That's the beauty of short films; their strength lies in delivering a message creatively and simply.Collection: Strength
We need to start identifying the triggers that aggravate mental health issues in our society - bullying, social media negativity and anxiety, gender based violence, substance abuse, stigma around issues such as maternal issues, etc., and we need to speak up about these more and get to the source of the problems.Collection: Health
The upper middle class here still has options for entertainment. We have Internet, Hollywood and books. But for the majority and the masses, there is only TV. A lot of them sit at home and watch TV as they can't afford other forms of entertainment. So, we try to do shows which have inspirational value.Collection: Home
The more real and genuine we are about ourselves, the more others will know that there is no shame in struggling, or feeling low, or anxious or having bad days - we all have them.
During the inception of 'Zindagi Gulzar Hai,' we studied the characters and the script in depth so that we could imbibe the essence of it in our performance.
My mother was an art school teacher and my father was an interior designer. So we've been relatively open minded as opposed to my conservative maternal side.
Mental health, although being talked about more and more nowadays, is still extremely misunderstood and stigmatized, especially in Pakistan, where people think ignoring or hiding the issue will make it go away.
I'm the eldest of three siblings.
I wouldn't want to take the late night subway in the U.S. or go for a late night stroll in the U.K. Women feel insecure anywhere in the world where they may become victims of predatory behavior.
I have been lucky; I have never been followed or harassed and I do tend to drive alone at night, but I'd always inadvertently opt for a route that has more traffic or has police or rangers stationed in the vicinity.
In fact, sometimes when a short film is done well, you wish that it could be slightly longer.
I wish I could be a professional singer.
I enjoy singing but I lack the proper training to make it as a solo artist. Instead, I feel I've found my niche with acting.
There are times when I am supposed to get off work by seven but only reach home by midnight because of production delays.
It actually makes me squirm now, when I see my chapped lips on television.
I always wanted to do a role that inspired girls.
People like my voice, which is funny because all my life my family has joked about my nasal voice.
Some actors are constantly on the phone, some are always looking into the mirror while some like to sit and bond.
I've always admired actors such as Tabu, Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi and I'd like to do the kind of roles that they have done.
Promotions are insane! It's the toughest part about making a movie, for us actors at least.
With the birth of social media, a film gets left behind if the actors don't go and present their film and energy to the public.
Shaz Khan and I, it turned out, went to school together in third grade.
Haseeb Hassan is a fantastic director. He really understands characters and their relationships. He always gives sound advice and direction.
India uses Bollywood, rather cinema, to tell its stories. It is one of the largest filmmaking nations in the world and so your talents get to tell stories about politics, love and drama through films.
In Pakistan, our medium is the small screen. We don't make many films, and hardly have theaters. A majority of people seek entertainment while sitting at home and TV gives it to them, so we excel on that part.
I've seen the effect some of my shows have had, and so I like characters that can be role models for young girls, roles that can help to change people's perspective.
I stand by what I believe in, I'm not afraid to speak up for what I think is right.
I am an oxymoron, shy and confident at the same time.
It was a treat to work with Sarmad Sehbai. I wish actors had more teachers like him.
I love being on stage, nothing compares to it.
In films, usually we see romantic relationships between a hero and a heroine all the time. But we rarely see love between the older generations.
Nothing should be banned. Anything that is progressive and contributes something to society shouldn't come in the way of politics.
I am very shy. It's the most stressful thing to be in the public eye.
I believe I am a character actor who likes to hide behind my characters.
I guess housewives like to get away from reality and enjoy the fantasy world for a bit.
I like method actors who don't focus on the glamorous side, but on realistic acting.
I don't like to wear a lot of make-up or blow-dry my hair.
If you get too caught up with the superficial part of beauty, you get too self-conscious.
Honestly a role is a role - whichever industry it is in - TV, stage or films.
I'd like to see us Pakistani actors do more work that reflects our culture, morals and values.
I prefer social dramas.
And I think it's important to remain loyal to your home country, from where you started.
I want my sheer work to to speak for my talent and it will be quite an achievement, I believe, if producers and directors look at my work and offer me something.
The memories I can gather now of my parents are quite contradicting. My mother was the disciplinarian and my dad was the rule breaker.
I think I couldn't balance my marriage and my mother's deteriorating health. I realized it was unfair to my husband to have my divided attention. I understood he deserved better and should go for that. He deserved the attention of a partner, not another headache, and I didn't want to share my time with anyone else but my mother.
I am privileged to have been a part of 'Zindagi Gulzar Hai.'
I would love to work for the Indian Film Fraternity if the role offered suits my sensibilities.
I like to travel and explore new places and simply love trying new cuisines.
We need to have mental health support and early interventions integrated into our education system from a young age.
No, I am not looking at being a part of television in India, but I may consider movies, if I get to play a strong character.