In Conversation with Noreen Gulwani

Explore the dynamic world of Noreen Gulwani, an artist unafraid to speak her mind and adept at navigating the entertainment scene. Renowned for her exceptional acting talent, she has carved a niche for herself not only in television dramas but also in the realm of cinema, earning acclaim for her stellar performance in “Nayab.” However, she grapples with the limitations placed on artists in Pakistan, where the scope for creative expression and role diversity remains restricted. Dive into her journey, aspirations, and the potential—and limitations—of the industry as she shares insights into her craft and the evolving landscape of Pakistani entertainment.

SD: Share details on when your interest arose in the entertainment industry?

Noreen: My journey into this industry took a unique path, distinct from many others. As a trained actor, I approached this field with a different perspective. Initially, I didn’t view it purely as entertainment; instead, I saw it as an art form. Acting, to me, is not just about entertaining but about expressing oneself authentically. My professional training in theater, spanning three years, reinforced this belief. For me, acting is a craft, a means to convey my soul with utmost honesty and intensity. Compared to other endeavors I’ve pursued, which lacked fulfillment, acting resonated deeply with me. This realization led me to where I am today.

SD: What were the major setbacks you faced while pursuing this field?

Noreen: The language barrier posed a significant obstacle for me, and at times, it still does. Urdu was never my first language, as I was taught entirely in English at school. Moreover, living abroad for over six to seven years further solidified my fluency in English. I often found myself thinking and conceptualizing creatively in English. This language barrier hindered my progress, as did the lack of proper guidance. Consequently, I encountered instances of financial discrimination in various projects, often without even realizing it.

SD: Do you feel unfair favoritism and nepotism exist that impact newcomers making a mark

Noreen: Most definitely every single newcomer that directly got a lead or a major role in the last 2-3 years that I have been around is a result of nepotism I would say and if not that then their lucky break was based on nothing else but their complexion. Very few people care about acting talent here.

SD: If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be and why?

Noreen: I’ve realized that blaming the industry for its shortcomings is futile. Ultimately, it’s the audience that shapes what thrives and what gets overlooked, regardless of content quality. What I would like to change is our population’s level of education, mentality, and preferences in emotional aesthetics.

SD: Among your projects to date, which is the most reflective of your personality?

Noreen: In my upcoming movie “Aasman Bolega,” directed by Shoaib Mansoor, I portray a character who not only shares my educational background as a journalist but also embodies my quirky, headstrong, hard-working, and brave nature in real life. This character resonates deeply with me. Unfortunately, none of the drama characters I’ve encountered thus far align with my values. It’s not that they were explicitly negative, but rather they were poorly written stock characters lacking nuance and individuality.

SD: How do you handle criticism and trolling from social media?

Noreen: There was a time when I would care about what people thought of me, my work, my personality but I am alhamdulillah at a place right now where it doesn’t matter to me and in fact, I seek now to present my most authentic, honest and real self intentionally for my fan and audiences.

SD: Can you reflect on one of your favorite roles to have played and why?

Noreen: That would have to be Sadia from Nayab because it was a balanced character with a lot of maturity and purpose that I could instantly relate to and the best part about honest writing is that you can’t just do plaster work on it with loud gimmicky unintentional line dropping that we call acting here. You have to become it to find the right expressions.

SD: What kind of genres do you wish to explore in the drama industry?

Noreen: Our problem is that we think subjects are genres which is not correct. It’s not just about specific genres; it’s the absence of unique styles that’s the issue. We lack diversity in storytelling because of a dearth of professional directors. In other countries, each director boasts a distinct and instantly recognizable storytelling style. What we need are visionary directors like Lynch, Nolan, Wes Anderson, and Celine Song, known for “Past Lives,” each bringing their own unique genre to cinema.

SD: Is there a role you feel you could have played well?

Noreen: Many- let’s not go there even. But I believe the right things are coming to me and I can anyway do more than what is being made so there is no point in desiring work that is lesser than one’s vision.

SD: How do you choose the kind of projects you wish to take on?

Noreen: Has to be the lesser of the evils for now mostly.

SD: Your views on our movie industry and whether you would like to join it?

Noreen: I’ve already ventured into the world of cinema with two movies: “Nayab” and the upcoming “Aasman Bolega,” so I’m deeply involved in it. Regarding your first question, I believe movies offer immense artistic possibilities that surpass what’s achievable in dramas, making them my second favorite medium after theater, of course.

SD: What more projects can your fans expect to see you in 2024?

Noreen: I took part in Hum’s Ramzan comedy Very Filmi playing a unique character (kudos to them for always giving me something interesting and different to the best of their capacities haha) and an upcoming Green Entertainment drama as well which I am not allowed to reveal yet.