CATCHINGUP
The reclusive Samiya Mumtaz talks to Instep about her role in Jeewan Hathi, the regressive portrayal of women on television and her passion for farming.
Having starred in critically acclaimed films like Dukhtar (2014) and Moor (2015), Samiya Mumtaz has created a niche for herself in the acting industry with remarkable performances in TV serials as well as films. Mostly seen as a sacrificing mother on screen (Dukhtar, Udaari, Maaye Ni) Mumtaz essayed the role of an upper class, educated, narcissist woman in the recently released Jeewan Hathi and she did it with aplomb.
Directed by Zinda Bhaag duo, Farjad Nabi and Meenu Gaur, the film talks about media’s growing obsession with ratings and how the media industry operates. Though it was no more than an extended cameo, Mumtaz’s character in the film brought with it a kind of vibrancy that is captivating.
“What makes my character in JH different from the ones I have done previously is the kind of background I’m shown from,” Mumtaz told Instep at the film’s premiere. “I am playing an upper class, educated, westernized, glamorous woman who is very self-obsessed. I have hardly done such a role before. Normally the roles I do on television are very different; I am mostly a sacrificing mother but not in this one.”
In the 2014 film Dukhtar, Samiya Mumtaz played the role of a sacrificing mother with compassion and conviction.
Mumtaz is of the view that it is not in the hands of actors to decide the nature of roles they do (especially on television) and that she is keen on diversifying herself as an actor. According to her, it depends on the kind of scripts actors get. “I would love to do anything different,” said Mumtaz. “I don’t want to repeat myself over and over again but I feel I had to do that for television because there was no choice.”
Those critical of television may wonder whether producers will persist with clichéd stories and ideas if actors refuse to indulge in such roles but the reality is more complex. “We’ll just be out of jobs. That’s all!” Mumtaz admits with a smile. Her view is that if she refuses to play a role, it will simply go to someone else.
It is interesting to note that Mumtaz does not describe acting but rather ‘farming’ as her main profession. “Farming is my profession,” she asserted. “That’s what I do. Acting I do on the side, I do it for two months in a year and the rest of the time I spend on farming.”
Coming back to her acting projects, the actress is currently playing a prominent role in ongoing drama serial Faltu Larki that traces the lives of five women and their unique stories. Apart from Mumtaz, the play features Hina Dilpazeer (her Jeewan Hathi co-star), Yasra Rizvi and Seemi Raheel.
Discussing this particular TV production, Mumtaz said, “Faltu Larki is different in the sense that it is not like a lecture, it’s very entertaining. The women are strong; there are no weeping willows in the play.”
Aside from JH, Mumtaz was also a part of this year’s hit drama serial Udaari that tackled the tough issue of child abuse. Playing mother to the 8-year-old victim, Mumtaz while reflecting on the play noted, “I think it can be very dangerous to take up a social issue without truly understanding it; it can be damaging to the issue itself. People behind Udaari made themselves aware of the issue before making the play. They worked with social workers, counselors, lawyers, etc. and they did a very good job. After Udaari, people have approached me and told me that they have learnt a lot from the play and have been able to bring a change in their lives.”
Given the positive feedback on Udaari, it won’t be fair to say that viewers are not ready to see tough, social issues on the small screen. Sharing her thoughts on the subject, Mumtaz said, “I think if we don’t sensationalize it, people will be open to these kinds of things. If you take a social issue and glamorize it - that will hurt people who have been the victim of these issues.”
Besides television, Mumtaz has also proven her mettle in films like Dukhtar and Moor. After this year’s Jeewan Hathi that has picked up mixed reviews from critics and the audience, the actress is gearing up for another big screen project. She, however, didn’t reveal details about this next film as she is under a contract but given her grit and grain, we do think she will do full justice to it.
