Exclusive: Tazeen Hussain On Her TV Hiatus: “It Felt Like I Never Left; I Was Always There”

Actor Tazeen Hussain known for her memorable performances in the 90’s makes a powerful comeback after a two-decade hiatus. The daughter of the legendary actor Talat Hussain (late) starred in memorable projects like ‘Raqeeb’, ‘Itni Si Baat’, ‘Shahpar’, ‘Shaam Se Pehle’, and ‘Anjanay Raastey’. Her comeback acts in ‘Yunhi’ and ‘Jurm’ were welcomed warmly by viewers. In an exclusive conversation with Fashion Times Magazine, Tazeen opens up about her time away, her comeback journey, and her views on the evolving industry. Dive in to discover more.

Fashion Times Magazine (FTM). There are four phases of an actress career? FIRST: when she makes an impressive debut. SECOND when she proves her mettle. THIRD when she takes a break. FOURTH when she makes a comeback. How was the journey, as you have experienced them all? 

Tazeen Hussain (TH): The journey back to TV was good and unexpected. It yielded surprises which I didn’t foresee coming. The break between my first stint and my reappearance on television was a clean break. I was not connected with the television scene at all during those years. I was in a completely different place. But when I came back, I felt like I had never left. I was always there.

And that’s partially because of two things. One the fact that the TV fraternity welcomed me back with such warm gestures. So, that way it was nice. They were very encouraging and very warm towards me. They might have remembered my old work, as it was memorable, so, the reappearance was easier for me.

The second reason for it to feel good is that things haven’t moved that much in some ways. Technically, things are better. One thing which I keep saying is great is that I don’t have to put lots of makeup. In the earlier times, you had to really cake on layers. I don’t have to waste a lot of time putting on makeup and taking it off and getting allergies and all of that. So, technologically, things have changed which helps us do things in a more efficient way. There are also more hands on a set.

On the contrary, the efficiency levels of a production have gone down in the sense that work gets done quickly. I feel that more time is given to small things, when we could be actually working to improve the production quality, acting quality and engagement with the script. So, there’s a lot of paraphernalia, a lot of fanfare around things which are not necessarily connected to improving your performance. So, working on the script, developing characters and interactions between characters; these things have ended or have gone backwards.

(FTM) Your body of work isn’t that elaborate, but you have done some memorable projects? Any specific reason for being so selective?

(TH) The first reason for being selective were my circumstances. I was a student when I was doing television in my previous stint as a young actor. I was studying alongside acting, so obviously balancing both those things were important. There was a lot of emphasis on studies in our family; getting good grades was important for me and my parents as well. Primarily I wanted to excel in what I was doing and do well. I was choosy with my projects because of that; whatever TV projects I could manage with my studies, I used to do that. I didn’t do anything else.

The second reason was that whenever my father used to work, there was an understanding in our family about work for instance this thing you should do, acting or creative work etc. It is something that came from a place of passion. I picked up things which were good and enjoyable at the same time.

One doesn’t do every other thing. If you look at my father’s body of work, he hardly ever did commercials. There are very few that he has done and maybe towards the end of his career, he did some more. He did a lot of voice overs but he didn’t come in front of the camera.

Also this was our work, passion, and creative outcome. It wasn’t the only mean to earn money. It was for my father because this was his only career. The orientation, understanding of something, how to approach something that this is a creative and sacred work for me. Allah has given me the talent and I am using it to the best of my capability.

I’ll state an analogy, I am connected to academia, my stint outside television. I used to teach there. So teaching for me was never just a means to earn money. Teaching was a passion for me. And which I am still continuing. I teach because I like teaching. Teaching gives me a feeling of excitement and a feeling of fulfillment. So this is not just a means to earn money for me.

(FTM) Did you always wanted to become an actor?

(TH) Not really. If I could think this way, I thought I would opt for filmmaking or painting. So acting was not on my mind.

(FTM) Why did you make your fans wait for so long?

(TH) I took a break due to family and personal circumstances. My children were my priority, and I wanted to spend time with them. Television demands long working hours, and I didn’t want to be engaged for such an extended period. During this time, I also pursued other ventures and had three children. Additionally, I joined academia as a full-time profession and prioritized teaching and family together.

(FTM) Let’s take you down the memory lane. Do you remember the first shot you ever gave?

(TH) I don’t exactly recall my first shot, but I do remember the experience of shooting my first telefilm ‘Raqeeb’. I was only seventeen. My co-star Atiya Khan did my makeup, and transformed me into my character Shahida, a mature and married woman. She had an exotic look, and I was mesmerized by how it all came together. Rukia at Tariq Amin’s studio also worked on our makeup. I was completely fascinated by the entire process, the artistry, the transformation, and the whole paraphernalia of dressing up. Those are some of my earliest and most cherished memories of being on TV.

(FTM) Can you tell us about one trend of TV dramas these days that you like and dislike?

(TH) I feel the stories on television are the same, that doesn’t have much space for any other kind of stories. The characters, plots and themes like family drama type, mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, children, and young people romancing is what we are roaming around in. We don’t have any other stories to tell other than getting married. Why don’t we highlight career oriented stories or any alternative stories? So, I don’t like this thing.

Also, we have the same kind of formats. Earlier, we had different formats like thirteen episode serial, fifty minute single plays. At night, there was the tele film genre that narrated different kinds of stories. The 7 o’clock slot, in which there were twenty five minute dramas, in which there was 50-50 kind of programming. There was children’s programming, educational programming and documentaries. These are no more and that is sad. Television has value in life for all these things together.

Talking of children program, I used to sing in Sohail Rana’s program ‘Sang Sang Chalay’ as a child. I learnt a lot from him. In fact, today if you look around, you will find the same children’s songs. ‘Daak Babu, Daak Babu, Mera Khat Le Jao, Nani Amma Ko Deyao’. Those are the same songs that Sohail Rana made. Be it the 12 months of Islamic Hijri, similarly Alif-Bay-Pay was a song that everybody learnt. Mausamon Ke Naam (Name of the seasons) and Mahavre (Idioms). This was great educational programming by Sohail Rana. After that, no songs were made for children, nor did they become a hit. His programs had a lot of educational value. It was not just about the country. Hi didn’t just made song for the kids, he gave values. So, this beautiful thing is now missing from our screens. And that’s sad and disturbs me.

Resultantly, today kids are growing up on external cartoons and content, which are not our values and language. Then there’s a hue and cry about Urdu. The vocabulary has become so limited. They don’t know the difference between Asteen (sleeves) and Painche (hem of a trouser). So, how will these things happen when we don’t even have content for the kids?

Also, in the PTV era, the stories were much more than the Ishq Mohabat (Romance) genre. There were plots based on Ishq Haqeqi (The love of god), relationships between friends, parents. Then we had narratives based on villages, passion for job, the various conflicts like jobs, class and so many beautiful stories, every enterprise had its own charm. Also the programming via different stations like Lahore, Quetta, and Peshawar gave a distinct flavour to viewers. Slowly we are seeing things creeping back, but I would love to see all of it coming back.

(FTM) What do you look in a script for? As of now are you sure, which script would work and which won’t?  

(TH) For me, a character must have motivation, conflict, resolution, and growth. These elements are essential. I completely avoid scripts that promote regressive behavior, such as outdated attitudes or social norms that should be challenged rather than reinforced. When selecting a project, these factors play a crucial role in my decision. I also ensure that I don’t repeat roles. I have already played, though such opportunities are rare. My focus is always on choosing characters with depth those who have a strong arc, a compelling story, and meaningful growth.

(FTM) How would you rate yourself on a scale of one to ten on the following? Actress, Educationist, Mother and Daughter.

(TH) I am deeply passionate about what I do and always strive to give my best. As an educationist, I feel a stronger sense of accomplishment than I do as an actress, simply because I have dedicated more time to teaching. However, both fields require continuous learning, and I am constantly evolving in both acting and academia.

As a mother, I believe I have given my children my absolute best. Yet, as parents, we often feel that no matter how much we do, it’s never enough. Looking back, there are always moments where we think, I could have handled that better. Out of the four roles you asked me to reflect on, I must admit that as a daughter, I have given the least of myself.

(FTM) What more do you want to achieve in life?

(TH) I want to see my children grow up to be happy, independent, and well-settled in life. I want them to be strong and emancipated individuals who fear no one but Allah.

(FTM) Do you have any piece of advice for the actresses of the current generation?

(TH) I often seek advice from others. As I mentioned, after reconnecting after such a long time, there is so much for me to learn. I genuinely value the insights and guidance of others and eager to learn from their experiences.

(FTM) On a happier note, what is something you are willing to share with your readers that they might not know about you?

(TH) My daughter is about to graduate, having just completed her undergraduate education. It’s a joyous milestone and savoring every bit of it.

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