Of respecting love and borders

Pakistani star Sanam Saeed is back in the game with her latest project, Barzakh, where she reunites with Fawad Khan after 12 long years. In a candid interview with India Today, Sanam opened up about the bittersweet reality of her Indian fanbase and the complexities of working across borders.

Sanam’s name resonates across the subcontinent, garnering immense love from Indian fans who have followed her journey from Zindagi Gulzar Hai to Asim Abbasi’s latest fantasy series. However, the actor remains cautious about working in India, citing the current political climate.

“It’s amazing how much love comes from India, even though I’ve never been there. The political situation just doesn’t make it comfortable,” she shared, acknowledging the tension that often accompanies cross-border collaborations. “So I feel it is okay the way it is,” she added, striking a chord with the complex emotions shared by artists and fans alike.

Despite the geopolitical hurdles, Sanam’s commitment to her art remains undeterred. Reflecting on the unique connection between Indian and Pakistani fans and artists, she likened it to the multifaceted nature of love explored in Barzakh. “There is a dialogue in the show that talks about different dimensions of love. I think the love between Indian and Pakistani fans for artists is another form of that love,” she mused, encapsulating the shared cultural and emotional bond that transcends borders.

Sanam’s cautious optimism extends to her potential visit to India, though she remains non-committal about professional engagements. “I would definitely love to visit India. There is so much to see and experience. As for work, we’ll see,” she said, leaving the door ajar for future possibilities.

The interview also highlighted the supportive environment provided by Barzakh’s production team, led by Shailaja, the head of Zindagi. Sanam praised the team’s focus on creating compelling content, unshackled by political undercurrents. With someone like Shailaja at the helm, we were able to focus purely on the art,” she said, emphasising the importance of a nurturing creative space.

Recently, Sanam delighted fans by responding to an elaborate thread that decoded various symbols in Barzakh. A fan named Pri had posted a detailed analysis of the show’s symbolism, sparking a thoughtful reply from the actor.

“For more clarification from the wonderous Pri, there is much more to symbols than the generic assumptions. Look deeper, research them, stay curious and you will see the purity each symbol represents. It’s all about balance, love, and harmony,” Sanam remarked, encouraging fans to explore the deeper meanings embedded in the narrative.

Steadily gaining critical acclaim, few are surprised by Barzakh’s success — especially Fawad. Having climbed to the enviable showbiz position of being able to cherry-pick his own projects, Fawad knew Barzakh was a winner from the get-go. “When I read the script, I was sold,” he said. “The script, the team, and in particular, [director] Asim Abbasi — everything was amazing. I’d seen his earlier work, and he is masterful — an amazing director.”

Recalling shooting for the role, Fawad laughed about how “unhinged” his character, Sheheryar the psychiatrist, gets as the show progresses. “He’s a candidate for therapy himself! I’m laughing about it now, but shooting it was emotionally disturbing on many levels.”

One of the things that is far from emotionally disturbing for Fawad, however, is having the chance to collaborate once more with Sanam after more than a decade. “She is such a phenomenal actor,” said Fawad warmly. “I feel very comfortable working with her, and she’s so gifted. As an actor, I feel the job is about reaction more than action — and when you have two actors reacting to each other, it makes the job so much easier.”