Sanam Jung’s role in Pyari Mona has been in the spotlight for the past few months. The series revolves around plus-size women who struggle to meet society’s conventional beauty standards.
In a recent interview with BBC Urdu, Jung talked about how relatable Mona’s character is to people and even celebrities around the world.
“Celebrities are expected to look stunning all the time and they should because that’s part of their job,” the Dill-e-Muztar actor said in an interview. You don’t see oversized actors. It’s still developing, so it’s more relevant to our industry. A slim figure matches the ideal aesthetic sense, so it is easy to enter the entertainment world, and everyone can be happy. Also, it is very difficult for a healthy person to style at our shop. “
Jung continued on how Pyarimona stands out compared to other dramas on television. She said: “Pyali Mona doesn’t live up to the mainstream TV trope. There is nothing to make people fall in love or trick people. Nor does a mother reject her son’s true love or Nor does it focus on marrying children without consent. Pyari Mona focuses on mental health, depression and body positivity. ”
The actress was delighted to note that audiences were able to make a personal connection with her latest work. I know a lot of people who said that today, when I went to the hairdresser, a girl stopped me and said, “Thank you Sanam for doing this show. This is my story.” Everyone is into it and I love it!”
When asked why she turned down the script when it was first offered, the former Jago Pakistan Jago host explained that she wasn’t sure how the public would react to her character.
“This is my story, and it was the second time I realized I had experienced it. I haven’t experienced what Mona did to her own family, but I can understand other struggles she faced in society. At that point, I realized that many people like me may have experienced the same trauma as Mona.
The Alvida actress recalled that she too was criticized for gaining weight after giving birth to her child. I didn’t quit my job and still record shows every day. Every time a photo of my show was posted on social media, the comments section was flooded with derogatory swear words like “cow,” “buffalo,” and “fat.” I was once told to quit my job and leave the entertainment industry because of my health. ”
Ultimately, comments about her weight drove her into depression. “I used to wonder about comments like this and how they expected me to quit my job. Should people in the office quit their jobs because they’re fat? Should all obese people hide at home? Those thoughts were making me very depressed,” Starrett said.
Before concluding the conversation, Jung mentioned her husband who helped her gain confidence in herself. “I got upset to the point that I told my husband I am quitting. I also hinted to my boss that I don’t feel the same about being on screen. I was embarrassed because of the way I looked and I don’t think anyone else should hold that power to make you feel embarrassed and insecure. In response to my restlessness, my husband told me, ‘You are not the first woman to give birth, it happens, and bodies change with time. You can get back in shape too, just be confident in your own shoes as you’re beautiful’.”
Setting the record straight
During the interview, Jung also clarified many speculations about Pyari Mona. The first was about her ‘fat suit’ for which the star landed in a heated controversy back in November 2022. Taking the chance, Jung explained how she never wore a fat suit and in fact, gained weight for this project. “Okay, so when I accepted the role for Mona, I was asked to gain 20 kilos and at first I said no, but then I realised that it was important for me to gain weight. We did have a body suit made of cotton but it didn’t fit me right. So I gained 5 kilos instead, then a few more until my director was satisfied with Moná’s look,” Jung clarified.
She also stated that Pyari Mona does not enable the stigma associated with marrying single parents. “The show doesn’t vilify anyone but explains Mona’s character in detail. Her family didn’t even make an effort to find a suitable spouse for her. They just found a single father and presented him to her as the only option and that was what Mona took as an offence. It has nothing to do with the taboo, but the character’s situation,” Sanam explained.
