Quintessence of versatility: Savera Nadeem

The TV actor-cum-host discusses the need for introducing new themes in dramas.

KARACHI:

From acting in dramas, starring in commercials, directing plays to hosting a popular morning show — the multitalented Savera Nadeem has done it all. In a recent interview, Nadeem spoke with The Express Tribune about her experiences starting off in the entertainment industry, playing the lead in an upcoming drama and her plans for a daytime show.    

Kick-starting her career in Lahore as a stage actor for the Ajoka Theatre group, she ventured into television acting after a short while. Making her debut in the mid 90s with the play “Kiran” for PTV, she says, “Although it was a great experience, it was also very terrifying. At the time, television acting seemed very complex to me and being extremely conscious in front of the camera didn’t help matters at all. Now, after years and years of performing on television, I would probably be more conscious on a stage production.”

Soon after “Kiran”, she got involved in a PTV play “Inkaar” which dealt with the theme of youth drug addiction. For producing such a controversial play at the time, she gives full credit to its director Ayub Khawar. “He taught me quite a lot about acting with his abstract thinking. However, I truly wish ‘Inkaar’ had been produced in present time using the latest technology; I think it would make an even bigger impact today.”

Besides acting in dramas, Nadeem ventured into hosting morning shows as well. Although she enjoyed doing her morning shows on NewsOne and later on Aaj TV, she decided to leave this field in August 2011 as she felt that she had reached a point of saturation in terms of learning.

Regarding this change, she comments, “Morning shows, all over the world, are primarily meant to educate people and bring some sort of change in their lives. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, morning shows only provide entertainment. Since it’s the viewers who demand entertainment, it’s very difficult to get them to accept something different.”

On her ability to multitask — acting, direction and hosting at the same time- Nadeem says, “In the past, direction always took a backseat with me, but in the future, you will see me directing more plays.”

When it comes to the current state of television plays, she strongly suggests, “We need new writers. In terms of themes, it’s about time we got rid of the usual saas bahu issues. People are now looking for variety and writers should provide something new like comedies or mystery dramas.” These days, she is involved in a play “Mera Yaqeen”, where she plays the lead. The play stars Faisal Qureshi and Nimra Bucha.

Nadeem’s acting is not limited to the small screen only, as she has also worked on a Sabiha Sumar film called Rafina. About her experience working in the film industry, the actor says, “It’s very tedious, slow and time-consuming. I would rather appear on television.”

Now that she has explored all the different spectrums of performance, we asked her what she likes doing best. Nadeem responds, “Comic roles are much more fun to perform but require a lot more energy. I also want to break away from doing sitcoms only — I want my audiences to see me grow as an actor with tragic roles as well as comical ones.”

Besides expecting her first child early next year, Nadeem says about her future, “I plan to direct some good scripts. Additionally, I’d like to host my own daytime show, which will be completely unlike the usual morning shows. It will provide infotainment which is a middle ground between breaking news and pure entertainment.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2011.