Complements don’t get better than this
KHALIDA TURI, WHO PLAYS RAZIA SULTAN’S MOTHER IN THE POPULAR SHOW, IS OFTEN TOLD THAT SHE LOOKS MORE LIKE HER ELDER SISTER. KHALIDA AND PANKHURI, WHO PLAYS RAZIA, TALK ABOUT THEIR ROLES AND MORE
If you met them on the road, you would never guess that they play mother and daughter on screen. And Khalida Turi, who plays Qutub Begum, the mother of Razia Sultan in the show of the same name, takes the complement with pride. “You are not the first one to say that I look like her (Pankhuri Awasthy, who plays Razia) sister. Many people have complimented me regarding this. It feels challenging as well as superb, because I play a mom. I am not married in real life and being called mom gives me a sense of pride. We have to go through a lot of auditions, look tests etc. before we get a role. So, having gone through these various tests and then reliving a character obviously makes us feel good. And compliments always bring the best out in an actor.”
About Pankhuri, Khalida says, “She is a respectful and courteous girl. She is grounded as well as loving. She never throws any tantrums and we share a great bonding. Playing her mother, I have actually developed motherly love and affection for her. Also, living here in Umergaon we do not have to face any difficulties in commuting (as the sets are there). All of us enjoy our work.”
Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Pankhuri is having a great time on the sets. “Before this I was working as an assistant marketing manager in ITC, in Delhi. However, I always wanted to be an actor. Since I am from Lucknow, I have that poise and dignity that this character needs,” she says.
“I have done research on Razia, and my director has helped me perform the character to the best of my abilities. It is a creative as well as a historical show, at this point in time, I will not be able to reveal anything.”
She adds, “I am happy to be playing Razia Sultan. She personifies women’s empowerment.”
Both Pankhuri and Khalida are in awe of the sets erected in Umergaon for the show. The architecture is Turkish/ Moroccan while the blue domes similar to Afghanistan’s Jami Masjid and Samarkand (Uzbekistan) looks great. Pankhuri adds that thanks to the sets, they feel as if they actually belong to that era.
“I like the poise in the character and can relate to Razia when I am attired like her… the attitude comes along with the attire. I also took lessons in sword fighting…it was great,” she says, adding, “I am happy to be living in Umergaon where the sets are. I do not have any friends or family here in Mumbai so for me its fun living at the location. And when I feel like shopping or eating anything special, I travel to Mumbai.”
I am happy to be playing Razia Sultan. She personifies women’s empowerment
PANKHURI AWASTHY