We’re nearly a month away from the release of Farjad Nabi and Meenu Gaur’s multi-starrer 7 Din Mohabbat In (7DMI), which – amongst other things – will mark Mira Sethi’s cinematic foray. Something Haute caught up with the journalist-turned-actor days before she sets out to a nationwide promotional tour. Ecstatic to be conversing in both accented English as well as Punjabi as she’s playing a BBCD (British-Born Confused Desi), Mira revealed what exactly it was about her character that made her sign up for it.
Mira is already fluent in Punjabi but portraying her character – the peculiarly named British-Pakistani ‘Princess’ Sonu in the film – she says she attempted at familiarizing herself with the heavy British accent of Bradford aka ‘Little Pakistan’.
While most portrayals of women in cinema have been limited to serving as eye-candy, Mira has more to offer with Princess Sonu. However, judging by her chic wardrobe in the trailer and her poster reveal, one can’t help but notice the Dil Banjara actress play a rather glossy character. Mira has always denounced the trend of unnecessary and shallow objectification of women, but holds nothing against glamorous characters with substance, if well-written and in context to their subject-matter, she explained.
“7DMIis a comedy and it sets the tone for what it is that you’re trying to do,†she said. “This is more of an overt-comedy, so my character is glamorous but in inverted commas. She’s not hollow or glamorous in a very realist sense. In the context of comedy, she’s a comedic role. In no way would a glamorous role in a realist sense be problematic either, it could be written exceptionally well or be a critique of glamour.â€
Mira with co-stars Sheheryar Munawar and Amna Ilyas and makeup artist Adnan Ansari
“The movie sets certain conventions and if the audience adapts to that, it becomes a successful piece of art. Sohai (Ali Abro), for instance, in Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, had long nails and an accent, but it was comedic, so you were supposed to laugh with her or even at her, whichever way,†she added.
The actress also feels that though women have been on the forefront of satire with Bushra Ansari and Salima Hashmi in the ‘80s sitcom 50/50and most recently, stand-up comedian, Faiza Saleem, changing the scope for female representation in the comedic scene, comedic roles are now also being written as the market demands it. Whilst cinema is a source of escapism, most certainly in Pakistan, light-hearted films have commercially done better than others, hinting at the tide finally turning and the damsels-in-distress finally making way for better representation.
