'She was meant to fly': Hareem Farooq on launching Hania Aamir with 'Janaan'

She said she noticed her talent early on and sees producing as a way to help Pakistani cinema and new, upcoming talent.

Actor and producer Hareem Farooq has again talked about her part in bringing Hania Aamir to movies with the 2016 romantic comedy Janaan. She said Aamir was meant to be successful, and she just saw that early on.

In an interview about her next film Mango Jutt, with Faysal Quraishi, Farooq talked about how much she loves making films and why she gave Aamir a chance early in her career.

"Yes, I did introduce her," Farooq said about Aamir's start in Pakistani movies. "Let's just say she was meant to be. She was meant to shine. I just saw her early. That's how it is," she added, talking about her part in seeing Aamir's talent.

Janaan, released in 2016, was Farooq's first time as a film producer. The romantic comedy showed viewers several performers who later became well-known in Pakistani entertainment, like Aamir, Bilal Ashraf, and Ali Rehman Khan.

For Farooq, this project was more than just her start in producing; it also gave new talent a chance.

She joked that people often ignore her work behind the scenes, even with her experience in theater production.

"I was telling someone recently that whenever I produce something, someone always comes up to me and asks if it's my first time. But when I started in theater, everyone knew about my work," she said.

Farooq said she got into production because it let her help Pakistani cinema beyond just acting in films.

"But I love producing. I enjoy working on stories that can add value to Pakistani cinema and create change. If I can contribute to my country, then why not, even if it is a bit difficult," she said.

Her approach shows a bigger goal: to support local movies by backing stories that connect with people and open doors for new actors. With Janaan, Farooq stayed mostly in the background, letting fresh talent take the lead.

In a 2024 interview with The Express Tribune, Farooq also talked about the joy she felt helping Aamir's career. She described producing as a way to give back to an industry that had given her chances too.

Aamir, who first became known through social media videos, went on to build a career in both TV and film. Her later projects helped her become one of Pakistan's leading young performers, making Janaan a key part of talks about new talent entering the industry.

So Farooq's comments about introducing Aamir are about more than just finding a future star. They highlight her belief that producing means spotting talent, taking risks on new performers, and investing in stories that can help Pakistani cinema grow.

For Aamir, Janaan was the start of a screen career that grew a lot over the years. For Farooq, it was the first step in her own journey as a producer, where creating opportunities for others has stayed a core part of her mission.

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