Hareem Farooq – Exploring New Horizons

Hareem Farooq, a rising star who began her journey in the limelight through theatre and Anwar Maqsood’s scripts, has become a force to be reckoned with. From her standout roles in Aangan Terrha and the ‘August stage series’ to her indie film Siyaah, which earned her a Lux Style Awards nomination, Hareem has seamlessly transitioned from theatre to TV and film. With successes like the film Parchi and drama Main Khayal Hoon Kisi Aur Ka on Hum TV, she’s now a sought-after thespian. In a chat with Glam 360, Hareem shares insights into her exciting showbiz journey and how she manages to navigate the fast-paced industry without losing herself.

Let me begin with a complaint from your fans – they want you to be on TV in more than one play, but you do choose to do one project at a time, Why?
I am so grateful to my fans who want to watch me all the time, but ever since I entered TV I have tried to give my best to one project at a time. I can do multiple projects but then that will make me like all the other actresses who are increasing the number of plays but not improving their skill. For me acting is not just a profession but a way to express myself, and I can only do that when I am giving it my 100 percent. Ever since I turned producer, I have been associated with Imran Raza Kazmi who is a dear friend, and it is because of him I don’t have to worry much because we work as a team. Wherever I am weak, he is strong and wherever he is weak, I play on my strength and that’s why we have been doing good work for quite some time now.

“Tv is a medium for the masses, and by the masses I don’t mean you and me but those people who can’t afford to buy tickets, and get entertainment by just watching dramas”

Why do TV dramas in Pakistan constantly revolve around divorces, second marriages, extramarital affairs instead of something constructive like child abuse and other such topics?

An Indian drama Nagin was rated as the most watched play in Pakistan and that shows what the public wants. Where we are today is something that didn’t happen overnight; from Aangan Terrha to Alpha Bravo Charlie to Nagin, we have evolved and that’s exactly what keeps the audience’s glued to the screen. We are currently evolving into a diverse industry and it will take time before we produce Plays on other subjects as well. It took 22 years for Imran Khan to become the Prime Minister; change will come slowly and gradually.

You are part of IRK Films and have co-produced Janaan with them; why did you venture into TV after doing a couple of successful films?
Television is undoubtedly the biggest medium in Pakistan, even bigger than films because it caters to the whole country. It would have been unfair on our part had we limited ourselves to films only because we have many stories to tell and issues to tackle, and we can do that by producing quality plays for an already established medium that is TV. Main Khayal Hoon Kisi Aur Ka is our first TV production and it revolves around a divorced girl and how she manages to stay alive in a society where we don’t want to be associated with a woman who has sent back.

People saw you act on TV  and on theatre but many were surprised when they saw you dance first in Dobara Phir Se, and later in Parchi. Where did that come from?

I like to surprise the audience and dancing is one of the many skills that I had hidden from them. When I did theatre and TV, many were of the opinion that I wouldn’t be able to dance but my friends and family knew that I could, and through Dobara Phir Se and Parchi, I shocked many by doing it right. It was a nice experience especially Billo Hai, and it turned out to be a chartbuster song that people play at weddings now.

So when will we see Hareem Farooq on the big screen again?

Soon, very soon. I am not part of the rat race here so I am not in a hurry to increase the number of my projects. A film takes a year to be completed and whenever I do one, it will be announced properly. Until then I will do production, acting on TV and even commercials. I believe in doing hard work and let Allah oversee it.