The Herald
August, 1984
__Arifa Siddique
By Sadiq Jafri
Aria Siddiqui doesn’t speak much. And even when she does, she mostly leaves half-sentences hanging in mid-air. She lets her face, her eyes, and her hands do the rest.
“An artist is always shy personally,” says mother Talat Siddiqui.
Arifa has her own reasons. “I haven’t seen enough of the world yet. Besides, I don’t know the art of cooking up stories like other people do during their interviews”.
She sits back and views the big bad world through her deep, penetrating eyes, hoping to win it over someday. Someday, given the independence.
Right now, she is under mama’s wing. Talat accompanies her to TV recordings, film shootings, modeling stints and shopping expeditions. She makes it a point to be present at press interviews too. She was present at this one at any rate.
“I fear that at this tender age she can very easily be misguided. She can move around freely after a few years but not now.” Besides, says Talat, the youngest child in the family is always treated like a kid. “All the elders feel that way,” says Arisa. At sixteen, she has other ideas. She is planning a trip to Birmingham. “I’ll be a changed girl when I return from Birmingham,” promises Arifa. I for one, am looking forward to her return….
Q. Talat, why did you introduce Arifa to showbiz at such a young age?
T. I don’t want to impose any sort of restrictions on my daughters, I never have. I will not always be there to hold their hands. They must have something of their own to fall back on or else they’ll falter. For the same reason, I encouraged Naheed and my younger daughter Nuzhat (now married to Shaukat, an assistant producer at PTV Lahore), to take up Kathak lessons. They used to go to Maharaj Kathak after college every day. I didn’t want people talking about my daughters. So, either Rehana (Talat’s younger sister) or I used to go along. I do the same with Arifa. Times are not good.
A. I’m the second person in showbiz to always be chaperoned by an elder. First, it was Shamim Ara. Her grandmother always remained with her during her shooting stints.
Q. With so many TV plays and movies to your credit, you must have won many fans?
A. Yes, and they all want to either come over to my place or at least, talk to me on the phone. But they’re always disappointed. I never answer phone calls. My grandmother does. In the beginning, I did talk to a few callers, but it got to be so boring. They always asked the same questions: Why did I join television? Was I interested in acting from childhood? What did I do at home? Questions that newspapermen ask you.
Q. But it must be great to be recognized.
A. Sometimes, I badly want to hide myself from the eyes of curious fans specially when I’m going to the movies or shopping. Somehow, the shopkeepers always recognize me and demand higher prices. Everybody thinks we stars make tons of money. If they only knew how much
Q. How much?
A. Ask my mother. She knows. I only get what I need from her.
Q. Was breaking into showbiz easy?!
A. I got a chance easily merely because I come from the Siddiqui family. My aunt, Rehana and my mother, Talat Siddiqui, have been well-known names in television. Otherwise, I could have got in only on the basis of merit.
Q. How do you rate with viewers?
A. Initially, people didn’t have many expectations of me, but they do now. I’ll try my best not to disappoint them.’ I’ve had enough experience and now I feel I can really act.
Q. What is more important in showbiz-beauty or talent?
A. A difficult question to answer. I think beauty is more important, at least in films. On television you have to have both. Even otherwise, one looks double one’s age on television. Anyway, beauty and talent seldom go together. Beauty doesn’t last forever and talent always comes late in life. What really happens here is that by the time an artiste has really learnt the art, she’s lost her looks, and consequently she’s ignored in her prime.
Q. Do TV people tip you on your performance?
TS.TV, people never have to worry on that count. They know that her mother’s there to do it. But, of course, one has to have the guts and confidence in oneself. Showbiz never favors relatives or friends. You can’t win a wrestling bout just because you are the son of a Bholu Pehlwan.
Q. Do you get a lot of time to rehearse?
A. I never get enough time to prepare for a TV play. They hand in the script one day, next day you rehearse it and the third day it’s recorded. Now it depends on the actors, how well they do it.
Q. How do you feel about films and the film industry in general?
A. I played the second lead in the recently released Aisa Bhi Hota Hai with Faisal, and I’ve done similar roles in a few yet-to-be-released movies with Faisal and Vikki. But right now, I’m really not in a position to say anything about people in the film industry. Better ask Ammi. She has more experience of them.
Q. Are you doing any Punjabi films?
A. Yes, one Punjabi film Ajab Khan. I’ve seen one Punjabi movie Rustam Tey Khan and I couldn’t understand it at all. I didn’t know what was happening.
Q. How serious are you about modeling?
A. It pays more but I’ll always prefer acting. The one thing about modeling that I detest is that you always have to keep smiling and that is very difficult for me.
Q. Singing?
A. I have a special inclination for singing. It runs in the family. I’ve sung a few numbers for some recent movies and also performed for stage shows. I’ll be concentrating more on singing now. I might become a full-time singer in the days to come.
Q. What do you plan to do in Birmingham?
A. I’ll be learning music and dancing besides seeing places and participating in the cultural programs my sister Naheed arranges there.
Q. After clearing your Matric exams, do you plan to study further?
A. I plan to do mygraduation.
Q. And then?
A. I suppose I will meet the same fate as every other girl: marry someone and raise children. At least, that’s what my mother wants me to do. That’s why I feel acting is just a hobby with me, not a profession.
Q. Will your mother be choosing her son-in-law?
A. Hopefully not. I’ll try my best to exercise my right to find a husband of my own choice. And then I won’t leave him to do the thinking bit all by himself, like it is now with my mother.
Q. You’ve just said TV is a hobby. Don’t you have any other hobbies?
A. Yes, I play cricket on the lawns of my house. With a tennis ball. And guess what? I’m a fast bowler. I watch a lot of crickets on television, and admire (but of course) the mighty Imran I have some friends I love talking to.
Q. What about?
A. Nothing of interest to men. Occasionally, I read English fiction James Hadley Chase, Harold Robbins and Jacqueline Susann.
Q. Any novel that lingers on in memory?
A. Yes, Valley of the Dolls and because of the novel, I hate Hollywood. I don’t approve of the liberties Indian filmmakers take in their movies. Looks like they get their inspiration directly from the West. In Pakistan, the censors are pretty strict. I’m sure people here too do everything, but it’s not that open, and it shouldn’t be. There must be a limit to things. Some of the prohibitions imposed are really necessary. But I don’t agree with the prohibitions imposed on women in general. I find that women who work in offices and breathe freely are definitely more contented and confident than those who hide behind the veil or the four walls of the home. I strongly feel that girls should not be overprotected and confined to the four walls of the home like I was in Lazawal.
Q. How independent are you?
A. I drive the car myself and I’ve never had any accidents. If you ever run into trouble with the traffic cops you simply have to wave out to them. and they won’t say a word to you, bechary.
Seriously speaking, on a professional level. I have very little experience and I’m not ready to speak out. Mostly. I’ve repeated what my mother’s told me.
Would you do me a favor? Print this interview now. Then interview me again, say, after two or three years, for the same magazine. Maybe, I’ll be of more help then….