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If sweetness could kill
Her intoxicating perfume tickles the nostrils as we talk comfortably, in the cramped photo studio that serves as our unassuming rendezvous. The tea that one of the studio men put before us is long cold and covered with an unbecoming tanned film.
Azra Siddiq, with her carmine-tinged skin and almond-shaped eyes emphasized by immaculately arched eyebrows, is one breathtaking face that has peered out of our TV screens for the past six years. It all began when she found herself auditioning in front of PTV directors in 1995 on the insistence of the late actor, Noor Mohammed Lashari, a friend of her father’s.
Azra, poised gracefully in the leather chair trudges down memory lane. She calmly reminisces the years she’s spent dabbling in nearly every sort of medium ranging from commercials to drama, to sitcoms and fashions shows and shoots interrupted by a stint of playing airhostess for a local airline. But films have been a definite ‘no-no’ despite the offers pouring in from that arena.
“It’s just a medium not suited to my temperament,” she evades diplomatically.
All this is a far cry from her childhood spent in Abu Dhabi and her dream to become a doctor which persisted when her family moved to Karachi but had to be abandoned due to the long hours she was devoting to her drama shoots. Society frowning at the acting profession didn’t make things any easier. But Azra always had the unshakeable support of her family behind her.
“My father always supported me so it didn’t matter what anyone else was saying,” she clarifies.
“I was never obsessed about getting on TV or having my name up on the mini screen,” she explains in her placid voice as she fidgets with the tape recorder clasped gently in her tapering fingers. The transient nature of this glamorous field doesn’t ruffle her graceful feathers.
“I want to work in this field only as long as I fit in; the day I realize that my sun has set I’ll make a graceful exit,” she says sensibly. “My life doesn’t end in showbiz, there’s an entire assortment of options out there,” she adds confidently.
Her debut TV appearance was a minute doctor’s role but her career made a full-fledged take off when she nabbed the role in the historical play, Ghazi Shaheed alongside Ghalib Kamal. Currently, with five plays on air or just completed like Chaudhwien Raat, Faasle, Ulta Seedha, Aatish, Chahatein and Jalte Suraj Kay Talay, which have made more than ripples on the silver screen, Azra revels in the recognition.
“It’s more than an enough reward for all my exhausting work hours. And more than anything it makes my parents incomparably proud,” she says, a glow spreading on her impeccable silken features.
There are a lot of things that sadden this lovely girl with her subtle, refined Urdu speech. She feels disappointed at the jealous vibes she has had to encounter from the senior female actresses, the manner in which drama has been commercialized, the lack of acting institutes within our borders, how private production has aided in the deterioration of good scripts and the presence of simply a handful of veteran maestro directors.
“It’s the greatest blessing for an actor to work with the likes of Haider Imam Rizvi and Qasim Pasha,” she says emphatically recounting her experiences with these connoisseurs of the trade.
Swinging one leg over another she rattles off a string of names of top-notch leading men from Asad to Aijazz Aslam with whom she has starred as heroine with.
“But the funny thing is that in the majority of my plays I’ve found myself cast alongside Behroz Sabzwari the most.”
With a twinkle in her eyes, hidden behind grey lenses, she muses over how she used to watch him on screen when she was a child and now to find herself as his leading lady strikes her as amusing.
Azra is proud of the fact that her name has never been embroiled in any sort of controversy. I give her a look of sheer skepticism at this declaration. The incredulous look makes her laugh. Then with a serious expression she continues, “My foremost thought has always been that no harm should come to my family’s name. I’m a believer in the fact that it’s completely up to a woman to keep her distance. When the female sends out provocative vibrations, it is only then that men make advances,” she says firmly.
Like two gossiping females our conversation roves a lot around men and marriage. Even though Azra is a romantic at heart and enjoys a mushy novel and lilting music she does not believe in having an ideal as far as the man she wants to marry is concerned. With the kind of angelic beauty she’s blessed with, she has had a string of admirers, but the attention makes her uncomfortable. “When I’m unable to reciprocate a person’s feelings I regret the pain I’m causing him because I always wonder what it would be like if I were to be at the receiving end of rejection.”
Belonging to a family where girls are whisked off to their husband’s house right after metric Azra has had to be the rebel. “I strongly believe that I’ve strived way too hard to establish myself as an actress, so marriage can wait for a couple of years.”
“Why can’t you continue with your career after you tie the knot?” I immediately shoot back.
“Well, I’d definitely want to marry someone who would let me pursue my career,” she begins “but I do realize that saying ‘I do’ to a man means lots of responsibilities and I want to be able to strike a balance between the two.” Her honeyed voice reflects a tone that she’s very clear-headed about her future and priorities.
Along the course of the conversation one discover Azra Siddiq the person who admits ruefully to possessing a boiling temper, adoring spicy delicacies and not having much of a sweet tooth. Juggling my note pad and tape recorder I get up take her leave, taking in the whiff of her lingering perfume for the last time. We both glance at the stone cold tea lying abandoned on one side and share a giggle. It’s been quite a few weeks since the interview but her soft features and syrupy voice are still fresh in my mind’s eye. What’s more, I pity all my fellow male writers for not being assigned this interview. Tough luck guys!
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