Video: “Ishq Jalebi proved to be a game changer for me,” says Madiha Imam

Madiha Imam has been a part of the industry for over a decade; she has given popular projects like Baba Jani, Muqaddar,  Dushman-e-Jaan, Ek Jhoothi Love Story, Ishq Jalebi and can be currently seen in Dil-e-Momin. She has worked in a Bollywood film Dear Maya alongside Manisha Koirala. So, her achievements as an actor are undeniable. However, with over 14 projects in ten years, Madiha still thinks that it one projects of hers, that came out earlier in Ramazan this year, was the real game changer.

In a conversation with Hassan Choudary of Something Haute, Madiha Imam shares how her journey began from a VJ to an actor, where she is headed and what she feels about her upcoming projects.

“When you’re a VJ, you get calls for modelling assignments and other work. I used to get calls but my mom wasn’t sure how the industry functions. Then, I went for a audition for Fahim Burney because my mother knew his name somehow. They made me sign a contract for two or three serials; and because of that I had to see through my commitment though I wasn’t happy or comfortable working as an actor. I had no godfather or godmother, even not a mentor, and hence I’m still going through this process of trial and error,” she laughingly said.

Madiha Imam with Hassan Choudary

“I did a  play for Geo, which was produced by Babar Javed, titled Dhaani. Ali Faizan directed it and he wasn’t happy with my work. I was playing a Punjabi girl and I had no sense so I was performing zilch. He made me love acting, he sat with me and told me that you can do it. So, that just gave me a sense of confidence. Sami Khan was also very committed to his job,” she shared.

She views milestones in her career from her own perspective, hence she feels that despite working in Bollywood or with Mehreen Jabbar, the game changer for her was Ishq Jalebi.

“Ek Jhoothi Love Story wasn’t accessible in our country so it wasn’t seen by many people. The reactions I got after Ishq Jalebi were very different; I felt it each day when I woke up and saw so many tags on Instagram. The response was massive,” she said.

“I was completely unaware of what a Ramazan project is about; I had shot for ten days when I heard about another Ramazan project on Hum TV which will be a competition and I was like what is this about. Then Wahaj told me how this is a whole different game and I realized that Ramazan serials are like a whole new season and people are looking forward to them every year. There were two shoots happening simultaneously because there were two units,” she added.

“I felt the difference after Ishq Jalebi not just in my fan following, but the attitude of co-actors and peers also changes when they realize that your presence has been registered. You get to know about the numbers and ratings very easily nowadays but there are other way to see your success. I also started getting very different kind of offers; now I thought that I have played a variety of roles so I can dive into something like Dil-e-Momin where I’m playing the antagonist. So, in case it doesn’t work out, I have something like Ishq Jalebi as an experience to lean back on,” Madiha shared.

Watch the full interview to find out how as an introvert she faced the camera as a VJ for almost nine years: