On her husband: “He’d fight for me. He is not at all rugged though. Just the beard. He keeps it because I like him with a beard.”

On marriage: “I am sitting on a gambling table in a casino named marriage. I hope to be the winner when I leave.”

Career is not everything: “There is a life beyond one’s career as well which you have to make. Or you at least have to try.”

Family reaction on her decision to get married: “My mom and sister have always been supportive. Dad was angry, still a bit angry; his choice was different.”

On Ayyan’s song You and I: “She is a nice doll-looking girl showing her smile and pretty eyes. Who am I to criticise? I know how it feels to be judged. I will never ever criticise any Pakistani woman working in the entertainment industry. She did a very good job!”

On criticism directed towards Humaima: “Maybe the audience is not willing to accept her in a role which is different than what she played in Bol. When a man stands shirtless he is called ‘hot’. If Fawad Khan or Imran Abbas do a romantic scene they are called ‘men’ and people say ‘wah wah kya kar kay aai ho chummi lay kay aai ho ya chummi day kay aai ho’?”

On actresses making bold choices: “An actress will only do what the director says, what the role requires.

Indian cinema won’t change its process for Pakistani girls wanting to work there. The woman who wanted to play Helen in Helen of Troy knew she’d have to do a scene where she’d have to walk nude because the book said so. She chose to do it. It’s about what the character demands.” — H.C.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, August 17th, 2014