Pakistan’s illustrious actor, director, producer and screenwriter, Usman Peerzada shared his love story and more in this exclusive.
Usman Peerzada is a renowned Pakistani actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. He was born in Lahore, Pakistan, into a family deeply involved in the performing arts. His father, Rafi Peerzada, was a celebrated actor and playwright who pioneered theatre in Pakistan. Usman Peerzada began his acting career in the early 1970s, appearing in numerous stage productions and television dramas. He quickly gained recognition for his versatile talent and captivating stage presence garnering him national stardom, establishing him as one of Pakistan’s most sought-after actors.
His notable works include the films “Beyond the Last Mountain” and “Kahi Un Kahi.” Peerzada’s illustrious contributions to Pakistani arts and entertainment have been widely recognized. He has received numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious Pride of Performance Award from the Government of Pakistan. He continues to be an active figure in the industry, inspiring and mentoring aspiring artists.
Currently starring in hit dramas, Mein and Sukoon, it was an honour to have Usman Peerzada visit FUCHSIA HQ and share his journey, his love story and more about his pride and joy; his 2 daughters.
When FUCHSIA Editor, Rabia Mughni Asked: After 48 Years Of marriage, What Are The 3 Things You Love About Samina Peerzada?
He didn’t hesitate and almost instantly shared what he loves about his wife: “She is very candid, she is very straightforward. She doesn’t hide or twist her words, she talks straight up and sometimes it might not be liked but that’s the way she is. And she is very punctual!” When Rabia said she expected a more romantic reply he went on to say: “We grew up together, I used to give lectures to my friends of not marrying before 35 and I ended up marrying at 21. She was 17 and I was 21, we eloped.”
For a second, we thought he might be joking but he was rather serious. How many of you knew this?
He Has A Nickname, Piru. But Who Gave This Nickname?
It was afterall his wife and companion of 50 years. “Last month we celebrated 50 years of knowing each other and 48 years of marriage.”
“Yes, Samina used to call me Piru. Salman Shahid and Imran Aslam too. But she is the one who started calling me that from what I remember. They used to call me Gugu in my childhood too, my pet name was Gugu.”
Their Rather Adventurous Marriage Story!
So what led to them eloping? Was it a no from Usman Peerzada’s family? “No, I didn’t have any problem from my side but Samina’s mother, because she was a single mother, you know, she used to tell me to stop acting.”
“I used to explain to her that this is a noble profession She used to say, no, you should join Merchant Navy because many of her family members were in Merchant Navy and they had done very well. So she thought that place is very stable. So one day I was shooting Javed Jabbar’s film, it was almost finished, so I was leaving Karachi and Samina said, okay, so let’s get married today. We were sitting and having coffee. I was like okay let’s go.”
“We took a taxi, reached Mujeeb’s (my friend) house and I told him that I wanted to get married, but he got scared. He asked, whose marriage? I said, mine. I asked him to come with me to a mosque nearby. So we went to the mosque and told the Mullah that we are getting married. He said, okay, whose marriage? I said, it’s mine. When we reached home, he realized that we were getting married in secret from our family. He hesitated a little, but I told him that both of us are of age. I showed him our ID cards. So, the gardener and his cook were our witnesses. And we performed our Nikkah. We didn’t run away.”
Usman Peerzada
What Followed After….
The couple made it a point to return back home and inform and talk it out with their parents. So Usman Peerzada put up a brave front and asked Samina Peerzada’s mother for approval:
“We came back home. I had a box of laddoos in my hand. I came and announced to her mother that this is done, now tell me what to do. She was shocked because she did not expect this from me. A person who for the first time walked into her house, rang the bell, and she opened the door, and there I was standing, and she was shocked to see this actor standing outside the door because I had just become famous with my serial called Dusra Aadmi.“
“When I told her, she was so angry and she hit the laddoos. Laddoos toh gaye jaa ke chat ko takraye. Niche hum bhaag gaye khair say. I had my mother visit her the next day. My mother never said to me hum se pooche bagar yeh kya kiya tumne? She respected my decision. And Samina became her most favorite bahu. And very close to her also.”
He Shares How The Couple Brought Up Their 2 Daughters & Empowered Them
He didn’t shy away from accepting how his wife was the primary breadwinner for their family and took up the majority of their kids education expenses. He also gave many a lesson in parenting:
“Both of us brought them up but Samina ke zyada support thi financially. You know hum toh apne artistic kaamon mein lagay way thay, humare paas jo bhi tha thora bahut wo main karta tha lekin major contributor was Samina and instead of buying parados and pajeros and all those things we rather invested in our children and their education.”
Usman Peerzada
“That is the most important thing. Instead of giving them jewelry, we gave them books, we gave them knowledge, and we gave them the freedom to do whatever they want to do, to study whatever they want to study. We did not dictate to them that you have to study this or that. Amal was an artist and she wanted to be an artist so she went and studied art and Anam decided that she wants to do study women’s rights. She’s like my wife, she’s a feminist you know and then further went into the food business.”
What’s Keeping The Icon Busy These Days?
“I am writing a book and a film. I am actually writing my father’s film, Akiya, the play. I am developing a screenplay for the film. If I am able to make it you know. It’s a great story. It’s the first feminist play that ever was in 1937-38 and he wrote it.”
Usman Peerzada
Which of the actor’s drama has been your most favorite one? One that is almost synonymous with his name?
