Drama
Powerhouse Performer Hajra Yamin Opens Up About Her Role as Sumbul in the Superhit Serial ‘Noor Jahan’
In a recent interview with a digital magazine, Hajra Yamin, who stars as Sumbul in the on-air serial ‘Noor Jahan,’ revealed her intense preparation for a character she feels is vastly different from her own personality. The talented actress confessed that stepping into the shoes of Sumbul wasn’t an easy feat, as the character’s traits are “poles apart” from her off-screen demeanor.
“Sumbul was not an easy character to play at all, because she is very different from what I am. We are poles apart,” Yamin shared. “I had to lower my voice to get into this character and to portray her as submissive as I could – be it through my voice, body language, hunched shoulders and all.”
Speaking further about the role, Yamin acknowledged the challenges she faced in aligning her portrayal with the director’s vision. She praised Musaddiq Malek, the director of ‘Noor Jahan,’ for his guidance on set. “Musaddiq Malek was like my fairy godmother on the set, and we worked as a team on Sumbul. He had to constantly give me the reminder that this story is of Sumbul and not Hajra. Therefore, I cannot enforce my perspective on the character. Because as Hajra, I used to get offended on several instances; there were multiple examples of insult and humiliation, which used to really irk me, but now that I watch it on screen, it all makes so much sense.”
In a heartfelt moment, Yamin extended an apology to all the girls like Sumbul in the world, whom she used to judge for their actions. She admitted that portraying Sumbul allowed her to understand their struggles and see life from their perspective.
‘Noor Jahan’ features an ensemble cast, including Saba Hamid, Kubra Khan, Ali Rehman Khan, Noor Hassan, Zoya Nasir, Ali Raza, Yousuf Bashir Qureshi, Mahmood Aslam, and Alina Abbas, among others. The serial marks the sophomore directorial effort of young drama director Musaddiq Malek and is penned by celebrated playwright Zanjabeel Asim Shah. It airs every Friday and Saturday in prime time on ARY Digital.
