Saba welcomes Senaz’s spark

Saba Hamid surprised and fascinated fans during her appearance in a nightly show of a local channel with a sincere confession: It’s “jealous” by anyone else from Shehnaz Sheikh.

“If there is an artist I am a fan and I would like to copy. She should be Shehnaz Sheikh,” Saba said with a loving smile. “She has no matching Pakistan when it comes to her comedy and timetable.

The revelation thanked the public, especially the fans of classic Pakistani actions, who remember that shehnaz magic brought to television screens in the 1980s. Whether it was tanhaiyaan or ankahi, Shehnaz carries a space for himself as a performer of lovable characters. Saba gladly recalled a scene from Ankahi, where Shehnaz’s character accidentally accumulates the tie of her boss. “It was brilliant,” Saba said. “No one could hand over at that time with such an effortless charm.”

And he comes from Saba, that says something. With a career extending more than three and a half decades, SABA is not foreign to unforgettable performance. From the favorite family of tracks to more recent hits such as Mere Humsafar, Noor Jahan, AE Dil and Mann Mast Malang, it has proven its ability to move between drama, comedy and social comments with grace and impact.

‘Comedy is my first love’

In the same interview, SABA was asked why she did not return to comedy, especially given how beloved the family waist remains in the series. Her answer revealed a sweet and bitter truth.

“I want to make comedy,” he said. “It’s my favorite genre, and I would love to do it more, but it must be a situation and not hit or be scared. Unfortunately, such works are no longer doing.”

For someone whose comic timetable once lights about family lounges, this felt like a quiet sadness. Saba has made it clear that she is not interested in the wide humorous. “He must have roots on stage, in real emotion,” he said, as did Shehnaz’s legendary performances.

SABA also reflects the evolution of Pakistani actions, noting that while the industry has increased on a production scale, it has lost the emotional coordination and originality that did the previous job so detrimental.

“In the 1980s, providing dialogues written by authors such as Ashfaq Ahmed, Bano Qudsia, Amjad Islam Amjad and Noorul Huda Shah were happy,” he said. “Their words were strong, exciting and deeply human.”

The accuracy of this era was compared to the current system, where the actors now have whole groups that decide their wardrobe and look. “Then, the actors were planning themselves, preparing their Get-up and brought their own energy to the set,” he said. “There was nothing artificial, no leniency. That’s why older dramas still feel original.”

Interestingly, Saba has also shared that her true passion these days lies in the direction. “I like the direction more because it bears more responsibility,” he said. “An actor focuses on a character. A director builds the world.”

Her directorial venture Jaisay Aapki Marzi (2023) was a score and critical success, further enhancing her role as a creative force behind the camera.

When asked about fellow actor Naumaan Ijaz, Saba had nothing more than praise: “It’s a jewelry of our industry. Time has only improved it.”