T-Diaries: Juggan Kazim
A glimpse into the world of Pakistani powerhouses
Hamza and I on his birthday two years ago.
You have been part of the industry as a model, actor and a host. How would you differentiate the three?
All three are completely different in nature and when someone asks me what I do; I always tell them that I am a host. I have never considered myself to be a model; I am neither six feet tall nor skinny. I have never really enjoyed it in the first place. People often advise me to not discredit what modeling has given me but I didn’t do it out of liking.
What is more challenging, acting or hosting?
The only two things similar about acting and hosting is one that they are both performed in front of the camera and two, that they both require intelligence. Other than this, both are completely different and challenging in their own ways. While, as a host, I am the connecting factor between the audience and the star, as an actor I am the star and it’s all about me. In hosting one has to be humble and down to earth, therefore I think every actor should host at least once in their life. Unfortunately, I come across many actors who are very arrogant owing to the aura they surround themselves in and being a host will make them more humble.
What is the hardest part about being in the industry?
Lack of privacy! Leaving out all the niceties of being spotted in public or people coming up to you for advice or perhaps advising you, sometimes you do get annoyed on days you are just not in the mood or experiencing a bad day. I always wanted to be a people person. Now that I am, I get surrounded by my audience, who are innocent and humble and refer to me as ‘appi.’ Even when I am in transit between Lahore and Islamabad and want to use the washroom, I get stopped three times!
Do you think the public and the critics expect too much from the artist?
Yes, they definitely do and it’s both good and bad. For instance, few years ago, I did a movie called Khamosh Raho. As people were aware of the kind of work I usually do and my background from Canada, having been educated and belonging to a certain class, they were very vocal about how the movie was a bad decision. It was like I had upset a relative or my mom.When your family doesn’t accept such work, then the public, who are also like your family members, won’t either. For example, I am currently doing a movie which is an Indo-Pak collaboration. If I suddenly end up doing an item song, people will definitely not accept it.
Do you think that due to the image people have built of you, it gets hard for them to accept you in different roles?
Yes! As a host I keep getting all kinds of offers but as an actor, I am only typecast as someone who would either be suitable for the role of a woman who is suppressed and keeps crying or perhaps someone who is clever and outgoing. It makes me mad that people fail to realise there is much more to women than this.
Do you think that the standard for hosting in Pakistan has improved?
Unfortunately, the standard of hosting has seen a downfall, just like the music industry. Comparatively, acting has evolved and so have films. Nowadays, hosts are too crude than hosts from the yesteryears who were more respectable and graceful. Now it’s all about insulting the people who have come on your show.
Any advice for young women aspiring to work in the industry?
Get education and don’t hesitate to settle down because at the end of the day, you do need family. I have many female co-stars that are older to me and want to get married but haven’t found anyone. Therefore, don’t compromise on your personal life for your career ambitions. Do everything other people do and never get caught up in the reel life and forget about the real one.
Juggan Kazim
Actor, model and TV host
Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, January 11th, 2015.
All three are completely different in nature and when someone asks me what I do; I always tell them that I am a host. I have never considered myself to be a model; I am neither six feet tall nor skinny. I have never really enjoyed it in the first place. People often advise me to not discredit what modeling has given me but I didn’t do it out of liking.
What is more challenging, acting or hosting?
The only two things similar about acting and hosting is one that they are both performed in front of the camera and two, that they both require intelligence. Other than this, both are completely different and challenging in their own ways. While, as a host, I am the connecting factor between the audience and the star, as an actor I am the star and it’s all about me. In hosting one has to be humble and down to earth, therefore I think every actor should host at least once in their life. Unfortunately, I come across many actors who are very arrogant owing to the aura they surround themselves in and being a host will make them more humble.
What is the hardest part about being in the industry?
Lack of privacy! Leaving out all the niceties of being spotted in public or people coming up to you for advice or perhaps advising you, sometimes you do get annoyed on days you are just not in the mood or experiencing a bad day. I always wanted to be a people person. Now that I am, I get surrounded by my audience, who are innocent and humble and refer to me as ‘appi.’ Even when I am in transit between Lahore and Islamabad and want to use the washroom, I get stopped three times!
Do you think the public and the critics expect too much from the artist?
Yes, they definitely do and it’s both good and bad. For instance, few years ago, I did a movie called Khamosh Raho. As people were aware of the kind of work I usually do and my background from Canada, having been educated and belonging to a certain class, they were very vocal about how the movie was a bad decision. It was like I had upset a relative or my mom.When your family doesn’t accept such work, then the public, who are also like your family members, won’t either. For example, I am currently doing a movie which is an Indo-Pak collaboration. If I suddenly end up doing an item song, people will definitely not accept it.
Do you think that due to the image people have built of you, it gets hard for them to accept you in different roles?
Yes! As a host I keep getting all kinds of offers but as an actor, I am only typecast as someone who would either be suitable for the role of a woman who is suppressed and keeps crying or perhaps someone who is clever and outgoing. It makes me mad that people fail to realise there is much more to women than this.
Do you think that the standard for hosting in Pakistan has improved?
Unfortunately, the standard of hosting has seen a downfall, just like the music industry. Comparatively, acting has evolved and so have films. Nowadays, hosts are too crude than hosts from the yesteryears who were more respectable and graceful. Now it’s all about insulting the people who have come on your show.
Any advice for young women aspiring to work in the industry?
Get education and don’t hesitate to settle down because at the end of the day, you do need family. I have many female co-stars that are older to me and want to get married but haven’t found anyone. Therefore, don’t compromise on your personal life for your career ambitions. Do everything other people do and never get caught up in the reel life and forget about the real one.
Juggan Kazim
Actor, model and TV host
Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, January 11th, 2015.