An Indian journalist couldn't interview Saba Qamar so he wrote her an open letter instead
Here's what he wrote...
SCREENGRAB
Saba Qamar's Bollywood debut in Hindi Medium has brought the star some serious praise. While her performance opposite Irrfan Khan was lauded in Pakistan, the Lahore Se Aagay star was appreciated equally, if not more, than her counterpart in India.
This honest confession!
I must confess that I have not seen any of your dramas but after watching Hindi Medium, I shall surely catch up on your shows on YouTube. What you guys call television ‘dramas’ in Pakistan, we call ‘serials’. After watching your sensational performance in Hindi Medium, one word that pops up in the mind (and it is apt) is 'drama!'
Irrfan Khan is all praises for Saba Qamar and we're so proud!
Why he loved Saba's performance in Hindi Medium
You play a quintessential wife who is an expert in the glorious art of husband-ko-ungliyon-par-nachaana! The husbands of the world are identifying with the poor plight of Irrfan Khan, who not only migrates from Purani Dilli to Vasant Vihar but also has to gravitate from the affable Mitthu to the high society ‘Honey.’
I have rarely laughed during a movie in the recent times the way I did courtesy your delightful emotional blackmailing in Hindi Medium. The fluttering of the big eye lashes, the striking hair waving in tremendous-ness and tall beautiful-ness. No wonder Irrfan just can’t say no at any of your, just or unjust, demands. The shift from superficiality to substance is intensely organic and it’s a treat to see your performance unfold.
When he gave his two cents regrading India's ban on Pakistani artists...
I have been trying to fix up an interview with you but my efforts are going in vain. In fact, it’s a taboo to even talk about Pakistani artistes these days but somehow I don’t mind being called ‘names’ as the idea of equating art with war is bizarre, irrational and ridiculous. Jinka kaam ahle siyaasat hai to wahi samjhen, apna paighaam to mohabbat hai, jahan tak pahuche.
Well, I am not sure if I will be able to do an interview you so I thought that maybe through this letter, I shall ask you a few questions and maybe, you’d be able to read it at least.
Review: Saba Qamar raises the bar with ‘Hindi Medium’
On her experience on working across the border...
What was your reaction when you heard the story of Hindi Medium? What sort of interaction did you have with the writers, Saket Choudhury and Zeenat Lakhani? What sort of preparation did you do to get into the skin of the character? How was your experience of shooting in Delhi? Did you try out the delicious food in Puraani Dilli and Chandni Chowk? Did you find a similarity in the taste of Dilli and the famed Lahori cuisine?
Irrfan as a co-star
How was Irrfan as a co-star? The fact that he's a world renowned actor, did it leave you awestruck? (He’s definitely awe struck by you for sure). Did you have apprehensions when you decided to play a mother in your first Bollywood film? Do you realise the sort of cataclysmic impact of a possibile seduction scene between you and Irrfan but the proverbial TV news channels plays a ‘spoil sports’?
'Hindi Medium' shall be a treat for local distributors
A message to the fans...
Did you have apprehensions while folding hands in a temple, considering the hardliners in Pakistan have extreme views about such matters? (Berozgaar critics yahan bhi hain, vahaan bhi). Had you ever anticipated that Hindi Medium will become such a cult hit not merely in India but even overseas? What do you have to say to your fans here, who have followed your television work and are now thrilled to see you act so well on the big screen?
When he hoped for the best...
I wouldn’t ask if we can see you working in more Bollywood films as the answer is blowing in the winds. All that one can hope for is that Kabhi to ye havaaon ka rukh badlega kyunki ummeed par duniya qaayam hai!
Wishing you the best!
A journalist from your neighbourhood
Faridoon Shahryar
We hope Saba can answer all of his queries soon!
Have something to add in the story? Share it in the comments below.
As Saba could not travel across the border to promote the movie in person, getting in touch with the actor became inconvenient for Indian journalists.
I was never desperate to work in Bollywood: Saba Qamar
Therefore, when a Mumbai-based writer named Faridoon Shahryar felt like he had lost his chance to interview the diva, he penned down an open letter to her.
Here's what Faridoon had to say:
This honest confession!
I must confess that I have not seen any of your dramas but after watching Hindi Medium, I shall surely catch up on your shows on YouTube. What you guys call television ‘dramas’ in Pakistan, we call ‘serials’. After watching your sensational performance in Hindi Medium, one word that pops up in the mind (and it is apt) is 'drama!'
Irrfan Khan is all praises for Saba Qamar and we're so proud!
Why he loved Saba's performance in Hindi Medium
You play a quintessential wife who is an expert in the glorious art of husband-ko-ungliyon-par-nachaana! The husbands of the world are identifying with the poor plight of Irrfan Khan, who not only migrates from Purani Dilli to Vasant Vihar but also has to gravitate from the affable Mitthu to the high society ‘Honey.’
I have rarely laughed during a movie in the recent times the way I did courtesy your delightful emotional blackmailing in Hindi Medium. The fluttering of the big eye lashes, the striking hair waving in tremendous-ness and tall beautiful-ness. No wonder Irrfan just can’t say no at any of your, just or unjust, demands. The shift from superficiality to substance is intensely organic and it’s a treat to see your performance unfold.
When he gave his two cents regrading India's ban on Pakistani artists...
I have been trying to fix up an interview with you but my efforts are going in vain. In fact, it’s a taboo to even talk about Pakistani artistes these days but somehow I don’t mind being called ‘names’ as the idea of equating art with war is bizarre, irrational and ridiculous. Jinka kaam ahle siyaasat hai to wahi samjhen, apna paighaam to mohabbat hai, jahan tak pahuche.
Well, I am not sure if I will be able to do an interview you so I thought that maybe through this letter, I shall ask you a few questions and maybe, you’d be able to read it at least.
Review: Saba Qamar raises the bar with ‘Hindi Medium’
On her experience on working across the border...
What was your reaction when you heard the story of Hindi Medium? What sort of interaction did you have with the writers, Saket Choudhury and Zeenat Lakhani? What sort of preparation did you do to get into the skin of the character? How was your experience of shooting in Delhi? Did you try out the delicious food in Puraani Dilli and Chandni Chowk? Did you find a similarity in the taste of Dilli and the famed Lahori cuisine?
Irrfan as a co-star
How was Irrfan as a co-star? The fact that he's a world renowned actor, did it leave you awestruck? (He’s definitely awe struck by you for sure). Did you have apprehensions when you decided to play a mother in your first Bollywood film? Do you realise the sort of cataclysmic impact of a possibile seduction scene between you and Irrfan but the proverbial TV news channels plays a ‘spoil sports’?
'Hindi Medium' shall be a treat for local distributors
A message to the fans...
Did you have apprehensions while folding hands in a temple, considering the hardliners in Pakistan have extreme views about such matters? (Berozgaar critics yahan bhi hain, vahaan bhi). Had you ever anticipated that Hindi Medium will become such a cult hit not merely in India but even overseas? What do you have to say to your fans here, who have followed your television work and are now thrilled to see you act so well on the big screen?
When he hoped for the best...
I wouldn’t ask if we can see you working in more Bollywood films as the answer is blowing in the winds. All that one can hope for is that Kabhi to ye havaaon ka rukh badlega kyunki ummeed par duniya qaayam hai!
Wishing you the best!
A journalist from your neighbourhood
Faridoon Shahryar
We hope Saba can answer all of his queries soon!
Have something to add in the story? Share it in the comments below.