“I play a different woman in a similar situation”

INSTEPintErVIEW

Uzma Hassan talks about her role in Arth 2, acting for thirteen years and the kind of roles she’d like to do in the future.

You may recall Uzma Hassan from one of the most popular Pakistani drama serials, Ullu Baraye Farokht Nahin. With thirteen years of television and theatre behind her, she has slowly paved her way to the fore, the culmination of which stands as her debut film set to release next month. The film that gripped people’s attention even before it hit the floors, Arth 2 has the actor playing Shabana Azmi’s role of Pooja from the original cult classic.

How did it all happen for the actress? We ask her over the phone, as she’s wrapping up a serial in Karachi before the film’s release next month.

“Acting was never something that I planned – it’s just something that I stumbled over. I started with television and then started working at Ajoka Theatre six years ago and during the performance of a play I realized that Shaan Shahid was also in the audience.”

She recalls playing three characters in that play: Manto’s alter ego (played by Nimra Bucha in the film), Kalwant Kaur from Thanda Gosht and an old lady from his other story, Khuda Ki Qasam.

“He saw me there and when he offered it to me I thought he was joking but I slowly realized that it was really happening to me,” she said.

A debut film that’s a remake of a cult classic, with a role already essayed by one of the greatest thespians of our time along with the added pressure of India Pakistan tensions… there must have been some nerves.

“There definitely was pressure but we’re not trying to compete with the original. This is a new version in a new time and a different country. That was 1982 India and this is 2017 Pakistan – everything has changed so naturally people’s reactions to situations have changed too. I play a different woman in a similar situation.”

She also didn’t think about doing it better, she shares that she wanted to explore her own version of it, especially since Shaan gave all actors the license to experiment.

“There was the thought that you’ve been picked up by the best who is remaking a classic and I just didn’t want to let him down. He helped me along the way and believed in my talent and this reflects on the film as well because the film is about being around people who believe in you especially when you don’t believe in yourself,” she said about working with Shaan, who’s producing and directing the film. “There will be comparisons but then you brace yourself because constructive criticism is what helps you grow as an actor and it’s a lifelong learning experience.”

On the kind of roles she would like to do in the future she said, “I want a role that challenges me but our writers are not writing the right kind of roles. We have a lot more purpose in life than is shown on our television or films. In that regard, Arth was great for me because it’s a great character to do with a lot of margin. It’s about a woman who’s been betrayed but she picks herself up and this will give people a lot of hope.”