To say the show Zindagi Gulzar Hai (ZGH), that airs on the new channel Zee Zindagi, coming from across the border has become really popular in India would be an understatement. Going by the tweets, status updates on social networking and micro-blogging sites, it is easy to see why the show has managed to garner so much popularity.
The show follows the love story of Kashaf, a strongly opinionated girl from a lower class background and Zaroon Junaid, a frivolous young man with an affluent upbringing.
What sets this one apart is the realistic setting and talented actors who have managed to connect with audience not only in Pakistan but here as well. Sanam Saeed who played Kashaf in the series couldn’t be more happier with the success of the show in India.
“It’s amazing to see the response. First of all, the kind of promotion done was amazing. I had friends travelling and those who live there who called up home excitedly saying that the billboards are everywhere. It is exciting to see our work up there. I’m really happy that we have bridged the gap creatively if not in any other way between India and Pakistan. I’m very proud and humbled to be part of that movement,” says Sanam who has tried her hand at just about everything – acting, modelling, singing, theatre and also VJing in Pakistan.
With great acing chops to boot, her role as Kashaf in ZGH got her so much appreciation that people started addressing her the name of the character. “It’s been two years since the show ended and even now people address me as Kashaf,” laughs Sanam who is full of praises for her co-star in the show Fawad Khan. He also enjoys immense fan following after having acted in shows like Humsafar back home.
Ask her if she was nervous about acting opposite him following the immense success of Humsafar and she says, “I was nervous since I had to live up to the expectations of the audience. In terms of working with Fawad, when I met him I was pleasantly surprised that he is very polite and down to earth and good to work with.”
Sharing one instance while shooting with him, she recalls, “In Pakistan, we don’t really have a lot of sets, so we mostly shoot in real locations like people’s homes and even public places. So we were shooting at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture and the girls would just come to watch Fawad. He had just finished the show Humsafar. It was something like the Axe effect advertisement where there would be swarms of girls who would come to watch him and take pictures. So that was quite entertaining.”
With many actors from Pakistan like Humaima Malik, Imran Abbas and Fawad khan set to make a Bollywood debut, does she also harbour any ambitions of foraying in the industry?
“Right now I would like to see how all the dramas from here fare in India, the whole course and how the people react and then maybe later think about it. I would love to do a movie for a cause in India like something that bridges the gap,” says Sanam on a parting note.
Zindagi Gulzar Hai is being aired on Zee Zindagi.