Weak storytelling is one of television’s biggest challenges today: Gulfam Khan Hussain
Weak storytelling is one of television’s biggest challenges today: Gulfam Khan Hussain
Mumbai : Actress Gulfam Khan Hussain has carved a niche for herself with memorable performances across television and films. Whether it was her impactful roles in Naamkarann, Bhagyalakshmi, and Diya Aur Baati Hum or films like Laxmi, Dhanak, and Talaash, the actress has consistently proved her versatility. Even after years in the industry, her passion for acting remains as strong as ever.Speaking about what continues to motivate her, Gulfam says, “The fire in my belly gets fiercer every day. I don’t care if I do films, OTT or TV. For me, the director’s command of action transforms me into a character, and I am still wobbly in my legs when I start a new shoot. Probably that is what keeps me going; every day is a new day on set.”Looking back at the defining moments of her journey, Gulfam recalls how a role that was initially meant to be a brief appearance ended up becoming one of the biggest milestones of her career.
“There have been quite a few benchmarks, but the first one was when I took up the character of Rasili Bai in Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyaan. It was supposed to be a cameo, but I still studied kotha culture for a week. That cameo turned into a full-fledged role and stayed till the end of the show. People across the world recognised me for that character. I met a Swiss lady who had watched it with her Indian friend, and there was even a group of Bedouin girls in Egypt who had seen the dubbed version. That’s when I realised how far talent can reach,” she shares.
Having witnessed television evolve over the decades, Gulfam believes the industry has seen both progress and setbacks. While she appreciates the improvements in infrastructure and working conditions, she feels storytelling and casting have suffered.”There have been some good things and some bad things. We now have air-conditioned floors and much better technology. The safety standards are much higher too, but the ratio of inflation versus payment has gone bad. The storytelling is weak and dragging. A lot of half-cooked talent has arrived, and just because they are pocket-friendly, they replace better ones,” she says candidly.
Known for portraying a wide range of memorable characters, Gulfam is often asked why such layered roles seem less common today. She believes they still exist and remains optimistic about exploring many more.
“It would be wrong to say that those kinds of roles aren’t written anymore. They are, which is why I am still doing them, and I am hoping that I will get more,” she says.
The actress also reflects on the current state of television, where many shows struggle to hold viewers’ attention and wrap up within months. According to her, the problem lies in the lack of depth in storytelling and supporting characters.
“Detailing, storytelling and character building are missing now. They don’t have characters that take the story ahead anymore. Those small scenes where a neighbour’s comment disrupts the calm of the household, or those multiple family members who are present in every scene—what’s their perspective? What’s their contribution as characters? Once upon a time, freeze points used to be on everyone who took the story to the next episode. Today it’s only the main leads. How are we even forgetting the little pieces that complete the jigsaw?” she concludes.
Weak storytelling is one of television's biggest challenges today: Gulfam Khan Hussain
Mumbai : Actress Gulfam Khan Hussain has carved a niche for herself with memorable performances across television and films. Whether it was her impactful roles in Naamkarann, Bhagyalakshmi, and Diya Aur Baati Hum or films like Laxmi, Dhanak, and Talaash, the actress has consistently proved her versatility. Even after years in the industry, her passion for acting remains as strong as ever.Speaking about what continues to motivate her, Gulfam says, "The fire in my belly gets fiercer every day. I don't care if I do films, OTT or TV. For me, the director's command of action transforms me into a character, and I am still wobbly in my legs when I start a new shoot. Probably that is what keeps me going; every day is a new day on set."Looking back at the defining moments of her journey, Gulfam recalls how a role that was initially meant to be a brief appearance ended up becoming one of the biggest milestones of her career.
"There have been quite a few benchmarks, but the first one was when I took up the character of Rasili Bai in Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyaan. It was supposed to be a cameo, but I still studied kotha culture for a week. That cameo turned into a full-fledged role and stayed till the end of the show. People across the world recognised me for that character. I met a Swiss lady who had watched it with her Indian friend, and there was even a group of Bedouin girls in Egypt who had seen the dubbed version. That's when I realised how far talent can reach," she shares.
Having witnessed television evolve over the decades, Gulfam believes the industry has seen both progress and setbacks. While she appreciates the improvements in infrastructure and working conditions, she feels storytelling and casting have suffered."There have been some good things and some bad things. We now have air-conditioned floors and much better technology. The safety standards are much higher too, but the ratio of inflation versus payment has gone bad. The storytelling is weak and dragging. A lot of half-cooked talent has arrived, and just because they are pocket-friendly, they replace better ones," she says candidly.
Known for portraying a wide range of memorable characters, Gulfam is often asked why such layered roles seem less common today. She believes they still exist and remains optimistic about exploring many more.
"It would be wrong to say that those kinds of roles aren't written anymore. They are, which is why I am still doing them, and I am hoping that I will get more," she says.
The actress also reflects on the current state of television, where many shows struggle to hold viewers' attention and wrap up within months. According to her, the problem lies in the lack of depth in storytelling and supporting characters.
"Detailing, storytelling and character building are missing now. They don't have characters that take the story ahead anymore. Those small scenes where a neighbour's comment disrupts the calm of the household, or those multiple family members who are present in every scene—what's their perspective? What's their contribution as characters? Once upon a time, freeze points used to be on everyone who took the story to the next episode. Today it's only the main leads. How are we even forgetting the little pieces that complete the jigsaw?" she concludes.
