In sync with Samina

"I had to return everyone's money. I ended up in the hospital. Four days in a coma." That's how Samina Peerzada described the cost of her artistic vision during a recent appearance on Mazaaq Raat with host Imran Ashraf. While discussing her directorial debut Inteha (1999), Samina reflected on what a bittersweet experience it had been.

The star wasn't just the director of the film; she also produced and co-wrote it. "I made that film with love. It was a super-duper film," she exclaimed. "I put everything into it, but I didn't get my money back. That's why I returned to acting."

Discussing the behind-the-scenes politics, she reaffirmed that there is little support in the industry when "educated people" try to make films. Recounting a major betrayal she experienced while producing Inteha, she shared, "The betrayal came from someone I trusted — he used to call me his sister. I became so depressed that I ended up in a hospital and fell into a coma for four days."

Inteha was ahead of its time. The film tells the story of Sara (played by Resham), an upper-class, educated young woman in a relationship with her university boyfriend (Zeeshan Sikandar), who is forced into a feudal marriage with her cousin Zafar (Humayun Saeed). The film broke cultural taboos by addressing marital rape, domestic violence, and feudal oppression. It sparked intense debate, prompting both government bans and parliamentary discussions, before eventually returning to screens in cities like Karachi, thanks to Samina's relentless efforts. The film ultimately earned critical acclaim.

Foray into horror

Speaking about her recent horror film Deemak, starring Faysal Quraishi, Samina emphasised its emotional depth: "I had never done this genre before. This type of cinema was completely new for me. But when I read the story, it was full of emotional layers. It said something deep. That's why I did it." She explained how the film follows the lives of ordinary people and takes unexpected turns. "It beautifully portrays the consequences of wrongdoing and how sometimes one person's sin is paid for by generations to come. That layering of meaning moved me."

The horror themes of Deemak even seemed to spill into her real life. Samina recalled an eerie incident while shooting: "I went to turn off the lights in my garden and as I walked back, I swear someone pushed me so hard that I flew across the garden. My knees were scraped, I had injuries on my back, my shoulders, and even my face. And yet, I had to go to the shoot, bandaged and bruised."

Even for someone as seasoned as the veteran actor, some scenes in Deemak proved tough. "There were scenes that genuinely scared me. I thought it wouldn't be that hard, but it really was." Her husband, Usman Peerzada, encouraged her by saying, "What could be hard for you?"

On love and violence

Reminiscing about her relationship with Usman, she recounted their romantic courtship. "He was performing in a play. I was young and full of opinions, so I immediately criticised one of his performances." Samina recalled that on their second meeting he brought her flowers that he had picked himself. Touched by this gesture she decided to make things official. "On our second meeting, I proposed. I said, 'If you're interested, great. If not, take your flowers and leave.'" That was the beginning of a 50-year-long successful marriage.

When asked what kept their love alive, she said, "He never disappointed me. The way he cared for my mother, my sisters, my family, that made space in my heart." Speaking about her own efforts, she added, "I stood by him too. When he wanted to make Nazdeekiyan, I became the producer." Samina recounted that even though she was terrified of fish, she shot a fish tray commercial with a big smile, just to help fund costumes for Nazdeekiyan.

Despite her storybook romance, the actor warned viewers not to get swept away by idealism. When asked about unrequited love, she said, "It happens to people, but its outcome is rarely good. Thinking about what recently happened to that girl breaks my heart so much, I can't even express it."

Samina was referring to the tragic killing of 17-year-old TikTok creator Sana Yousaf, who was fatally shot at her home in Islamabad's G-13 sector on June 2 just hours after her birthday celebration. The alleged killer, Umar Hayat, reportedly acted out of rage after repeated romantic rejections. The case sparked nationwide outrage and protests, with figures like Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari condemning the act and stressing the need to protect young women from violence rooted in entitlement and misogyny.

Ashraf echoed Samina's sentiment, repeating, "No means no!" as they discussed how one-sided love can curdle into cruelty. However, they also acknowledged that things do not have to take such a dark turn. If people know how to regulate their emotions and take their rejections gracefully, they turn into poets, writers and artists.

He continued to praise Samina throughout the show, calling her a monumental force in the entertainment industry. Talking about her own chat show Rewind with Samina Peerzada, Ashraf noted, "It's not just hosting. It's like you step into people's hearts through their eyes. You understand what someone's thinking or feeling. What is your secret?"

In her poetic way, Samina responded, "It's all a matter of rhythm." She compared conversation to music, saying one must listen carefully to sense its rhythm before leading it. "When the rhythm is right, the conversation lands on the sam (the first beat in classical music). But if you're bey-taal (offbeat), then nothing works."