Ready to take on the world

A-LIST ACTRESS AND PRODUCER HAREEM FAROOQ’S AIMING TO CROSS NEW HORIZONS

by ASJAD NAZIR

A REMARKABLE career has seen gifted actress Hareem Farooq deliver winning performances in theatre, cinema and television with a wide range of challenging roles.

The A-list Pakistani star also put on the producer’s hat very early on in her career and has been a powerful creative force in the past decade. She remains connected to the stage, while her big screen successes include Parchi and Heer Maan Ja. On TV she has starred in acclaimed serials, including Diyar-e-Dil, Dil-e-Beqarar and Main Khayal Hoon Kisi Aur Ka. She has more creative projects on the way and her sights are set on the west.

Eastern Eye caught up with Hareem Farooq during the coronavirus lockdown to talk about her remarkable rise, acting, plans and girl power.

How are you coping with the coronavirus crisis and what are you doing?

Social distancing is very important right now. I’m practising that as much as I can. I’m hoping to create awareness about it within my family and friends, not just people who are fans. I believe everyone should be practising that. It has given me time to reflect on my own self and spend time with my family. Obviously, it is a crisis and causing stress, but in these challenging times you need coping mechanisms. For me, the silver lining is that I get to spend more time with my mother.

What key message would you like to send out to people about the coronavirus crisis?

The only thing we can do is find ways to prevent it. Social distancing and keeping your hygiene in check are the crucial things to work a little hard, so we have to take those prevention methods seriously. It is our responsibility.

You have done a wide array of work, but which project is closest to your heart?

I do all my projects because I really like the character or story. There are three characters that are close to my heart. One character was of Jehan Ara during my theatre days, which was played by Bushra Ansariji originally. Second is Arjumand in (TV serial) Diyar-e-Dil, which was challenging and got me to explore different aspects of myself as a person and actor. There is also Heer in (film) Heer Maan Ja as that character was very similar to me as a person and I really enjoyed doing it.

How does your approach change between film, TV and theatre acting?

There are certain basics that obviously have to remain the same for me as an actor, when it comes to my methods. All these mediums require different skill-set. In theatre, you have to be loud and work on your body language because even those sitting on the last row need to know what you are going through and expressing. With TV you have to control yourself as it’s a small box like frame that people will see you on. So you need to work on your facial expressions. You need to know it’s a restricted frame and you have to express your emotions through this.

What about film?

With film it has to be larger than life. It’s one of the biggest platforms there is. For that, you have to maintain a balance; you can’t be really loud or really subtle. It’s not just about executing your emotions; your body language and expressions need to do that for you too. Everything about you needs to execute that particular character. So all three mediums require a lot of study and research. The same character would be portrayed differently in theatre, film and TV.

What made you want to get into producing at such a young age and why take on that stress?

(Laughs) I think I am weird that way. When I started acting, it wasn’t something I would be doing for 10 or 15 years. I made a decision that it will be with me till the day I die, that I have to do it and be successful in doing it. So, production was definitely a part of it because it gives you the power to throw in your own content and contribute in building an industry.

The film industry has grown in Pakistan in the past decade and you have been a part of that…

People say it is a revival, but I say it is a rebirth. We just birthed it recently. The plan was to start producing much later, instead of near the beginning, but when I got the offer, I thought, why do I have to wait 10 years? Why not do it now? I know myself and am hardworking, and capable enough. I felt I had to, and I don’t believe in waiting. I believe when you really want to do something you can start doing it from today.

Do you have a dream role?

There are many. As an actor, I love exploring. There are so many real life characters you meet and observe, and think there should be a character like that. I’ll give you a very small example; a girl who used to work for us was such a character and had such an interesting back story. I always used to think there should be a film or character based on her. So there is not just one specific character, like a lawyer, superhero, etc. I just see people, observe them and think there should be a character like them. For me, it’s more about exploring, as I go on with my life.

Do you see yourself working in the west?

To be honest, I do see myself doing that, inshallah. It’s not just for myself. I believe we really need to put Pakistan on that international map, where it deserves to be. For years, the global media has been killing us with that negativity like that terrorism tag we got. Slowly and gradually we are working towards the international space.

Like the Pakistanis who made it big in India…

A lot of people aimed for India, maybe because it is easier for us and a comfort zone, as we share the same language and culture to an extent. But I believe in pushing my limits. I always thought India is nice, and am glad for whoever made their names there. You must admire them because they worked hard, but we need to aim bigger. Why don’t we aim for Hollywood? It’s not like we can’t do it. We absolutely can do it.

Tell us more…

If you see, it is happening now, where they are diversifying their genres and actors. Finally, they have diverse cultures, including Asians working for them. Finally, they are giving people a chance. So why can’t we go there and try our luck. So definitely for sure, inshallah, I will and am already kind of working on it, fingers crossed.

You have proved to be a strong symbol of girl power. How important is women empowerment to you?

It is important as I’ve been brought up this way. We are just two sisters. We have been empowered by our father and grandfather. That meant a lot for us. I remember my father telling me, ‘never say no to something just because you are a girl. Say no because you don’t want to do it’. He always taught us to have a choice, not to suppress it because we are women. So I feel that helped me in life and still really does. I believe that other women should be given that confidence worldwide and not just in Pakistan.

You seem to be passionate about your empowerment message…

There are so many things we as humans are stopped from doing globally because we feel, maybe we can’t do it due to our gender. Many think, ‘I should not be asking for this because I am a girl and it doesn’t look nice’. No man, go ahead, ask for it. Asking for your right or practising it has nothing to do with your gender. So be kind, be respectful, but be empowered; know or have a skill, don’t be scared of following your dreams and pursue what you want in life. Everyone should be given a chance, irrespective of their gender.

What are your passions away from work?

Honestly, when I am not working, I try to spend time with my friends and family as much as I can because I know I won’t see them for long periods when I am working. So, I make an effort to spend time with them. They keep me sane and grounded. They are everything for me. Their support and love have made me who I am today or wherever I will go, I know they will be there for me.

What inspires you?

Love inspires me. When I see love, kindness and respect, it really inspires me. At a time where there is so much stress around the world, and I’m not just talking about this coronavirus, but also conflicts, environmental changes and TV channels or online feeds with stressful news. All you find is stress, but when there is a ray of sunshine, something like love, an act of kindness or an act of respect, that really inspires me. It actually motivates me, as an actor, person and producer. We need to spread that message of love even more.