Exclusive| Sanam Saeed says ‘whole of Pakistan’ raised on Bollywood: ‘We know Madhubala to Deepika Padukone, but India doesn’t know what happens in Pak’

Amidst all of the elation–and a spotlight–Pakistani star Sanam Saeed feels pleased with what the nation has managed to realize. One of many greatest names of the trade and a beloved title in India, because of her hit present Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Sanam Saeed says the Pakistani trade is at present “thriving”.

The actor’s jubilation can also be backed with awards: her Zindagi unique present Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam gained Gold at Promax India awards 2022 and Asian Academy Artistic Awards for greatest anthology, which she acquired alongside Pakistani actor Sarwat Gilani, Indian producer Shailja Kejriwal (Chief Artistic Officer – Particular Initiatives, Zee Leisure) and British-Indian director Meenu Gaur.

In an interview with indianexpress.com, Sanam opens up in regards to the significance of extra collaboration between India and Pakistan, how politics can fracture the fantastic thing about artwork, the sort of Indian content material she grew up watching and the way India learnt very late–and maybe nonetheless hasn’t, fully– what life in Pakistan is.

Edited excerpts:

What’s the significance of this win for you?

This was an enormous win as a result of it was a collaboration between India and Pakistan. Two comparable mindsets, cultures, international locations coming collectively to inform a common story, made principally by ladies. The truth that it got here from these two nations is proof that when nice minds come collectively, nice issues occur. You may obtain a lot collectively, it’s an enormous assist for each group gamers… It was wonderful, satisfying and humbling.

Does it sadden you that we don’t have extra of those collaborations. Aside from Zindagi, there may be nothing.

Truthfully, we’re over it. There was a time when quite a lot of this is able to occur. We had Kara Movie Pageant, we had Indian actors coming to Pakistan, our actors went there, Bollywood opened the doorways. It has at all times been a cold and hot scenario. We’re lastly at a spot the place we don’t get our hopes up too excessive. Every occasion may be very comfy with the place they’re when it comes to the work they’re doing, respectively.

It’s a bonus level when they’re given the chance to collaborate, as a result of it’s totally different, out of the field; there may be one other problem and threat. We have been saddened undoubtedly, initially. Politics to return in the midst of artwork is at all times crushing, for any artiste, human being. It’s like, ‘Yaar ye kyu beech mein aa raha hai, we love these individuals, we wish to see extra collaborations.’ So everybody feels that common pull and disappointment. That why is that this occurring and for what causes. What good will come out of it, we don’t know.

How did you overcome the disappointment?

It’s a must to settle for the scenario as it’s. At all times really feel pleased with what you’re doing within the current, wherever you’re… Good issues will occur at their very own time.

However to not preserve hopes too excessive, isn’t that heartbreaking?

It was within the center. When the doorways had opened, it was thrilling that, ‘Oh perhaps sooner or later we’re going to get to work with our favorite administrators, producers, actors. The world will open up and it’ll get to our expertise.’ It was thrilling to assume all these alternatives have been there, even Indians have been excited and have been on the lookout for who to solid from right here.

However I assume when as soon as, twice, thrice you’re shot down, you then settle for the scenario and work with what you may have. So conserving the hopes excessive have been for the primary few occasions… However we’re speaking about seven-eight years in the past. Now we now have all grown up and understood the methods of the world.

How a lot of the Indian content material do you see?

Personally, I’m extra of a Hollywood binge watcher. However the entire of Pakistan has been raised on Bollywood, from our grandparents to us, we all know Madhubala, Kareena Kapoor stuff to now Deepika. We have now seen all of the generations. We have now actually grown-up consuming Bollywood, the music, the dance, the tradition, the best way they eat, the best way they do pooja. Hum sab jaante hai Indian mein kya hota hai (We all know what occurs in India).

However India doesn’t know what occurs in Pakistan. Kuch bhi nahi pata, hum log kis tarah daal chawal khaate hai, woh andaaz alag hota hai (Indian’s don’t know the way we eat, how we’re). The way in which we put on salwar kameez, tie our hair, there are these small variations. We all know the distinction between what an Indian choti (braid) is, however I don’t assume India is aware of what the Pakistani choti is like. These small nuances are there. When ZEE Zindagi launched, then India noticed, ‘Oh that is how they put on their garments, that is how they work together’, how impartial ladies are right here additionally. That was attention-grabbing to see.

The place does the Pakistani trade stand right now? There’s Maula Jatt, Joyland, Ali Sethi is topping music charts…

There are at all times ups and downs, however I believe we’re on a excessive proper now. Pakistani artistes are being celebrated and recognised, whether or not it’s Arooj Aftab, who has been nominated for her second Grammy, Ali Sethi’s Pasoori with Shae Gill, Joyland’s Oscar journey and Maula Jatt– that’s quite a lot of Pakistani globally making waves. We’re undoubtedly thriving and booming. Drama is at its peak, music clever Coke Studio shall be coming into its fifteenth yr, quite a lot of net collection are occurring. It’s thriving for certain.

What’s it prefer to be an artiste in Pakistan at present?

It’s a tremendous expertise. The quantity of affection and respect you get from public, the variety of alternatives there are… We’re spoilt for alternative, if we must always do movies, TV or net collection. The sheer love and adoration that you simply get from public, I believe that has stored all of us alive and going. Not like Bollywood, we aren’t unattainable movie stars. We’re of their home, daily, of their residing rooms, with their households. We’re a part of their households. There’s a very deep connection that the general public has with us artistes, due to the intimacy of the connection because of the drama trade.