‘Homemakers are not given prominence’

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‘Homemakers are not given prominence’

Sunday, 17 March 2019 | MUSBA HASHMI

‘Homemakers are not given prominence’

MUSBA HASHMI speaks with NEELIMA AZEEM about her new show Mom & Co on Zoom TV and experiences in the industry

Tell us about the show Mom & Co.

The show is about a woman — Suhasini Rao. She is a simple and sincere lady. She has gone through a lot in life. She goes through her own moments of loneliness and some special moments with her son. The show revolves around mother-son relationship  and captures the complexities as well as the beauty of it.

What attracted you to play Suhasini?

Women who are not overtly exciting and who are homemakers, they do a lot in life. They are the ones who make their families and keep them together whatever the cost. These women have their identity and emotional issues and face a lot of challenges in life. Homemakers are huge anchors, they steer everything, they nurture their children and support their husbands and families. They create the people that their children become but they are not given enough prominence. I think they are not even given their due respect. In our society a woman like this should be brought out through a well told story and a well-edged out character and Suhasini is a character that brings out all this effortlessly. She is enduring and  people will relate to her. Women who have gone through all this in their life will be emotionally attached to her. This is what attracted me to play this role.

Was there something you did going out of your comfort zone?

Yes, wearing sarees all the time and  wearing them the right way. (laughs)

But honestly, I don’t see my work as a matter of comfort or discomfort. I see work as challenging or difficult. I define work based on the complexities of my character and the kind of storyline the show follows. But thankfully there have been no dark areas in my characterin this show where I would feel afraid of playing it.

Who do you consider the mother of TV?

I don’t watch television much so I am not the right person to say this but yes, I have seen many women who have played a mother’s role brilliantly in films, like Nargis in Mother India.

How has your journey been so far?

To say the least, it has been interesting. There were ups and downs but, at the end of the day this is what you love to do and we get paid for it so I am happy to be an actor.

How have you evolved as an actor?

It is difficult to talk about my own evolvement. But when I started I tried to be more spectacular on screen but, now my basic evolvement is that I rather want to be in the moment and the graph of the story.

How do you define acting and what is your approach towards it?

Acting is what propels you to play different people. And it comes naturally to be an actor. It is what excites and motivates you to live various lives in various worlds, playing different people.

Who has been your inspiration?

My inspiration has been Meena Kumari. She was a very versatile actor.

What does success means to you?

It is very difficult to define it in just one word but, I think success for me is being able to do what you love to.

One change you would like to see in the industry for actors and other working professionals.

It is important that for actors we pick up subjects where they get to play  more realisitic and interesting characters. Also for actors of our age there should be more subjects centred around people who are older because it is interesting to show their life and there is more to their life than just the age brackets. Actors should also be given more workshops and time to prepare for their projects and there should be a proper system for this in our country.

Apart from acting what else keeps you busy?

Predominantly, my family and dancing. I have learned dance from Pandit Birju Maharaj and I am hugely involved in this dance form. I was the youngest exponent of Kathak which then became so popular.  I like reading and munching along with it at night.  

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