Q. What’s your family like?
I am one of four siblings; I have two brothers and a sister. My mother is a teacher and my father is a retired interior designer. Both my father and my taaya (uncle) are closet comedians and great mimics and I think I get my comic timing from them.
My parents have both been very supportive of my career. We moved back from England where I was born when I was six or seven and I have been attracted to the stage and performing arts from a young age. They have always understood that I am passionate about acting and have encouraged me throughout my career.
Q. What is the hardest part of acting on television?
The most challenging part of acting for television is the lack of rehearsals. I am used to layering up a character for film or stage and I like to think about how my character would show emotion — happiness, sorrow or anger. Each character’s responses are different from each other and from my own.
The schedule is too hectic in television to allow time for rehearsal
so I like to ask for the script beforehand. Even then, it would be
wonderful to have more time to go through the scenes with your co-star
and bounce ideas off each other.
Q. Which is your favourite role of the ones you have played on TV?
I think the public has liked Kashaf in Zindagi Gulzar Hai but my personal favourite is Zoya in Talkhiyan because it was such a challenging role. Talkhiyan was a remake of The God of Small Things in which I played a Syrian Christian single mother. It was a dream role for me and a project that I was proud to be part of.
Q. How do you feel the public reacts to you after your on-screen performances?
I am incredibly thankful for the love and acclaim I have received from the public. I think that seeing actresses in their living rooms week after week helps people feel comfortable with them, but it’s difficult for the public in general to differentiate between the character and the person. People constantly come up to me and invariably call me by one of my on-screen names. I sometimes find myself changing the way I dress for public appearances based on what I feel my fan base expects, even though I want to maintain my own identity.
Q. You are known for playing unconventional roles. Is this a conscious choice or are these the roles that are offered to you?
Theatre and films are my passion because they offer greater scope for intense character exploration. However, Pakistani television today is tackling some very difficult issues and offers excellent writing and direction. Television also has a very wide outreach in society and offers the opportunity to be socially responsible through the characters I play.
I have generally played very strong women on a mission, who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in. The only exception is my anti-heroine in Kadoorat. I chose to do that role to challenge myself as an actor and to remind myself that I can be versatile.
Q. What excites you about TV serials?
I relish the opportunity to be a role model for young girls, particularly middle class girls fighting repressive fathers, brothers and society in general. I like my serials to have some sort of moral or message and I like my characters to question societal injustices. Change happens incrementally and by taking difficult issues into people’s living rooms, it’s possible to spark debate and subtly shift mindsets.
Q. What’s you biggest weakness as an actress?
I’ve never been particularly careful about my on-screen appearance. With better lighting, close-ups and better production in general I’ve realised that it’s important to pay attention to your looks. Grooming and styling can make a huge difference to the way you look on-screen and I’ve realised that this is as important as your acting performance. I’m now being more particular about my hair and makeup and about the way I dress.
Q. Where do you see yourself in the future?
I would like the opportunity to continue to grow as an actress. I hope that I will continue to be offered challenging roles no matter what the medium; whether it is theatre, film or television.
I am one of four siblings; I have two brothers and a sister. My mother is a teacher and my father is a retired interior designer. Both my father and my taaya (uncle) are closet comedians and great mimics and I think I get my comic timing from them.
My parents have both been very supportive of my career. We moved back from England where I was born when I was six or seven and I have been attracted to the stage and performing arts from a young age. They have always understood that I am passionate about acting and have encouraged me throughout my career.
Q. What is the hardest part of acting on television?
The most challenging part of acting for television is the lack of rehearsals. I am used to layering up a character for film or stage and I like to think about how my character would show emotion — happiness, sorrow or anger. Each character’s responses are different from each other and from my own.
The schedule is too hectic in television to allow time for rehearsal
so I like to ask for the script beforehand. Even then, it would be
wonderful to have more time to go through the scenes with your co-star
and bounce ideas off each other.I think the public has liked Kashaf in Zindagi Gulzar Hai but my personal favourite is Zoya in Talkhiyan because it was such a challenging role. Talkhiyan was a remake of The God of Small Things in which I played a Syrian Christian single mother. It was a dream role for me and a project that I was proud to be part of.
Q. How do you feel the public reacts to you after your on-screen performances?
I am incredibly thankful for the love and acclaim I have received from the public. I think that seeing actresses in their living rooms week after week helps people feel comfortable with them, but it’s difficult for the public in general to differentiate between the character and the person. People constantly come up to me and invariably call me by one of my on-screen names. I sometimes find myself changing the way I dress for public appearances based on what I feel my fan base expects, even though I want to maintain my own identity.
Q. You are known for playing unconventional roles. Is this a conscious choice or are these the roles that are offered to you?
Theatre and films are my passion because they offer greater scope for intense character exploration. However, Pakistani television today is tackling some very difficult issues and offers excellent writing and direction. Television also has a very wide outreach in society and offers the opportunity to be socially responsible through the characters I play.
I have generally played very strong women on a mission, who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in. The only exception is my anti-heroine in Kadoorat. I chose to do that role to challenge myself as an actor and to remind myself that I can be versatile.
Q. What excites you about TV serials?
I relish the opportunity to be a role model for young girls, particularly middle class girls fighting repressive fathers, brothers and society in general. I like my serials to have some sort of moral or message and I like my characters to question societal injustices. Change happens incrementally and by taking difficult issues into people’s living rooms, it’s possible to spark debate and subtly shift mindsets.
Q. What’s you biggest weakness as an actress?
I’ve never been particularly careful about my on-screen appearance. With better lighting, close-ups and better production in general I’ve realised that it’s important to pay attention to your looks. Grooming and styling can make a huge difference to the way you look on-screen and I’ve realised that this is as important as your acting performance. I’m now being more particular about my hair and makeup and about the way I dress.
Q. Where do you see yourself in the future?
I would like the opportunity to continue to grow as an actress. I hope that I will continue to be offered challenging roles no matter what the medium; whether it is theatre, film or television.