Dream collaborations: Saba Qamar would like to work with SLB, Imtiaz Ali

After receiving praise for her portrayal of Umaina in the Zee5 webseries Mrs and Mr Shameem, actor Saba Qamar recently reflected on which Indian directors she would like to team up with in the future. Naming four Bollywood bigwigs, the actor explained that their works “resonate” with her “extensively”.

Saba made her Bollywood debut in the film Hindi Medium opposite late actor Irrfan Khan. Sharing how she has received praise from across the border thanks to her work in India, Saba said in an interview, according to IANS, "Since Hindi Medium and now [Mrs and Mr Shameem], I have been receiving much love from my fans and followers from India. It gives me immense pleasure to see that my work is appreciated and given due credit." 

She added further, "Hindi Medium was a unique experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It changed and moulded me in so many ways."

Listing her favourite directors producing work in Bollywood at the moment, Saba shared, “When I look at the evolving Bollywood industry, I feel stories narrated by Mr Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Anurag Basu, Imtiaz Ali, and Vishal Bhardwaj resonate with me extensively. These are four of my favourite directors from the industry I look forward to working with in the future."

In an interview with The Express Tribune, Saba emphasised how the story of Mrs and Mr Shameem echoes the experiences of those around us, of people present in our homes, in our society. “Have you not seen kids who are raised around and by women and hence adapt to similar gender characteristics?” she asked, adding, “There are people in the showbiz industry, in our neighbourhoods, in our schools. We just like to ignore them or laugh at them, but truly, this show will teach people to respect beyond their false sense of entitlement.”

“I’d like to request people who are watching it to leave your preconceived mindsets aside. I’m certain the show will have an impact,” she shared in a message to her viewers. “It is not bold, it’s sensitive. It is a family drama and it will be relatable for everyone watching. This is a story from within our surroundings, we just never pay attention to them outside of our comic reliefs.”