“What’s middle age, what’s old age? A role is a role and character is a character” - Tazeen Hussain

entertainment

Tazeen Hussain is a brilliant actor who has made her mark in television, playing a variety of roles from 1994 to the present, for which she has been recognised critically and appreciated by the audience. Hussain came into the limelight with her first acting appearance on TV with the tele-film ‘Raqeeb’ (1994), directed by Atiya Khan and aired on STN in which she co-starred with Faisal Rehman. This was followed by the critically acclaimed tele-film ‘Aurat’, directed by Mohammed Ahmed (1994) which was also screened at the Kara Film Festival, Karachi. Among her notable projects have been drama serials ‘Itni Si Baat’ (1995), directed by Misbah Khalid, ‘Shahpar’ (Pak Airforce, 1997), ‘Mohlat’ (2001), directed by Owais Khan and ‘Anjanay Rastay’ (2003), directed by Misbah Khalid.

Her drama serial ‘Jurm’, and tele plays ‘Chalo Phir Sey Muskuraeen’, and ‘Sham Sey Pehlay’, directed by Mehreen Jabbar, will air soon. These days, she is showing her acting skills in drama serial ‘Yunhi’ which is directed by Ehteshamuddin.

Apart from pursuing her passion of acting on TV, Hussain is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Design at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (2009 to present) where she has held leadership positions as Head of department in the Department of Communication Design and Foundation Program. She has presented papers at national and international conferences, and published internationally as well. Hussain has designed and led a recently concluded a yearlong programme on Critical Design Education and Practice funded by US - Pakistan University Partnerships Grants Program 2020-23. She is also affiliated with Department of Visual Studies, Karachi University, Department of Media Sciences, SZABIST, Department of Visual Communication, Beaconhouse National University.

Hussain holds a Bachelors degree in Communication Design from Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, and a Masters in New Media and Society from the University of Leicester, UK. She also serves on the Boards of Studies of various public and private sector universities of Paksitan and is a member of the Syndicate of Shaheed Allah Bukhsh University of Art Culture and Heritage, Jamshoro. In an exclusive interview with You! multi-talented Hussain shares her experiences with our readers...

You! Who introduced you to showbiz?

Tazeen Hussain: I actually started with theatre, in a Tehreek-e-Niswan production, a theatre group which was led by Sheema Kermani and Khalid Ahmed.

You! When did you start acting?

TH: I have been performing since I was a child. I appeared as a child artist in a production titled ‘Andhera Ujala’, an adaptation of ‘The Miracle Worker’, a three act play written by William Gibson on the childhood of Hellen Keller and produced by Theatrewalay, a group led by my father Talat Hussain and Rahat Kazmi. I don’t think I ever planned to be an actress, it just happened!

You! What are some of your most popular plays/drama serials?

TH: Shahpar (1997), Anjanay Rastay (2003) and Itni Si Baat (1996).

You! What do you like most about acting?

TH: Acting!

You! Your favourite director and co-actor?

TH: I really enjoyed working with Faisal Rehman and recently the Yunhi team has been great to work with. In terms of direction, I think every director brings his own vision and technique to a project and I have been blessed to work mostly with detail oriented and passionate directors.

You! Yunhi is your come back. Why were you absent from the silver screen for so many years?

TH: I chose to dedicate my time to having and then, raising a family. Then I took up a fulltime teaching job, so my time was divided between my job and my family. I also enrolled in and completed my Masters. Now, my children are at an age where I feel I can take time to pursue acting and experiment with opportunities.

You! How did you find playing a role of a middle-aged woman in Yunhi? Are you enjoying your role as ‘Iqbal’ in Yunhi?

TH: I take roles as a challenge; Iqbal is a far cry from Tazeen. So, playing her has been quite a learning for me! What’s middle age, what’s old age? A role is a role and character is a character. When I was working in the ’90s and 2000s, I was mostly doing serious roles, at times much older than my years.

You! You are also involved in teaching. How has been the experience?

TH: I follow my passions. It’s actually the learning and creativity which comes with teaching that excites me about it. A teacher learns a lot through teaching.

You! What has been your most career-defining moment?

TH: Hmmm, I don’t think I have had that moment yet!

You! Who have been your biggest mentors in your engagement with acting again?

TH: This has to go to my friends, Danish and Saira, who really encouraged me to give it a shot again. And then Mehreen Jabbar for bringing me back in our yet to be aired project Jurm and Ehteshamuddin for casting me and pushing me to explore the character of Iqbal in Yunhi.

You! What are your views on women empowerment?

TH: Do we need to have views on something which are rights? The very term empowerment is often understood as someone from the outside allowing certain rights to women. In this way the term actually devalues the position which is a right given to women by the Almighty. I prefer the understanding of the term as realisation of self-worth! And if this does not happen from within, if this will again mean for validation for women from outside, then I fail to see its value for women.

You! What is the most important advice you can give to women?

TH: You must complete your education!

You! What’s the biggest relationship lesson that you’ve learnt so far?

TH: Cherish every moment; you never know how much time you have. The core of a relationship is between two individuals, that needs strengthening, nurturing and must be built on mutual respect.

You! What does a typical day look like for you?

TH: I am an early riser and that’s my domestic time. After that my day becomes or retaken by my job and students. Evenings are with my parents and children, and in between I squeeze in time to exercise. Then I am dead to the world by round nine.

You! How do you unwind?

TH: Music and exercise are two things that help me unwind.

You! What is your most treasured possession?

TH: My family and friends.

You! You are passionate about...

TH: I love wandering and nature, discovering new places, travelling, meeting people - seeing and experiencing their culture.

You! What did you like to read when you were a little girl?

TH: I was crazy about Enid Blyton. In Urdu literature, I used to read Teen Nanhay Suragh Risan.

You! How does it feel to be the daughter of Talat Hussain?

TH: Super proud!

You! Where do you like to see yourself in 5 years?

TH: Wandering and travelling.