Oozing charm and confidence, the multi-talented and indomitable Hareem Farooq sat down with host Ahmad Ali Butt on his podcast to shed light on how she broke into the industry, the friends she has made along the way, and the joys of working in production.
With her long, luscious locks swept off her face into a tight ponytail, the down-to-earth A-lister, clad in wide jeans and a lime green T-shirt arrived an hour late for her interview in Dubai in true Pakistani style. “That’s being punctual!” protested Hareem with a laugh. “When I’m working on a project, I already know who’ll arrive late, and I keep a margin for it!”
Less of an interview and more of a casual chat, the laughter flowed thick and fast between the two friends as the Diyar-e-Dil star mused over the gratifying path her showbiz career has taken. Drawing upon her spirituality and deep faith, the actor-turned-producer noted, “My trajectory has been very interesting, and I am wherever I am today because of Allah alone. Before any big moment, I’m always praying that it works out in my favour. So far, it has worked!”
Career pathway
Like her colleagues Osman Khalid Butt and Hamza Abbasi, Hareem is known for having broken into showbiz using her theatre appearances in Islamabad as a launching pad, despite initial pushback from her wider family. Hailing from a family of doctors and bureaucrats, the self-made Hareem broke into the industry without support.
“Both my parents are doctors,” explained Hareem. “But in our family, we always had the freedom to express ourselves. My family is full of artists and writers.”
Five years after embarking on her theatre career, however, Hareem realised she had reached what she terms a “saturation point”. “I found myself asking, what’s next?”
“Next” turned out to be Hareem’s entry into the dazzling world of television, although the transition was less smooth than she had initially anticipated. “I didn’t understand TV for a long time,” she explained. Indeed, when Hareem was offered a role in Mere Humdum Mere Dost, she was given the bare minimum information before she had to make a decision. “They told me, “Adnan Siddiqui is in the lead, Sanam Jung is the second lead, you are the villain, and it is shot in Turkey.” This was the only info I had.”
Taking a leap of faith, Hareem accepted the role and brought the character of Sajeela to life. Based on her experience on the series, it wasn’t too long before Hareem learned the importance of a well-gelled team, and today, Hareem is able to quickly lock in a project after a quick glance at who she will be working with.
“It’s about your comfort level, you see,” she explained. “I don’t like to restrict myself. I will work wherever I am comfortable. Why do people want to work again and again with Humayun (Saeed?) It’s because he brings a great comfort level.”
Lifelong friendships
Hareem ripped to shreds the notion that there can be no friends in showbiz. “People say you don’t enter this industry to make friends – but to them I would say that you’re not here to make enemies either!”
Of the firm belief that respect begets respect, Hareem explained that a clear heart is the key to lifelong friendships. “Sanam Jung is a very dear friend,” shared Hareem warmly. “Adnan Siddiqui is a also very dear friend – in fact, he is the one who taught me how to truly enjoy life. These are the people who have always been there for me. There are people who sit and talk about other people. I like to sit with people who can discuss ideas, things, and life.”
Another great friend of Hareem’s is fellow actor Ali Rehman – so great, in fact, that the two have oft been rumoured to secretly be a couple. The very mention of that juicy piece of gossip led Hareem to bury her face in her hands. “We’re just really good friends!” she insisted, before realising that she was merely adding fuel to the fire. “Look – he’s a very dear friend, and that is it,” added Hareem. “I love working with him. I love acting with him, and it’s so much fun practising a scene with him.”
From acting to producing
Actively practising scenes is something Hareem realised she needed to take a break from during the pandemic. Now, Hareem’s vision about what she wants to do is laser-clear: she wants greater control over the type of stories that are unleashed into the world, and to do that, nothing could be better than entering the production side of television.
“I’m a very curious person,” she explained. “As an actor, you just come and go, but as a producer, you are involved in every aspect and get to see what is happening behind the camera.” Hareem understands that there is less glory in production, but according to her, glory isn’t everything. Citing her series 22 Qadam, the story of a women’s cricket team, as an example, Hareem stressed, “You don’t do everything for recognition. You have to do things for your own satisfaction. If I can, I should make stories that are close to my heart, give people hope, and have an impact. I want to be a little soul in my stories.”
Hareem’s debut film as producer Janaan surpassed her own wildest expectations, and also kickstarted the career of yet another one of television’s hottest names: Hania Aamir. Casting the then-unknown Hania for her film, Hareem dismissed the idea that as a seasoned actor, she should have starred in her own production. “I don’t have to be the centre of attention,” she maintained.
Glowing with pride at having personally watched Hania blossom, Hareem added, “It gives me such satisfaction to know that I have had a hand in getting her where she is. People have given me much more than I deserve. Being in production is my way of giving back to the world!”
As Hareem wears her producer’s hat and continues to experiment with stories that bring her satisfaction, there remains little doubt that viewers will find them equally enthralling – and what a treat is for anyone who wants a story with soul.
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