up watching movies. When asked what would she be if not an actress, she quips, “I would have taken up what my parents wanted me to be,” and taking a jibe is not hard, for it’s what every other brown parent wants their child to be. Yes, you got that right. She could have been Dr. Tooba, had she not been a part of the entertainment sphere.

Tooba holds a funny memory from the days when Bol Meri Machli was aired in the US. “The drama was a major hit there. We had a whole tour of fashion shows in Houston, Chicago, New York, DC and there was a bunch of girls who used to follow us and whenever they saw me they used to call out ‘Machli! Machli!’ and after the fourth show I was looking for them,” Tooba expresses while laughing wholeheartedly.

Every time this soubrette travels, she gets to do her homework – character studying. “I would keep noticing someone who is very shy or loud in the room; I like observing. I think you pick up different shades from each character; like you pick a shade of yourself and you put that in a character but you don't put the complete you in it,” she delivers on the elements that go into each character she plays.

With new faces taking on the screens every now and again, Tooba talks about how her journey has been in all these past 15-16 years. “For me acting has gone to different levels. Immature acting is there but I would say them are still learning and there is still a lot more for the newcomers to learn, which they will eventually.” Encouraging others is what this package of glam firmly believes in. “Personally, if I see someone doing a great job, I would go up to that person and tell them that I loved that particular performance of theirs,” Tooba, a motivator too, speaks.

For all those who want to step into the world Tooba is a part of, but shy away from it – be it due to restrictions at home or the stereotypes associated with the entertainment industry, this lass lets a piece out, genuinely from the heart, “Anyone who believes in their dreams and their self, needs to believe in themselves firmly, for that very dream will turn out to be true eventually, only if you have strong faith in yourself. Talking about how good or bad people are in this hub is secondary, for it depends on how you are as a person; and then it all comes down to what do you want from the field – do you want fame or do you want to be an actor? If you have your goals set out, follow and stick to that path till you achieve it.”

Hair & make-up: N-Pro
Designer: FnkAsia by Huma Adnan
Photography: Wahaj Alley

GALLERY

RELATED POST

COMMENTS