"I became a model
and an actor to become rich and famous. Commercials are
quite lucrative, while TV plays can make me a household
name," says the new girl smiling at us from press
ads, billboards and TV screens, while confessing the truth
behind her decision to join the cliched 'big bad world
of showbiz'.
Faiza Hasan belongs to
the new breed of models and actors who are young, good-looking
and educated. But ask her if she finds satisfaction in
her chosen field of work, and she replies in the negative.
"I wish I was doing this 10 to 15 years ago. Most
of the play scripts today are quite soulless."
Ask her about her favourite
actors and she names five women, three of whom are deceased
- Shabnam and Rani from Lollywood and Nargis from across
the Wagah. Her small-screen inspirations are Khalida Riyasat
and Sakina Samoon.
Talking of Sakina Samoon,
Faiza says she was involved in two projects with the actor-producer-director.
She was the leading actress in a 17-episode serial, Wujood-i-Laraib
and recently appeared in the play Darbar-i-Dil. She is
quite candid about these experiences: "While director
Shahid Iqbal Pasha groomed me and brought out the best
in me, I am most impressed by Sakina's professionalism.
She is very sure about what she wants. I think women directors
are more particular about details such as the right make-up,
props, etc, and are perhaps more clearheaded. Unlike my
first two involvements which were both bad projects, working
with Sakina was a wonderful experience."
She continues, "I
had worked in Fahim Burney's serial Tootay Khwaab and
Iqbal Latif's sitcom, Mehrbaan House, but both serials
turned out to be pathetic. Then I got to work with Shahid
Iqbal Pasha in the 27-episode serial Sahil Ki Tamanna,
based on a story by famous novelist/ short-story writer,
Waheeda Nasim."
Faiza has also worked in
other serials such as Mahpara and director Haider Imam
Rizvi's Mahe Neem Shab. "I'm excited about Mahe Neem
Shab as I play an Afghan refugee."
Faiza is doing her Masters
in English Literature from the University of Karachi.
She intends to get a second degree in Urdu Literature.
In lieu of her interest in the subject, the discussion
shifts towards her favourite writers. Amongst others,
George Orwell, the Bengal-born English novelist, essayist
and critic famous for his political satires such as Animal
Farm and 1984 is her favourite. In fact, the latter book
is among her choicest as she finds Orwell's depiction
of post-World War II Oceania profound and prophetic. The
Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot is her favourite
poem, while in Urdu fiction she finds Manto and Ismet
Chughtai's writings to be as relevant today as they were
some 50 years ago.
"As an actor I feel
that studying Urdu literature is important. In fact, a
sound overall liberal arts education is necessary for
any kind of association with the performing arts,"
she says, adding, "I might go for a parallel career
as a lecturer or start writing myself." She feels
strongly about issues such as incest, abuse and adultery.
She feels that although people talk about these matters,
there isn't much being written on these "hardcore
subjects."
It was four years ago when
a former Intermediate classmate who took up photography
clicked her portraits as he was preparing his portfolio.
One thing led to another and her photographs found their
way to an ad agency and she got an offer for her first
press ad. Followed by more ads and TV commercials she
ultimately made it to TV plays. She has appeared in about
two-dozen press ads and television commercials, and at
least half-a-dozen serials and plays.
"I would like to work
with Mehreen Jabbar," she enthuses, "but TV
serials and plays are not the ultimate. As much as I enjoyed
seeing myself on huge billboards, I want to work in a
Pakistani movie and see myself on the big screen. Just
for kicks."
