Fatima Amjed – Aspiring Director and Established Actress

Who is Fatima Amjed?

You will get a different answer every time you ask me that question. Fatima Amjed is a chef, a theatre artist, a sculptor, a painter and now she is a director too.

How many projects have you worked on?

I love bragging about all the projects that I have worked on. I have participated in eighteen plays as an actor, choreographed a total of five and directed one.

What’s your qualification?

Well, I have completed my A-levels and now, I will be shifting to the National College of Arts after studying at the Punjab University College of Art and Design for a year. I have won 27 first positions in theatre, declamation and art. I was also adjudged to be the Best Female Actor at the All Pakistan Dramatics Conference.

What is the main inspiration behind your plays?

Honestly, the most mundane things inspire me to write. For example, “Twisted” is inspired by how I chip my nails when I am anxious. I have always been told that I ‘feel’ a lot more than average woman do and I think that has something to do with how I build my characters. Some say what I write is repetitive but honestly it is not even under my control. I only write stuff which I can relate to and that is probably why most of the characters in my plays are women.

You were a theatre artist and finally you get to direct your own play. Take us through your journey.

I had always wanted to be able to give that really cool director’s speech that follows a theatre play. I remember the first time I got on stage; I was a sunflower (laughs), but in that moment I knew that this is what I was made for. Honestly, theater keeps me alive and I can’t function properly without it. Once, I tried to quit due to the sheer amount of pressure I was under but consequently, my academics deteriorated, my social life got messed up and everything else pretty much fell apart.

The fact is that my standing here and even being able to have a proper conversation is solely because of theatre. Now that this is finally happening, I would really like to thank one person who I believe has made me who I am today – my amazing coach, mentor and drama teacher Mr. Omair Rana. Once, he even told a few people “I see myself in her (Fatima)” and that was very encouraging for me to hear. I now know why he said that. He said that because he knew he was all I ever wanted to be but I just want him to know, that I am well-aware of the fact that I can’t even come close to being as awesome as he is. I just want to thank him with all my heart for making me the person that I am today.

What appeals to you the most? Acting, decorating cakes or directing plays?

Acting completes me and decorating cakes takes care of my financial needs. I cannot say anything about direction at the moment because “Twisted” is the first-ever play that I have directed so let’s wait and see on that one.

So I’d say, acting because I absolutely love being on stage.

It is not very common for women to act on-stage in Pakistan. Overall, how has your experience of theatre been?

I am more of a ‘stop me if you can’ kind of a woman, so I always do what I want to. I understand that the situation is not the same for most women in Pakistan. I understand why mothers do not want their daughters to be on stage. I also understand why fathers do not want their baby girls to act. If you comprehend their point of view, you will also understand that society pretty much sucks. But I guess it is okay because are we going to let that stop us?? Hell NO!!

The Kluchit Team wishes Fatima the best of luck for all her future projects.