{"id":17187,"date":"2023-10-23T17:20:07","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T17:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/humaima-malik-on-returning-to-tv-after-12-years-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-10-23T17:20:07","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T17:20:07","slug":"humaima-malik-on-returning-to-tv-after-12-years-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/humaima-malik-on-returning-to-tv-after-12-years-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Humaima Malik on returning to TV after 12 years | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Actor Humaima Malik recently opened up about her return to TV after twelve years with the drama series Jindo <\/em>where she plays a fierce woman opposing patriarchal norms and customs. In a candid interview with BBC Urdu, Malik discussed what led her to play the unconventional heroine in the show, citing director Anjum Shahzad as a major influence on her decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was approached at the last minute by Anjum Shahzad. Before me, the role was offered to Aamina Sheikh who had to decline due to some personal commitments. I think she had just had a baby and honestly, it\u2019s a matter of fate,\u201d the actor revealed. Reflecting on playing such a powerful character as her first TV appearance in years, Malik shared, \u201cI think I was a very suitable choice for Jindo, for a role that embarks on so many journeys, faces so many struggles in not just one relationship but simultaneously as a sister, a mother, a wife, an independent girl, a self-sufficient woman, a voice of courage, a woman who stands for everyone. It\u2019s very rare that such a role can be undertaken by someone who has never met such challenges off-screen.\u201d<\/p>\n

The actor also spoke about the prevailing \u2018saas-bahu\u2019 genre of dramas and what it means to commit to a project like Jindo<\/em>, \u201cWhen I started shooting this drama, I received another offer at the same time. I even visited their set and filmed with the production team for three days. And for three days, I was only acting in \u2018dining table scenes,\u2019 revolving around the same old themes of saas and bahu enmity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malik revealed that people around her tried to caution her against projects like Jindo with characters speaking \u201cthose different languages\u201d in stories set in \u201cfaraway deserts and all that,\u201d but she refused to buy the excuse that the audiences will not enjoy well-made content. \u201cAll our dedication and effort gave this project its distinct flavour and people can see that. This is why the reception has been incredible,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Playing such an emotive character also challenged The Legend of Maula Jatt<\/em> star as an actor, particularly owing to the harsh filming conditions of the project. \u201cAll of us had to live in the desert. The production started in winter and wrapped up in the sweltering summer heat. It was shot entirely in one spell and Anjum\u00a0Bhai wouldn\u2019t even let me go home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The actor confessed that there were many personal situations she had to navigate while shooting Jindo <\/em>that caused much discomfort. \u201cWhile I was filming, my father had a paralysis attack but I wasn\u2019t told about that for two days.\u201d Malik also recalled having undergone an appendicitis in Turkey and starting Jindo <\/em>immediately upon return. \u201cIn many scenes, I would be running with bandages on,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

While the series has been a gripping watch for fans, chronicling abuse and repression under a rural patriarchy, one episode, in particular, has proved a massive tearjerker, featuring Jindo carrying her husband\u2019s dead body on her shoulders across the desert.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was very emotional for me to see a woman and to see in her myself because I was playing that role of a wife hauling her own husband\u2019s dead body all the way home. A husband with whom she never particularly had good memories but there was still hope. You know, he promises her that one day she\u2019ll be proud of him. So to lose him to a painful death was very hard for me. I cried a lot watching that episode,\u201d the actor expressed, revealing the body she was carrying was not a prop, but in fact, another person with a smaller build.<\/p>\n

She further explained that she enjoys performing her own stunts and required no body doubles for her performance as Jindo, \u201cI did all the fighting scenes myself because I had already been trained in sword fighting and horse riding for Maula Jatt<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The actor was all praises for her co-actors, calling Samiya Mumtaz a \u201cwoman of exceptional composure\u201d who is \u201cjust as organic as her diet,\u201d nodding at Mumtaz\u2019s love for vegan foods and morning yoga.<\/p>\n

Commenting on her screen reunion with actor Gohar Rasheed, with whom Malik previously starred in Maula Jatt<\/em>, the actor laughingly shared, \u201cI used to forget my role every time I shared a scene with Gohar because we had done Maula Jatt<\/em> together where he played Makha and I was Daro. So whenever I used to see him, I would become Daro.\u201d<\/p>\n

On fan reactions, Malik offered, \u201cThey are taking to the series so well that I can\u2019t believe it. To really grasp Jindo\u2019s story and setting takes some time but once people got past that, the reactions have been very powerful.\u201d She added, \u201cOur team has poured a lot of effort into set design, costume, jewelry, our language, so how could people not enjoy it?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n