Bushra Ansari (R) and Asma Abbas in Humsaye Maa Jaye
But Bushra is not resentful about the changing times. When asked how different today’s artists are from her generation, Bushra is magnanimous in her views, “Yesterday and today are part of our lives. I enjoy today as I did yesterday. Yes, I agree there is a difference. Today’s youngsters don’t have what we had! But it’s not their fault, we can’t blame them as today’s environment is something they have inherited. We also like to go to premieres, we enjoy things that are happening today which didn’t happen in the past, so we have to accept this change with grace, to go along with it. Yes, they [The younger lot] are undisciplined and not like what we were at their age but don’t blame them. Take them along with you. They have the grace to respect us, their veterans.”
Bushra’s take on the ‘good old days’ is different from the artists of her period. “You can’t really specify days or years that were best times for you. I have achieved a lot throughout my career, all due to God’s kindness. I have good friends, fans and family who love me, and I’m not subjected to any negativity — I’m also lucky that my scripts for serials were well appreciated. Neeli Dhoop, which I wrote and acted in, was a hit and was an issue-based story. Pakeeza was another serial I wrote. It was about a working woman and the problems she faces.”
How has Bushra Ansari managed to maintain herself and continue looking young? “I’m just lucky in hiding my age,” she answers with that delightfully impish look. “I have always been underweight, and I haven’t put on any extra pounds through the years. I also like to wear bright colours, pazaib, jhoomar, choorriyaan even now, irrespective of what people might say. I like to match accessories and dress properly as I have a very good dress sense. I dress the way I want to, not the way people want me too.”
Bushra credits her family background with playing an important part in her career. Her father, Ahmad Bashir, was a well-known journalist and studied filmmaking in the US. He made an experimental film, Neela Parbat, which flopped. “It was actor Mohammad Ali’s first film as well. My father then became a full-time journalist and wrote for leading newspapers. My father’s side was literary and had humour and wit ingrained in them. So art, culture and music became part of our lives as we entertained and enjoying ourselves to the hilt with a wonderful and carefree life. We had writers Mumtaz Mufti, Munnu Bhai, Insha-ji etc paying regular visits to our house, so we inherited a rich background in all aspects. We had a lovely life with our parents,” Bushra Ansari says with nostalgia in her voice.