Bushra Ansari is that entertainment persona who has graced our TV screens for many years now. Her performances have marked comic parodies, serious themes as well as characters that have jumped out of the TV screen to make us emote or laugh – her body of work is immense, but that’s not all making her rest on her laurels – Bushra Ansari is all fired up to take on more, better and new genres. So buckle up as we give you her life and work philosophies in a nutshell!
Bushra Ansari has so much to share from a rich body of work and an even more enriching life. Her’s was the age when women did everything – from running a home, to mothering, to following a career – how did this super woman do it all and with flair? Here’s what she told us:
1. Message For Young Women
Not only should one be financially independent as a woman, but also acquire some life skill that can help you contribute to your household income. It’s unfair to expect a single income household to flourish in these times and Bushra Ansari’s advice comes from a place of knowledge, having been there and done that!
2. Divorce Clause in Nikah Nama
On the divorce clause in Nikah Nama, Bushra Ansari credits her father on ensuring that nearly an era ago, when the divorce and khula clauses were never discussed in a marriage contract, her father insisted on having them adhered to. He believed the right of divorce, and the man granting that right of divorce to the wife, was her Islamic right and hence, must ne made a part of the agreement.
3. Not To Slander Your Ex
Bushra Ansari herself divorced from her husband after many years of marriage yet speak highly of Iqbal Ansari as the father of her children and a professional. Another page to take out of her book, not to slander your ex!
And now, we move on to Maa Begum and Tere Bin as that’s the project she is most currently associated with. She gave some insights about her character and this is what she had to say.
4. Not Your Conspiratorial Mother In Law
She goes on to defend her character Maa Begum in Tere Bin. The role has been called out by many as too rigid or perceivably black, but Bushra Ansari stresses that it is merely following the practices that are ingrained in her life for a lifetime. She is not ill-meaning or devious in any way, merely, sticks to her POV and her beliefs and principles.
Bushra Ansari – FUCHSIA Magazine
Ma Begum is not a saazishi just principled
Interesting that she has managed to convey a bit of that through her performance and kept us guessing if she is really evil or merely grey!
5. Honest Confession, Dramas Do Carry Unnecessary Flaws!
Bushra Ansari was honest about the blunders that mar or at least, lessen the impact of many projects in the industry. Be it a setback in execution, story detail or the actor wearing too much makeup when she just woke up. She reminisces about the classic PTV days when directors ensured that the actors appeared natural and in keeping with the scene.
Murtasim should have headed to the village instantly the moment he found out his sister was kidnapped, rather than sending Bakhtu.
Bushra Ansari
Yes, there are flaws and we must work to fix them, she responds.
6. Makeup & Jewellery At 4am
She took responsibility for her own lapses in appearance or state of alertness. Bushra Ansari recounts that the night Mariam was kidnapped, she was awoken late into the night and one wonders why she was wearing heavy makeup and jewellery. I have should have the presence of mind to change into a nighty for the scene, she opines, but it was an exhausting day and it slipped my mind!
Bushra Ansari
I’m upset with myself for wearing full makeup and jewelery in the scene that Mariam is kidnapped.
7. Relationship with Mariam
Again, story telling wise, I should have had more scenes and a warmer relationship with my daughter Mariam, which was perhaps, missed out in the screenplay. It was all about Haya and Maa Begum.
Mother daughter bonding was missing a bit between Maa Begum and Mariam
Bushra Ansari
It is eye opening and a relief that as a seasoned actor, Bushra Ansari views her projects with a critical eye and instead of defending every move, she carries the professional awareness to note gaps in the story and point them out, yet in a constructive manner. Great message for others to follow, what do you think?
8. On Yumna & Wahaj
Bushra Ansari went on to divulge the work ethos of both leads in Tere Bin
Bushra Ansari
Yumna and Wahaj are lovely. They work really hard at their roles. They try to make it even better.
She went on to say: “Wahaj is as you see him onscreen. A courteous young man. And Yumna too is lovely!”
In fact, the entire cast gelled really well on the set. Sabeen Farooq, Sohail Sameer, Farhan Ally Agha, Fazila Qazi, Hira Soomro – everyone is wonderful.
9. Shoot That Lasted Nearly A Year!
Bushra Ansari went on to explain the extensive work behind the project.
We shot for 8 months. Some scenes, wedding scenes late into the night were quite exhausting.
Bushra Ansari
There were times that we had to work late into the night and I, as Maa Begum, had to appear totally upright and rigid, as is my character. Hence the work was quite exhausting yet rewarding, she explains.
10. Not My Job
Bushra Ansari was very clear on cast dynamics. She is an actor who has worked with an array of young and old performers over a span of time when work ethics, the way things are done and practices have changed. yet, she maintains a practical, non judgemental approach to the changing times.
It’s not my job to tell people when to come on the set..
Bushra Ansari
And that’s the way she does it folks. Bushra Ansari is sending out goals on how to stay relevant in the industry, keep it sane and positive! She has many projects in the pipeline, one of which is a theatre play in the works and we hear there is a comic element to it, a genre she is not a stranger to!
Tere Bin: Viral For All The Wrong Reasons? Read With Caution!
Get in on the full heart to heart here:
