She's young. She's sassy. She's Pakistan's most popular face at the moment. But Humaima Malick's big cinema debut happened in a totally de-glam avatar with Shoaib Mansoor's Bol where she plays Zainub. “Shoman (Shoaib Mansoor, director of the critically acclaimed Khuda Kay Liye ) is perhaps the only person who is making anything sensible in Pakistan today. Being an Islamic girl from Pakistan, working with him was a privilege,” she says.
The brand ambassador of Lux and Sunsilk in Pakistan, Humaima was initially appalled that she would have to go sans make-up and minus basic grooming for the film. “Shoman asked me to not even wash my face or wax myself or even thread my eyebrows! I was absolutely off socialising for three entire months. I was worried whether my brands would approve. But now they are cashing in on my film's success,” she says.
The Face of Pakistan
Bol presents the heart-wrenching tale of women and eunuchs in Pakistan, and questions the authority of giving birth to children in this world without being prepared to take the responsibility for them. Humaima plays Zainub, the rebel in every woman, who fights her own father, embodying the tormentor. “During the shoot, many a time I would get irritated. My character was rather depressing and it would affect me badly. But the result has been so overwhelming. They now call me the Face of Pakistan on covers. I knew that this film would definitely get a worldwide platform given that Khuda Kay Liye was such a path-breaking film. But I also knew that this might create a furore because we are dealing with a range of sensitive topics,” she says.
Humaima says it hurts her that Pakistan bears the tag of the most dangerous Third World country. “I would like to change that perception and I am glad that being part of Bol has given me an opportunity to do something to make my people more aware,” she says, adding that handling threats from fanatics over her role in the film has been part of her job. “Threats are part and parcel of the game but if I start naming those who have threatened me, it will only encourage them.”
The actor is all praise for her director. “Shoman is a very different kind of a person. He rarely talks. But when he does, it doesn't take him many words to convey what he wants to.”
The model and television actor says the world of cinema intrigues her and she would definitely like to continue her journey here. However, she adds, “In Pakistan, there is that one film made in a year. So there really isn't much scope. I would be interested in pursuing offers from Bollywood and Hollywood. But I am finicky about having a bound script.”
