Iffat Omar
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Iffat Omar, model
FAVOURITE POET: Ghalib
FAVOURITE SINGER: Lata
FAVOURITE BOOK: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
FAVOURITE MOVIE: Devdas
FAVOURITE ACTOR: Shah Rukh Khan
— Maliha Mansoor
Although for some time now Iffat Omar has been more into acting and directing, she is still more popularly known as the sultry model with a sensuous pout. And Iffat clearly seems somewhat irritated by her more popular public image of a model
“This is not really the way I would want myself to be reckoned as, because, frankly speaking, I find it a bit unintelligent to be labelled as just a model.”
But then in the next breath she clarifies herself. “I know it sounds bad because modelling was initially my recognition but that seems so long ago. I mean, I was still in school when my name and face became well-known and it has been almost ten years now that I said goodbye to the field. I’ve been on the mini screen as an anchor person in various shows on different channels, and then I’ve been acting quite consistently after that and have even tried directing for a change. So somehow I don’t think modelling is a big deal. There’s hardly any effort or creativity involved. You just have to have good looks, photogenic grace and confidence to make it big as a model.”
And as a continuation of thought she adds, “Then the make up artist or stylist and the photographer really do make a world of difference in making (or breaking) a model’s career. I consider myself lucky that from the very beginning I have had the chance to work with the very best in this field. I particularly credit Ather Shahzad for not only making me look good but also transforming some very ordinary looking girls into super models just by their brilliant work, both as stylist and as fashion photographers.”
With regards her interest in reading, Iffat categorically states that she is very much into reading. “I think there hardly would be a bestseller or a famous book that I have missed.”
She concedes that although she does buy a lot of books not all of them turn out to be very interesting.
“And as per my rules, if I can’t go beyond the first ten pages of a book, that book does not pass my readability test.”
Iffat also reveals that what she reads depends on her moods. “If I am in a lighter mood I go for books like those of Sidney Sheldon. And at other times I like to read stuff like Rohinton Mistry’s books. Then I also trust my friends’ recommendations a lot.
“For instance these days I am reading Gardash-e-Rang-e-Chaman by Quratalain Haider, which was recommended by a friend. According to the recommendation, I have to go through the first hundred pages of the book after which it would be impossible to put it down. And I am inching my way up to the recommended number of pages and wondering when this ordeal will end!”
While Iffat Umar feels that Paulo Coelho was a disappointment, she regards Rohinton Mistry very highly. Her all time favourite is A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry). The Kite Runner and Love in the Times of Cholera are also among Iffat’s favourite reads.
Revealing her passion for reading yet again, she says that if she finds a book really interesting, she refuses to let it go and the book stays with her a-l-l the time (from bathroom to kitchen to the dining table to the car to bed), till it finally comes to an end.
Iffat has done her Masters in Graphic Designing, Fine Arts, from the Punjab University, and she is happily married and has a lovely six years old daughter, Noor-e-Jehan. Currently doing a number of projects with various channels, Iffat surprises with her claim that she is a very lazy person, who does not like to do much except sleeping, resting and eating.
“If I could, I’d always stay in bed,” she laughs merrily, but adds afterwards, “Although I am very committed to whatever I take up, I am very specific that I don’t work later than 10pm and can’t start before 2pm as I drop and pick my daughter to and from school. But I like acting, especially so when great artists like Uzma Gilani or Saba Pervez compliment on my work. It sure is a big boost.”
There’s another thing that Iffat really enjoys and that is movie watching. “I really enjoy watching movies, especially Indian movies, and I think they are really good. Definitely way ahead of our cinema.”
Iffat concedes that not all Indian movies are good but the ones which are, are so “by a considerable margin.” She loved Devdas but says that the new Umrao Jan failed to make an impression, for the lovely Ash just lacks the grace and screen presence of Rekha. “But honestly, I feel our Umra-o-janada featuring Rani was the best so far.”
Iffat’s other favourites include Page Three and Door (Indian), Sanjay Leela Bansali (director) and she absolutely adores Shah Rukh Khan!
Down to the subject of music and Iffat’s passion for arts intensifies even more. “People listen to music for the music, I do it for the poetry,” she declares. Naturally inclined towards semi-classical and soft rock, Iffat feels that good poetry is the essence of music.
“A song may have a catchy tune to linger for a while in the minds of listeners, but good poetry makes music eternal.”
Among her favourite poets, Ghalib tops the list unconditionally. “I reckon Ghalib to be an exceptional person who might have been a poet or a wali had he been born in another era.”
Mustafa Zaidi and Faraz are also among Iffat’s favourite poets.
“In fact as a student, I used to write letters to Faraz.” she discloses with a smile and adds rather smugly, “In fact so good was I at letter writing that my friends used to have their love letters written by me.”
Among the lovely, dusky model’s favourite singers, Lata and Madam Noor Jehan reign supreme. She also likes Farida Khanam’s rendition of ghazals. Among the contemporary singers, Iffat likes to listen to Sonu Nigham, Sajjad Ali and Fusion, for she feels that they all have great voices.
Although Iffat seems absolutely adamant not to re-enter the modelling arena, her fans will be seeing her on various channels on TV in the coming days.
