Hareem Farooq: In The Spotlight

From producing films, fighting online trolls and moving towards a healthier lifestyle,  this superstar reveals it all

The trailer for your upcoming movie “Heer Maan Ja” has audiences excited. Tell us about your role and how the plot is different from a typical rom-com.

“Heer Maan Ja” is not just a rom-com, but a feel-good movie with an important social message. Heer is a happy-go-lucky, high-spirited girl with big dreams, but from a conservative family — a character many will able to relate to. She wants to keep everyone happy, but once she undergoes a transformation, the real story begins.

You mentioned in one of your interviews that your relationship with your father inspired the father-daughter dynamics in “Heer Maan Ja.” Please elaborate.

That’s my absolute favourite part of the movie. We’ve shown a very healthy and positive father-daughter relationship – one that’s similar to my own relationship with my father.

I’m also extremely grateful that the venerable Abid Ali agreed to play the role of my father. We previously worked together on “Diyar-e-Dil” and it was great to work again.

“Eid is a festive occasion and a big business window for Pakistani movies. It’s always good for the industry to have more than one release to the exhibitors”

“Heer Maan Ja” is going to be released on Eid-ul-Azha, coinciding with the release of some other big budget movies. Does that make you feel any pressure?

Eid is a festive occasion and a big business window for Pakistani movies. It’s always good for the industry to have more than one release to the exhibitors. As a producer, I know we need more cinema screens in Pakistan for the industry to become sustainable, which we’re not. We’re dependent on foreign content when Pakistani films are not releasing.

As far as the other movies are concerned, I believe they are catering to an audience much different than “Heer Maan Ja,” which is a comedy. They’re all projects from incredibly talented people and I wish them all the best.

The majority of your work has been with either Ali Rehman Khan or Osman Khalid Butt. Does being old friends or being raised in the same city have a part to play in that?

It’s a simple equation — the more you enjoy your work, the better a job you end up doing. Having a good team and people we are comfortable with, is probably our strength as a production house. To be honest, Ali & I have worked on various projects together and we have a whole bunch of fans, but Heer & Kabeer’s relationship in “Heer Maan Ja” is very different from what our fans and audiences have seen us play before.

How has your journey from “Pawnay 14 August” to “Heer Maan Ja” changed you as a person?

It’s been a wonderful roller coaster ride. I feel, I’ve grown exponentially as an individual, realised I’m a workaholic and love my job, both as an actor and as a producer and have accepted that my strength lies in my family and close friends.

So while I’m calmer, more focused and working non-stop, I’m essentially the same Hareem.

“Actors are also humans and we have good and bad days — we have skin issues, weight issues and all other imperfections that any other human has”

When answering why you ventured into production, you’ve spoken about the shelf life of an actress. Don’t you think a growing film industry demands female characters to be written differently?

Of course it does and there have been many projects in Pakistan that focus on women of all ages. However, that doesn’t mean that if the opportunity arises one shouldn’t broaden their horizons.

In order to grow professionally, you need to explore your options and keep on learning. Producing was  just a natural next step, even if I keep the age and gender factor aside.

What’s the best and worst thing about being a woman in the public eye?

The best thing is that you represent Pakistan and can be a role model for Pakistani women.

The worst is always being under scrutiny in a judgemental society. Actors are also humans and we have good and bad days — we have skin issues, weight issues and all other imperfections that any other human has.

You’ve spoken very candidly about your weight loss journey, advocating fitness over an unrealistic obsession with being skinny. What motivated you to change your lifestyle?

As we grow older, I guess it’s natural to want to be healthy — and that’s what triggered my decision to start this journey. At some point I actually started enjoying it all, the exercise, eating healthy and just feeling fit — it just became a way of life for me.

At the same time, because it wasn’t an attempt at becoming skinny, the journey has left me feeling good about who I am, instead of being in a race to be a certain size or shape.

“I’m blessed that my family is super supportive and loving. Both my sister and I have been brought up with the mentality that we can achieve whatever we set our minds on”

How do you unwind?

By listening to music and exercising.

Everyone knows you as a skilled actress and credible producer, but what are you like at home? Tell us about your family and childhood.

I come from a small family. I have a  younger sister who’s studying abroad and together we had a very normal childhood. Our parents always encouraged us to follow our dreams. I’m blessed that my family is super supportive and loving. Both my sister and I have been brought up with the mentality that we can achieve whatever we set our minds on.

Other than my family, I have a very small circle of friends that I’ve known since my school days. They’re not from the industry and keep me grounded.

SHORT & SWEET

Favourite co-stars?

Ali Rehman Khan and Osman Khalid Butt

A role of yours you think you could’ve performed better?

There’s always room for improvement in everything you do

Your default response to trolls?

I generally don’t bother responding

Biggest pet peeve?

Dirty fingernails

Do you have a hidden talent?

I can make you laugh on the worst of days

Wardrobe essentials you can’t live without?

PJs

If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Flame-grilled chicken and biryani (I guess those are two)

Tell us your most embarrassing moment.

Postponing the filming of a scene because of a gazillion retakes, thanks to my fits of laughter

Three things on your bucket list for 2019?

1-Make “Heer Maan Ja” a success

2-Start working on my next film

3-Go on a vacation with my close friends (without my phone)

What traits of yours do you credit your success to?

The will to give my all to anything I set out to achieve

Interview:  Mehek Raza Rizvi

Photographer:  Shahbaz Shazi

Makeup & hair: Shazia Rashid

 Wardrobe Stylist:  Faiz Rohani