Fifteen years ago, when the Pakistani drama industry started taking its first steps towards revival, actress Sarwat Gilani emerged as one of those actors who would be there in every quality serial.
She served the industry with block-buster projects like “Ishq Ki Intehaa”, “Azar Ki Ayegi Barat”, “Mohabbat Tum Se Hai”, “Malal”, “Mere Aas Pas” and “Meri Zaat Zara e Benishan” to name a few. Gilani is also a fine painter and an activist who now spends most of her time in grooming her children and caring for the needs of people who come under her supervision as an ambassador of multiple health-care institutions.
You have spent more than a decade in the drama industry. According to you, has the drama industry progressed or regressed?
It has both progressed and regressed. The progression is understandable if we take a look at our flourishing film industry, in the revival of which it is the drama actors, directors and producers who are playing a prior part. However, still a lot needs to be achieved for it to be an industry where we generate revenue and reutilize it. A few minor problems which exist are related to time constraints and an ever-increasing quantity of productions; punctuality is not much heeded to, and with the growing number of channels and consequently, the growing number of dramas, the content is being compromised. Also, the craft of story-telling needs to be revisited especially when it comes to female characters. Women in our dramas know nothing about the world they are living in. Despite having so many success stories around us, the maximum target we give to our women is to get married by the end of the day and prepare well for that. This is something which is taking us towards regression and needs to be worked on.
There was a time when you used to frequently appear on the screen, but that isn’t the case now. Why is that so?
Yes, my acting career spans over almost 15 years and in these 15 years, quality has always mattered for me. I have worked a lot with Mehreen Jabbar, Haisam Hussain and other such good directors who are always handed over good scripts to work on. My concern has always been for what we are giving to our people, especially to our youth who is in its age of learning. If it’s a story about values, I will always go for it. When it comes to cursing and beating women, I am least interested, and that is what we have most of the time on television. Another reason why I am not working prolifically is because I am a mother now, and I want to give proper attention to my children at home. But I have kept my celebrity status intact by becoming the ambassador of Indus Hospital and of Special Olympics, Pakistan, by doing which I also feel that I am giving something back to my society.
Is there some ideal role which you wish to perform or do you believe that you have already done what you wanted to do?
I would love to represent a woman who has contributed to changing the history of Pakistan, be it a female politician, a female activist or a female entrepreneur. These are the stories that need to be told, for it is owing to such women that our laws have been changed and ground-breaking achievements have been gained. So, I would definitely like to play an unsung female hero’s success story. A strong woman’s story direly needs to be told. Women, after all, create home and nurture generations.
Which is your personal favourite character from your work profile and why?
I did a play called “Khasaara” in which I was playing Linta, a business-woman. She founds her husband cheating on her and handles the situation in a unique manner instead of sitting down and weeping over it. She doesn’t play the victim card. It was a character from which I learnt a lot. I also received many comments from people I interact with who said that they found Linta’s character quite relatable. It was a positively written character. Another character of mine which I really like is from a web-series that I have done with Asim Abbasi. Since it hasn’t been released yet, I can’t talk much about it, but it’s all about women-empowerment.
Who is that one writer in whose script do you wish to work but haven’t been given the opportunity uptil now?
I had always wanted to work with Asim Abbasi and I actually missed the opportunity to work in his movie, “Cake”. Luckily, he asked me again to work with him and I did it this time. I was blown away by the way he writes. There are a couple of other writers as well who pen amazing scripts for television. But I wish to keep myself up with the latest of genres, as television is gradually becoming obsolete. The world is moving towards web-series. Whoever can write well for the web and understand what needs to be given to the viewers of the web will be successful in the coming days, and I would like to work with such people.
Yes, my acting career spans over almost 15 years and in these 15 years, quality has always mattered for me. I have worked a lot with Mehreen Jabbar, Haisam Hussain and other such good directors who are always handed over good scripts to work on. My concern has always been for what we are giving to our people, especially to our youth who is in its age of learning
How do you deal with negative criticism?
There are pros and cons of being a celebrity, and yes, I have also received my share of negative criticism. It’s almost every day that I get such comments on my social media, but I am a strong person who knows where she comes from and what her values are. I appreciate myself where it needs to be done. Criticism affects only those people who let the haters get to them, and I have never allowed that. I have always stood up against both societal and cyber bullies, who are ready to take disadvantage of women in any capacity, be it in schools or in public transport. Criticizers of my career, however, don’t matter to me because that is the way they have been brought up, which should not bother me. My set of rules is different and I am quite satisfied with it. I don’t need to change myself for any random person. But yes, if people who are close to me such as my family members and friends find a flaw in me and explain it to me, I do apologize and try to fix myself accordingly.
Is there any project of yours about which you were quite excited but which didn’t turn out to be as successful as expected?
Whenever I do a role, my purpose is to bring something new to the table. But I don’t keep high expectations. You can never assume the viewers’ opinion. I do my part and thoroughly enjoy my work, but I never expect. A team’s seriousness which goes into the project is good enough for satisfaction.
You have worked a lot with Mehreen Jabbar. How is she different from other directors and which is your personal favourite project amongst “Malaal”, “Mata e Jaan” and “Dil Mera Dharkan Teri”?
What I like about Mehreen Jabbar is that she doesn’t dramatize things or blow them out of proportion. She likes to keep things real and natural, and that is what I admire the most about her. She cuts off over-emotionality and succeeds in conveying the message all the same. Also, she starts early and wraps up shoots on time. From these three projects, both “Malaal” and “Mata e Jaan” are my favourite.
What is your real calling; acting or painting?
I keep changing my callings. For now, it has become using my celebrity status for a good cause. I have done enough of painting and acting. My focus in now on encouraging the special people of Pakistan using my status as a renowned figure. But yes, I keep utilizing my creative side at home; creating spaces, painting stuff, doing art with my children.
What have you learnt the hard way in the industry?
I have learnt that you cannot make everybody happy. Just do your bit and don’t expect anything. People work for themselves only. The only entity I look up to for acceptance is Allah.
Tell us about your upcoming projects.
A web series, written and directed by Asim Abbasi, is on its way very soon. It’s my favourite work from my entire career. The minute I receive a go-ahead from my team, I will start sharing the details.
The writer is a freelance journalist and can be reached at [email protected]. He Tweets at @MuhammadAli_DT