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She has grown up with theatre
Theatre is just natural for her, as she has grown up with it. Both her parents have been long associated with theatre. And it is a way of life for Lubna Salim. And now she is married to a theatre director, Salim Arif.
Theatre is just natural for her, as she has grown up with it. Both her parents have been long associated with theatre. And it is a way of life for Lubna Salim.
And now she is married to a theatre director, Salim Arif.
Lubna tells, “I started with everything in my life very early. I did my first play on stage when I was just seven years old. I started doing professional theatre when I was 14 years old. I shot my first film when I was only 15. I got married when I was just 20 and had my kids soon.”
“However, all this made me mature and sensible,” she adds.
“My father Javed Siddiqui is a dialogue writer in Bollywood and a playwright of repute, while mother Farida is a costume designer with IPTA. So when I was growing up there was theatre and acting in one form or the other around me,” says Lubna.
At present she is juggling between a television serial, few modeling assignments and theatre, obviously. She tells, “I got married in 1991 and once I got married and stopped working. For ten years I didn’t work at all. I was busy bringing up two sons. However, once I got back to it, my husband was there by my side always. He made me comfortable by sharing my burden and understanding me as both of us belonged to the same profession.”
Further talking about her husband and their marriage she said, “Salim was in Mumbai for some theatre project when he saw me and things progressed.
Though he didn’t approach me directly, he sent a proposal through his parents, who live in Lucknow. However, I was only 17 then hence my father turned down the proposal. But once I completed my graduation he agreed to it and we got married.”
Lubna started her career as a professional theatre artist when she was only 14. At that time she was working with the likes of Shabana Azmi, Rohini Hattangadi, AK Hangal, Arundhati Nag and Farooque Sheikh, never really knowing how big they were. “I used to juggle between school or theatre. In the morning it was school and as soon as I came home I went for my theatre practice. However, I managed to complete my graduation somehow,” she tells.
“I have had a very happy and fulfilling childhood. I was always involved with some or the other constructive activity be it theatre, reading, music or solving crossword puzzles with my dad.”
Telling about her experiences during theatre rehearsals and traveling experiences Lubna says, “When we travel to different cities with our plays it is a lot of fun.
We travel in trains.
We book a full bogey and have a ball. It gives a feel that we are a big family.”
“At present I am doing a serial ‘Ba, Bahu Aur Baby’, which is being aired on Star Plus. Along with this there are a lot of commercials and other modelling assignments including, Pepsodent, Silk ‘n’ Shine, Catch 6 and ICICI Bank. And theatre is obviously keeping me busy,” says Lubna.
