Khorshid Noor--Afghan Cinema--Bod na Bod--

It was March 8th, 2002, when I met Khorshid. She was preparing for a theater show which was taking place in Stockholm Sweden. The theater was arranged by the Swedish Commitee for Afghanistan,(an Humanterian Organization for Afghans). I got really happy when I saw her, it was really great that she was attending in such a great arrangement. It was international women´s day, and an afghan woman was preparing for acting in a drama. The happiness was unblievable.

When I was thinking back, how the afghan women been under the terror of the taliban, but now a new hope and a new life is waiting for them. I really wanted to hear what she had to tell about the liberation of Afghan women from the opperessive regime of the Taliban . I asked her if she could take her time and let me ask her some questions and talk to her. With a kind smile and kind words she accepted and after a week I went to her home and asked some questions about her life, her career, her films, her previous works ,her future plans and works. And now, I let you dear visitors read the exclusive online interview in Afghan Cinema Site with Khorshid Noor.

Please click here for a photo gallery of Khorshid

Farid:
First of all I would like to thank you for your cooperation with Afghan Cinema Site. I´m really happy that I got the opportunity to talk to you. First I would like to ask you questions about your career. When did you first start your career?

Khorshid:
I first started my career in 1975 as a drama narrator, for Radio Kabul. It was the start of my career. It was in 1975. And later in that year, I signed with a film industry called Ariana, and in 1976 I played my first roll in a film called "Siamoi Jalali".

Farid: What was this film about?

Khorshid:
This film was about two lovers. The film was based on a cultural and historical story. I was playing the roll of a mother. Siamo´s mother.

Farid: Could you please tell us, what happened or how did you get interested into acting in films? In other words, what inspired you to choose acting as a career?

Khorshid:
My main aim, actuelly this is why I have started acting in films. The society made me to take this decission. When I start acting in films, our society did not give the women so much right. The women were really oppressed in the society. I wanted to show those other women that: get up, stand on your feet, you are as worthy as the men are in our society , and you are as capable of doing things as men are. I wanted to show to the people that, women can exactly do whatever men are capable of doing. I almost sacrificed my life to show other women to stand on their feet and stand on their words, say what you want and show that you are worthy!

Farid: Who has been supporting you in your career?

Khorshid:
The society, the Afghan women, their pain, the unfair society.

Farid: How do you discribe your success?

Khorshid:
The love that I got from my people, I´m really thankfull to them. Their support has always been with me besides my interest toward my career, and my hard work are factors that helped me to succeed in my career. I had taken courses in acting in Afghanistan and I also do a lot of readings about Cinema and the art of acting.

Farid: When was the last time you had a role in a film?

Khorshid:
In Afghanistan, a short film made for Kabul television, called Nedamat. In this film my daughter is also having a role. And films outside Afghanistan I had a short role in Sher Agha wa Sheren gul.

Farid: Who is your favorite actor/actress in Afghanistan?

Khorshid:
I like them all, and I respect all my afghan colleagues.

Farid: Last but not least, what is your favorite film? (of your own)

Khorshid:
Farar and Nedamt

Farid: What was your reaction when the taliban-network was distroyed in Afghanistan?

Khorshid:
I can say that they used the religion for their own sake. And ofcoures I was really happy and felt lucky when I heard that their regime was distroyed. I was happier for my people in Afghanistan. Not much for my own sake, but most for those people living in Afghanistan under their terror. Ofcoures I took the great news with a big smile.

Farid: What do you want to tell other young afghan girls and afghan women about being an artist? As we know you are one of the oldest actresses in Afghanistan. What is your advice to the girls who are interested in acting?

Khorshid:
My advice to those girls or women are that, stand on your opinion, do what you feel is right. Do not listen to others if they talk in your back. Do not listen to those "closed minded" people. They will finally understand how much you worth. If you go on, they will finally accept that a woman can act in films and you have to make sacrifices on your way to become a successful actress. If you think that what you do is right and that it is really right stand on your opinion.

Farid: Will you be willing to return to Afghanistan? And if you return will you start acting in films again?

Khorshid:
A hard question, but if the situation is back to normal and if the afghan people need me if Afghansitan needs me to be with them and entertain them, Yes, ofcoures I will return.

Farid: Is it a wish for you to return to Afghanistan?

Khorshid:
It´s every afghan’s wish, if the situation is normal and that I can live normally and free yes ofcoures I will return if I know that I will be safe. It´s every Afghan’s wish. I was born in that country, I got educated there, I spent all my life there. Yes this is a wish.

Farid: Do you want to tell something that I may have forgotten to ask?

Khorshid:
Not really much, but I just hope that Afghan Cinema will become like it was once again, and that our Cinema could starts producing films once again.