Saba Qamar’s star is on the rise, especially since her successful Bollywood debut Hindi Medium (2017), which earned her a Filmfare nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role and, more recently, a win for her power-packed performance in the Pakistan TV serial, Baghi.
Not many people know that Qamar was in talks for at least four other films in India before the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA) slapped a ban on Pakistani actors. One of those was Hindi Medium, which also starred Irrfan Khan. This was long before the news of the film’s sequel came out.
Today, of course, relations between the two neighbouring countries aren’t too cordial, and cinema happens to be the first casualty — as always.
But Qamar, quite like the strong person she has often portrayed in the dramas she has worked in, isn’t willing to lie low. Rumour has it that she is eyeing Hollywood now.
Some media reports say she has already signed on a project that features Ben Affleck. If that is true, Qamar will be the first female actor from Pakistan to cross over to Hollywood. Earlier, we’ve only had the likes of Zia Moheyuddin and Faran Tahir. The latter never worked in Pakistan, so he can’t exactly be called a crossover actor.
Back home, Qamar clinched another honour when she was chosen to be the showstopper for Indian designers Rimple and Harpreet Narula at the recently concluded Shaan-e-Pakistan event held in Karachi. The Narulas, best known for designing the wardrobe for the Sanjay Leela Bhansali epic Padmaavat, were specially invited to participate in the event. Sporting a heavily embellished golden outfit, Qamar made a splash on the ramp.
Her Kundan jewellery was prepared by the Pakistani designer Asim Jofa. The three-day event was presented by Huma Nassr and her team, and it also saw local fashion celebrities such as designers duo Huma and Amir Adnan, models Shahzad Noor and Rubab, and the CEO of Catwalk Frieha Altaf.
