Mawra Hocane, currently playing Laila in Jama Taqseem, in an interview with Something Haute, spoke about her choice of dramas and how she would always choose something that empowers. She spoke about her thought process behind choosing scripts and emphasised that it is important to her that every character she plays is not detrimental to society.
She shared that she recently discovered the impact her dramas have on women; hence, the onus is on her to choose her roles carefully, ensuring they do not have a negative impact on her audience. She added that, despite efforts to empower women, they are still considered second-class citizens, and it is important to choose roles that empower them rather than pull them down.
Where Mawra is known for choosing impactful scripts, she stated that she is open to playing negative or grey characters, only if they are not glorified in the end. She stated that she is against the plots that justify these characters and give them a happy ending. She further emphasised that one must always consider whether the glorification of this character may lead someone to believe it is valid to act the same way in their personal lives. Hence, the way the characters are written and portrayed holds importance to her.
Mawra also expressed her desire to play a character solely for entertainment, provided the story does not negatively impact society. She stated that it is important to her that a story not pull women down in the name of entertainment; hence, her characters can be solely entertaining but not demeaning towards women.
Speaking more about her process for choosing a role, Mawra added that, in her choice, the story holds immense importance. She does not worry about being the only lead or second lead, but about a storyline that has a positive impact. She mentioned that she has been part of projects, both those based solely on her character’s story and those in which she plays a supporting role, all of which have led to success. So for her, it is more about her character’s impact on the story than how often she is on screen.
Speaking about her role in her recent project, Jama Taqseem, she said the story has multiple layers, and she is astonished by how every aspect is relatable to the audience. Although she does not relate to Laila personally, she is glad that the character has helped her understand the lives of many young women in Pakistan.
