Originally posted by: WanderingWonder
Bring on the chappals.
Precisely b/c Siraj didn’t have a good handle or care to, about Meerab’s FL character, Yumna could have made some more changes or tried to. Perhaps this is why several senior actresses were saying that Yumna could have improved things … but she didn’t as she just follows the director. As much as I didn’t like the aunties’ public comments and find them obnoxious, I do feel that maybe there is a little something behind their comments that’s not just hate and jealousy. The Maryam actress said that Yumna helps improve the romance scenes though. Yet, even during the Talk Talk show, Wahaj said himself that Yumna picks good scripts, but Wahaj is the one that changes them to make them better. So, I don’t know… I feel that perhaps Yumna could have done some more here as well. Yumna is superb superb actress and did a tremendous job in most scenes!!! Yet, I do feel there are some spots where she could have done a better job 🤷♀️ I agree with Nadia Jamil that we still haven’t seen her full capabilities. I noted that in her comments, she didn’t include TB as one of the dramas that allowed Yumna to shine which tells me something. Yumna herself said it was really hard for her to play Meerab, even though she probably did a better job than anybody else. So I feel that the delivery of Meerab’s perspectives and issues could have been better from both the director and Meerab’s joint effort. Maybe it isn’t her style to make changes, but I think here it would have been helpful.
This was Yumna's third or fourth project with Siraj as a leading lady so she must surely be familiar with Siraj's mindset, his blind spots, and how to get her point across to him. As the biggest star in the project, she also had the most power & leverage to shape her character and scenes, should she choose to exercise it.
Rubina has said this on her review show that Yumna is an experienced actress and she has the power on set to shape her scene and character, and hence, she was surprised keh Yumna Merub ke character ki itni obvious ghaltian kyun nahi theek kara rahi hain. Bushra also said that agar script b aadmein aata hai to us jesi actress rola daalti hain ke hu yeh nahin karenge. Both Bushra and Rubina have said that these days, drama on set hi banta hai - and that directors and actors have to fix script loopholes in shooting.
I personally find the director's actor thing to be a cop out for an experienced and seasoned actor. In an industry where stories and scripts can be problematic, it is these people who have the power to shape things. How Mawra took a stand on her MR scene, how Farhan has been vocal on refusing to do thappads, etc.
Actors also need to take ownership of the characters they are portraying - and stop hiding behind the director's actor tag. If you are a side actor, sure, I understand but if you have the leverage yet you do not exercise it, it is a choice you are making to be passive. And should be held accountable for it.
Further, in a context, where your costar is tweaking his character, you need to recognize what it means for your character and tweak it accordingly.
For a top actor, acting out a scene is not the only thing in their job description - so I do not find it ok to just let poor choices pass.
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