Arjumman Mughal, a rising name in the bollywood industry is slaying the audience with her talent. Fortunately enough, we had a chance to talk to her about her life.
Q: Who is your role model in the film industry & what inspired you to pursue acting as your career?
Meena Kumari, her personal life was fraught with heartburn. But She was a graceful confident, charming, and brilliant actress, her first film was Mr Vijay Bhatt’s lather face in (1939) again Mr Bhatt’s film Baiju Bawra (1952), the film which catapulted her into the limelight. She became the first recipient of the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her performance. She’s popularly known as the ‘tragedy queen’ after playing a suffering woman in films like Parineeti, Daera, Ek Hi Raasta, Sharda, Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi (1960), Dil Ek Mandir and Kaajal. She created history during this period by being the only nominee for the Filmfare Award in 1962. for her roles in Aarti, Main Chup Rahungi and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. She won the award for Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. Despite the tragedy queen tag, she was also noted for light-hearted comedic roles in films like Azaad, Miss Mary, Shararat and Kohinoor. She was the winner of 4 film fare awards.
She’s popularly known as the ‘tragedy queen’ after playing a suffering woman in films like Parineeti, Daera, Ek Hi Raasta, Sharda, Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi (1960), Dil Ek Mandir and Kaajal. She created history during this period by being the only nominee for the Filmfare Award in 1962. for her roles in Aarti, Main Chup Rahungi and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. She won the award for Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. Despite the tragedy queen tag, she was also noted for light-hearted comedic roles in films like Azaad, Miss Mary, Shararat and Kohinoor. She was the winner of 4 film fare awards.
1954 – Baiju Bawra. 1955 – Parineeta.1963 – Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. 1966 – Kaajal. People who perceive that Meena Kumari is just a tragedienne will do a rethink when they see Miss Mary. She was paired opposite Miss Rekha’s father Mr Gemini Ganesan and Kishore Kumar. it’s good to see My Meena was doing a happy-go-lucky role. Her comic timing was impeccable. Her last film was in (1972) Pakeeza the line from Pakeeza “Aapke paon dekhe, Bahut haseen hain, Inhe zameen par nahin utariyega, Maile ho jaayenge.” Sigh! Alas, they don’t make such films anymore.
The first film I saw in my village, Lamberi, Jammu, was Mughal-E-Azam and I was thrilled to see the art. I was living that film in me; my father was in the army when we were living in Delhi with him. I got the offer from Mumbai, I just came and couldn’t go back, I started at the age of 13 in Mumbai with the jewellery advertisement my family also shifted to Mumbai. That ad attracted people’s lot of attention, wherever I use to go people wanted to listen to me talk to me and behaved like they want to learn something for the life from me, people use to applause and feel happy in everything, which gave me things like a sense of validation and tingles. up and down my spine! The sound came up through the floorboards, went through my feet and travelled straight up into my brain and didn’t wait one millisecond before jumping into my soul. Ah, What a feeling! Then I did (2142) ads including commercials and prints internationally. I travelled a lot, saw the world and different people.
Learnt so much, and then I felt I’m made for acting that’s when I observed some actresses by watching their films and got stuck with Meena Kumari’s acting abilities, I wanted to become acting’s another Meena. I saw her 97 movies rest I couldn’t get. Then I learnt classical dance Bollywood dance fights and even I did act course from Actor Prepares. I did theatre plays too, to nourish my acting abilities. I read a lot but learn only what I like, I keep my personal touch in everything I do it makes things more interesting, and then I got crazy to become an actress. I slept woke up ate and wore with acting, acting practising became my best friend that why I have zero friends but everyone. My first film was ‘Pazhaniappa kalloori’ in 2008 in the Tamil language. Then I got “Ya Rab” in 2014 which was released by ‘Vishesh’ films, my last film was “O Pushpa I hate tears” in 2020. And a lot more to come.
Q: How do you make time for self-care and work out amid your busy schedules? Tell us something about your self-care routine.
First, I pamper myself, however, it’s about meeting my human needs. Mostly they need relaxation, quiet, connection, stability, and much more. Before I engage in any kind of activity, I think about myself and what needs do I want to meet here.
Q: What do I need most in my life right now?
And no one has time, but you must make it schedule it and stick to it, and I plan in a way that I can follow things anywhere. I keep motivating myself. I do yoga on my bed, I dance in my room, I walk on the streets. And focus on eating healthy. Sometimes I go to the gym I do only stretching. But I keep myself active and healthy.
Self-care means everything, it is very important to listen to your body, take moments to check-in, intentionally tune in to the thoughts going on in your mind, and challenge your behaviours and belief systems if things feel out of alignment in my life, then I correct it I take professional help. as I’m a bit deep and sensitive person, I care for myself like a mother of my child. I understand if I’m healthy I can do anything in the world. If I have an unhealthy body, I will have an unhealthy mind and I will make others mind unhealthy and unhealthy minds will make their body unhealthy so it’s better to keep myself healthy. And spread health in the environment and make a healthy society.
Q: Actors face a lot of criticism, do negative comments on your social media posts bother you, how do you handle social media trollers?
Not at all because there are some things which are good for some people and some are not good for some people, you cannot make everyone happy. And mostly I feel some criticize for their benefit and some are mentally sick, so they say wrong to others for satisfying their ego. Why get into useless things and spoil your mood and health, I just look up because there are thousands of people to pull you down, but very little to support you to look up, we need to concentrate on those fewer ones who are talking about your interest.
I don’t react to useless. because I saw some people abusing the legends and I felt u shouldn’t be bad because they are bad. They are bad because they are mentally sick and showing off what they are capable of. They are saying See us, we are a third-grade version of humans. We don’t want to do anything for anyone but downgrade others who are trying to do good for the world. See, there are only 5 types of people I observed in the whole world. There are the good ones, the bad ones, then come those who think we are nothing and others are everything, and those who think we are only everything and everyone else is nothing. And the last ones are the master’s pieces they just observe everyone and don’t react much to anyone just do their work and live life.
Q: Would you like to share some interesting anecdotes about the people you have worked with and the bond you share with them?
There are so many interesting people and so many interesting stories but sharing them all is difficult; I liked all the people who worked with me because they all respected me pampered me loved me and cared for me so much like a child. I will never forget. The love I got from all of them. Just came into my life worked with me and went away. No one stays forever, in the end, you are always alone. Also, Mostly I don’t get very close with the people I work with. I don’t open myself, because I think they are all good and they are good only unless they don’t know my inner sides, once people know you, they start disrespecting misbehaving and open so much that it becomes too much to handle. I am professional and focused because nothing makes me happy excluding my work. My happiness is in my work. my work is my worship and I want to do brilliant work, so that when I go from this world I give them so much through my movies, that they should have only Respect and love for my talent.
Q: Would you like to share something about your upcoming project(s)? What has been your favourite project till now?
There is a film called 3 ‘Shyaane’ it will be releasing soon, and my favourite project is still on the way, till now I was in the learning process. And My magic is waiting behind the turmoil.
Q: What is your message for your fans out there?
Thank you so much for being there for me, for supporting me for encouraging me for motivating me I will not let you all down, one day you are going to be a proud fan. God bless you all, lots of love and happiness, it’s a time that mental health is dying slowly, do not fail to fight with the sickness and keep your mind healthy, fresh and positive. We are all winners.