Juggling desires and flaws

In a world where airbrushed perfection is often seen as the norm, Hareem Farooq is trying to reject that idea completely. The Pakistani actor recently spoke to BBC Urdu about body shaming, societal expectations, and her journey to self-acceptance. Like most peoples' journeys, it hasn't been a smooth ride.

Farooq's portrayal of Masooma in the TV drama Bismil was a turning point in her career – not just because of the character's complexity but because it allowed her to confront and challenge the rigid beauty and societal standards that prevail in media. "When I was reading the script for Masooma, I was judgmental towards her as well," she admitted. "But by the end of it, I started sympathising with her. I had an interesting realisation: Masooma is a depiction of everyone's desires. She isn't perfect," Farooq acknowledged. "She has desires, flaws, and complexities, just like all of us."

Masooma isn't the quintessential, flawless heroine with perfect skin and a picture-perfect figure. Instead, she represents the everyday woman—imperfect, layered, and deeply relatable. Yet, bringing Masooma to life wasn't without its challenges.

From crash diets to psoriasis

Like many actors, Farooq initially contemplated a crash diet before starting shooting. The pressure to conform to industry standards was immense. "I had the option to delay the shoot and lose weight," she revealed. But ultimately, she made a different choice. "Why? Do we not have such body types in our society? In our country? Then why not celebrate different body types?"

It's a question that resonates with countless women, especially in a society where unsolicited opinions about a woman's body are the norm. Farooq's decision to prioritise her mental health over unrealistic beauty standards is both courageous and inspiring.

But it wasn't just about weight. During the shoot, Farooq developed psoriasis, a skin condition that left visible marks on her arms and face. Initially, she considered covering them up, a natural reaction in a world that often demands women conceal their imperfections. "After all," she said, "isn't that what we're taught? Conceal your flaws, hide your imperfections, present the best version of yourself – always."

But Farooq took a different path. "I thought, I'm not the only one going through this," she shared. "Where 50 people would look at my face and complain about my marks, 100 others suffering from the same might regain their confidence knowing that this is very common and happens to the best of us."

Her unwavering confidence

Farooq is no stranger to criticism. "Women get to face a lot of criticism here," she said. "And I'm not saying the men don't, but for women – be it your body, your hair, your life, your decisions, your career, or motherhood – everything is criticised."

Despite the scrutiny, Farooq remains unfazed. "You only see what you want to see—what you focus your sights on," she reflected. "So far, I have gotten so much appreciation that I don't understand what to do with all of it. There will also definitely be hate as well."

Her decision to embrace her natural self on-screen – psoriasis marks and all – has struck a chord with audiences, particularly those who face similar challenges. By refusing to hide her condition, Farooq has sent a powerful message: Your worth isn't defined by flawless skin or a perfect body.

A royal dreamer

Interestingly, Farooq's confidence and sense of self can be traced back to her childhood dreams – dreams that were far removed from the acting world she now dominates. During an appearance on a local morning show, Farooq shared an amusing anecdote about her teenage years. "I used to always tell my parents I could feel royal blood in me and that we must have roots in a royal family," she revealed with a laugh.

For a time, young Hareem aspired to be like Princess Diana of Wales, a figure she admired for her grace and compassion. But her aspirations didn't stop there. "After that, I wanted to be like Mother Teresa," Farooq continued. "But soon I realised that I would have to give up on a lot of things to be like her, so that idea was also dropped eventually."

Acting, however, was never part of the plan. "But never in my life did I think of becoming an actor," she admitted. "One thing I was sure about is that I want to enjoy life and don't want to be a serious adult, with the burden of responsibilities."