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You can't judge someone's capabilities based on the language they know, shares Saba Qamar
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You can't judge someone's capabilities based on the language they know, shares Saba Qamar

The actress talks classism and art without boundaries ahead of the release of her Bollywood film, Hindi Medium
Images Staff
13 Apr, 2017

At first, all we knew about Saba Qamar's Bollywood debut film, Hindi Medium was that "it was a little like Piku".

Now that the trailer is out, we know it tackles issues of elitism in schools.

In an interview with Dawn News, the actress shed some more light on her upcoming film and opened up about classism in society and the industry.

"It's a very different topic yet very relatable; people will be able to connect to the story. It's every household's story in a way. Every home has kids, those kids need to get an education and have to learn certain languages."

"We have even more issues; we need to know Arabic to read the Holy Quran, we need to know Urdu to converse in society but for a good job, we also need to know English... So we're quite the jack of all trades, don't you think?"

Qamar also agrees that this elitism also spills into the entertainment industry.

"English is very important of course because it's an international language but to think that if they don't know English that person is completely useless is wrong. You can't and shouldn't judge someone's capabilities based on the language they know."

Irrfan Khan and Saba Qamar play a married couple in Hindi Medium
Irrfan Khan and Saba Qamar play a married couple in Hindi Medium

Talking about her experience shooting the movie while Pak-India tensions were on the rise, Saba reveals that her time across the border did not reflect any of that.

"It was wonderful; they treated me with respect and love and the overall experience, whether it's shooting with team or working in Bollywood, was great. I faced no such issues."

"I respect everyone's views and political opinions but I feel like those shouldn't affect the entertainment industry. Art shouldn't have boundaries."

She adds that it was a pleasure to work with her co-star, Irrfan Khan.

"I've always been a huge fan of his work. He's very down to earth and humble, a very comfortable co-star. He's a big superstar obviously but he never behaved like one, at least not with me. Maybe I'm blessed."

The Lahore Se Aagey leading lady also revealed that she has a biopic drama in the works but remained mum about the details.

Hindi Medium is slated for release on May 12.

Comments

IMTIAZ ALI KHAN Apr 13, 2017 04:04pm
Kya munfarid andaaz hai aap ka Saba. Subhaallah! God Bless You friend.
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mohammad H Khan Apr 13, 2017 04:13pm
Indeed your are not only beautiful but intelligent as well. very well said break the stereotypes.
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Maria Apr 13, 2017 04:45pm
Love this bundle of talent and beauty! But the camera failed to capture her beauty in this particular movie.
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Ramadosa Apr 13, 2017 04:55pm
@mohammad H Khan : Would you tell a man he was not only handsome but intelligent, too? Always study subtext---and you have a classically patronizing one!
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Naveed Apr 13, 2017 05:01pm
It seems like a nice movie as the topic is very unique and common also for middle classes of south east Asian countries ! Will we be able to see it in PK?
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Saeeds Apr 13, 2017 05:11pm
@Maria Saba is a marvellous actress and is as beautiful as one could get. Beauty is only skin deep.
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bhoy indian Apr 13, 2017 05:31pm
She seems to be a better actor than Mahira Khan.
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Syed Azmat Ali Apr 13, 2017 06:17pm
Yes you can. In Pakistan, your ability to understand and comprehend English is the only way to a relevant education for a career in nearly any industry. You truly can't be an engineer or a doctor or a business professional, unless you habe adequate skills in the English language. Yes, without even am inkling of English you can still have jobs or careers... in acting, labour, add a tradesman. But if you wasn't a cushy job or career, you need to know English. Any level of scientific research will need the pursuer to know another language other than Urdu or Sindhi or Punjabi.
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Moin Kamal Apr 13, 2017 06:57pm
I went to top school in India and Pakistan and we used to look down people who went to urdu medium schools.I found out later living West that we got this elite system from Britishers as my great uncle went Harrow school in London where top elites from across the world come to study.
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Rafiq Ebrahim Apr 13, 2017 08:52pm
Saba Qamar , besides being very attractive and intelligent, is a versatile artiste. Looking forward to see her Indian movie.
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Rkhan Apr 13, 2017 09:24pm
So the social issues can be narrated gently through good storyline direction and comical touch in a movie as well. Like irfan and saba's appearance in the trailer that too without vulgarity which indian movies badly filled . with. Best wishes.
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Maria Apr 13, 2017 09:59pm
@Saeeds Not in this movie.
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Maria Apr 13, 2017 10:00pm
@Ramadosa Well said.
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El Cid Apr 13, 2017 11:30pm
@mohammad H Khan Without her heavy make up and camera work she is no more beautiful than the average Pakistan college girl
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really? Apr 13, 2017 11:45pm
@Rkhan "that too without vulgarity which indian movies badly filled ." Movies cater to a wide variety of audiences and some movies are indeed vulgar. But many are not. Here are a few in recent years that did not have any vulgarity and had a strong storyline: Queen, English Vingglish, Dear Zindagi, Lunchbox, Bajirao Mastani, Airlift, Rustom, Kaabil, Raees, Sultan, Dangal, PK, Phillouri, Pink, Mary Com, Neerja, Kapoor and Sons, Fan, Oh my God,Piku.
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Shiraz Apr 14, 2017 12:15am
Money talks fellows. That's the language which everyone understands very well.
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Salik Apr 14, 2017 12:18am
Harsh reality is that English opens almost equal level of doors for you as for the people with connection or money in Pakistan. Been there, seen that, felt that. English got my cousin his construction company license within hours, English got me through immigration without hassle at the airport. And I am neither rich nor connected. Confidence and a clear English accent is all you need. Maybe not even a degree, which I definitely don't possess.
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Alba Apr 14, 2017 01:28am
These actress always have something to complain about. ...and it is always about how they are treated unfairly in the movie business.
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Fair opinions Apr 14, 2017 03:41am
One of my friend is crazy to your dramas,I am not. But regards languages,,besides local languages,you must learn English,French,and Spanish,then you'll feel you are at home in all the world.Knowledge of languages does matter.
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Vijay b. Apr 14, 2017 04:41am
I will make it a point to see this movie as it sounds intriguing and interesting. And yes SHE (saba Qamar ) looks ravishingly beautiful.
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Saeeds Apr 14, 2017 05:22am
@Ramadosa Yes I would. All handsome men are not intelligent, and all intelligent men are not handsome.
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kaliraja thangamani Apr 14, 2017 06:38am
That is great country counry called India. We have all sorts of people. But constitution is supreme.
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Ali Apr 14, 2017 08:21am
seems interesting though saba is my favorite also.
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Ashwani Apr 14, 2017 08:49am
SABA is very talented, natural ,real .
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Umair Khan Apr 14, 2017 12:24pm
My favorite local actress. Love her.
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Vijay b. Apr 14, 2017 02:40pm
Like it or not, even today, the top 10% coming out of the good English medium schools are a cut way above the others when it comes to language skills and interaction in the elite circle. I know many top notch professors from India, very well versed in their fields, making around $300,000 and even above, at US universities, coming from non-English medium schools back home, whose social skills, and language skills still need a lot to be desired. So a good command over the English language is a big plus.
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Katib Apr 14, 2017 03:11pm
No language is more beautiful then Urdu. I am fluent in Farsi and English. I love Urdu, Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali and Rashid Khan.
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SYed zAfar kazmi U.d.s.a Apr 15, 2017 04:44pm
A very talented artist, indeed with total control over depicting her character' s deeply seated controversies and conflicts. Best of luck all along.
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Khuram Nisar Apr 16, 2017 10:08am
@Syed Azmat Ali No you can't or shouldn't. judging some one based on the language they can speak is stereotyping behavior which is quite common in former british colonies due to left out classes; furthermore speaking good accent English doesn't mean one is educated or capable. I am known to a lot educated people whose homes are filled with books but they can't even read proper English. But this doesn't mean one shouldn't learn English; we should study all languages, local, national, foreign and international languages (the more we can). Anyways, you should read Saba Qamar's exact statement before commenting, she didn't even say what you meant. "English is very important of course because it's an international language but to think that if they don't know English that person is completely useless is wrong. You can't and shouldn't judge someone's capabilities based on the language they know."
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naeem malik Apr 18, 2017 11:56am
last film was not good at all, lahore sey aagay
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