AN EVENING WITH A CELEBRITY PAYAM-E-CIBE 2018 An Interview with Zeba Bakhtiar Zeba Bakhtiar is a renowned Pakistani actress. She was born in Quetta and got her higher education from Kinnaird College, Lahore. She made her acting debut in 1980s with 'Anarkali', a production of PTV. Zeba Bakhtiar stole everyone's attention with her stunning beauty, soft demeanor and a very gentle nature. Soon she was casted in an Indian production 'Hina'for which the dialogues were contributed by the famous PTV icon, Haseena Moin. Zeba also acted in a Pakistani Movie 'Sargam' against Adnan Sami Khan. Zeba Bakhtiar, a mother of one and grandmother to two, is now based in Karachi. The interview was conducted on Monday, 19th January 2018. The English Editorial Board is thankful to Ms. Zeba Bakhtiar for giving her kind consent for the interview. What fascinates you the most about your childhood and your school days? My school days were not much fascinating. I remember that I used to shut myself in the cupboard so that I might not have to go to school. My brothers and sisters were all gold medalists so I thought it better not to be into the race. I was not comfortable with my teachers' conventional style of teaching which somehow caused my lack of interest in studies. I was very interested in Chemistry and really wanted to study it on higher level but academic environment was not very congenial. How were your friends at school? Friends were great and I am still in touch with them forming a big circle. My best friend from grade five is in Australia at the moment. I had a very interesting experience of a reunion with my school friends after forty five years. The experience was too good because there was no formality. Such friendship lasts longer than that of any other age. All of them now, are successful and living a very respectable life. 80 PAYAM-E-CIBE 2018 Why did you join acting career despite the fact that your father was a District Attorney General? Why did you not study law and politics? I did not have any interest in politics. But let me tell you that I didn't choose to get into acting; rather acting chose me. At Kinnaird College, Lahore, annual play was always a very big production. Besides, it was much awaited by entire Lahore and most of the people used to come and see it. All the students including me used to enjoy that a lot. As far as career is concerned, in mid 80s, I got an offer to work in Punjabi films which I did not accept of course. I was more interested in writing. I remember I was 20 years old when I preferred to write. So I went to PTV one day. They were doubtful about my Urdu and instead of asking me to write, they offered me to act (may be because of my looks). Well, contrary to the general impression prevailing some decades ago, I don't consider acting as a bad thing. I don't think that any profession could be labelled as 'bad'. It's the people who may not be good enough and spoil the reputation of the industry subsequently. So I decided to go ahead with this project and I think I have played my role in changing public opinion to some extent. So, let's talk about my first play. It was an adventure after which I went back to Quetta. After some time, a production team came from England. They were looking for a person who could speak English and Urdu both. My family allowed me to be the part of that project. I gave my consent and worked with them for four or five months sparing some time for attending classes of professional training too. The day when it was finished I received a call from Haseena Moin for the Indian production 'Hina'. Let me tell you one thing that I was not chasing after it because I wasn't film crazy except accompanying my brother to movies occasionally. So I can call it a blessing from God since I did not make any endeavor for it. Acting is an art and a few people understand this thing. So what difficulties you went through when getting into this profession? In our daily life, we all are actors; to some extent we all pretend. But as far as acting is concerned, it is interesting as well as challenging. For acting, we have to observe the people and their attitude very 81 PAYAM-E-CIBE 2018 carefully. It becomes fun also when you do it with interest. A lot of people come to me that they want to work on T. V. Replying to them, I always ask them to tell whether they want to become an actor or want to be just popular by giving appearance on the screen. Seriously, acting is not at all an easy job. The reason is that it is very hard to be creative. In all types of performing arts i.e. acting, dance, music, etc. one has to be very creative. Speaking honestly, acting demands much more. Ma'am you have also worked for Indian movies, what difference did you find between the people on both sides of the border? A very big difference! India is a big country and thus she offers a big market for viewers. I got the chance to have been at all work units and the most serious difference which I found there was that of their attitude. For example in Pakistan an actor hardly cares about punctuality, whereas in India, I observed much better professional environment as well as work ethics. I want to know your views about feminism. I have been a very strong woman yet I am a feminist too. I would like men to open doors for me; I would like men to help my luggage up. I have learnt that you should behave in a way that people may respect you. Gender equality is different, means both man and woman should be considered as equal; they should be granted equal respect, equal salary and equal chances to grow. In my opinion, both of them are strong; man is physically strong and a woman is emotionally strong and in this way, no one is inferior to other. Islam supports gender equality and we all should support it. It is very painful to see that a working man is treated with great respect in a society while a working woman is treated just like a housewife and does not enjoy that respect and impotance. Do you feel sometimes that your privacy is jeopardized? No! I had not worked in the age of social media (Thank God!). But I owe my people a lot yet they don't visit me or interfere into my private life. If you think that privacy is that nobody should see you, and you shouldn't be a public face, then it's better to wear Harry Potter's cloak. It is a total contradiction that I want to be an actor but don't want people to see me; it is to kill the purpose in my opinion. I think we should take it as a blessing that people recognize us. How is it to be a mother or a single parent? Being a mother is the best thing that happens to you. Being single parent is challenging no doubt. If you are a single mother at home, you have a certain amount of guilt that you are at home for your child but if you are a single working mother then you have much more guilt for not giving time to the kid. When you leave your child at home, you feel bad. And in case you take your child at your workplace with you, then, you will feel guilty to be accompanied by your child. So, technically it is always bad and painful to have such experience. How was the experience working with Maira Khan and Humayun Saeed in 'Bin Roye'? I enjoyed that venture. Both of them had been my acquaintance for some time especially Humnyun (for a very long time). The experience was like being among friends. 82 PAYAM-E-CIBE 2018 How has public admiration been a motivational factor for you? I must give my statement with great responsibility. Well, people want to see us and in return, we owe them. Let me share an experience with you, at a very early age, I developed diabetes and had to be admitted once in OMI Karachi hospital. One day I got to know that a boy wanted to meet me. He had fallen off the roof and had broken his spine. During our meeting, he plainly told me that artists have no right to fall ill because everyone looks forward to them as an ideal. Listening to these ideas, I was ashamed of myself for having an illness and being a public figure at the same time. I must say that being known is a great responsibility. Being so much admired was a great thing for me because it was just the beginning of my career. I have learnt that we should take care of our prestige especially if we are a public figure. Once I got an offer to join politics but then a friend of mine advised me that the supporters of other parties would be very disappointed and I might lose all respect I had earned through my acting career.