PINNING down Nabila, hair-stylist par excellence and nominee for the forthcoming third Lux Style Awards in the category of hair and make-up, is no easy task. She works 24/7 as she is one of the most sought after stylists in Pakistan and hardly has time even for meals.
She was finally made to take the Hot Seat late one night as she quickly grabbed a bite before getting back to work!
Nabila claims that movies are a complete no-no as far as she is concerned. She doesn’t watch them as she has a short attention span and doesn’t have the patience to sit through them. Says she, “I am more a performer than an observer, and so don’t like movies. I only put them on to go to sleep — and it takes all of five minutes for that to happen!”
On our insistence to describe the kind of movies she watches, if only to doze off, she claims that they are never the frivolous kind. In fact, she prefers European movies with sub-titles. As for films from across the border, she says she is anti-Indian movies and the last one she saw was at least 15 years ago.
Nabila listens to music a lot though, and claims that whether at work, driving or relaxing, it is her constant companion. However, she says she can’t listen to it when thinking! Her taste in music, to say the least, is different from the norm. She is into jazz, oriental instrumental classics, and meditation chants.
“I like to listen to very old, classical music which is soothing to the nerves.” Conversely, she also loves to hear shocking music, and says she is very fond of listening to the opera. “If the music I hear is not soothing, then it must be revolting and shocking.
I like to listen to music the language of which I don’t understand. Preferably, there should be no lyrics and if there are, then they should be very unobtrusive.
I definitely don’t like to hear trendy music and at the same time, I don’t like to hear Pakistani classical either. I find I just can’t appreciate it. In fact, the only things Pakistani I like are our food and humour.”
If readers were surprised by Nabila’s choice in music, they will probably be stunned by her preference in books. She has a well-stocked library — that she claims she hasn’t set up for the sake of display — which amazingly, boasts mostly self-improvement books. That is all she reads, stressing that she has never picked up a novel, or, for that matter, any kind of fiction.
Says she, “I feel books must bring results in my life, otherwise they are a waste of time. If I can’t read books on self-improvement, I’d rather eat or chat with a friend.”
However, her short attention span also is a a problem when she gets down to reading something, with the result that Nabila reads three to four books at a time. “I have to anchor myself and make an effort to read.”
Nabila’s most favourite book is Seven Habits by Steven Covey. “It was presented to me by a good friend when I was struggling to cope as a young mother to teenaged boys. The book was an eye-opener for me and I had to change myself inside out. It had a very strong influence on me and made me realize that since I couldn’t change things around me, I would have to change myself. It helped me to prioritize and arrange my time better; transcend the social order; unlearn; be pro-active and to listen. It’s strange, but no one teaches you to listen — only to talk,” says Nabila.
She can’t praise the book enough. She says if she could, she’d translate it into Urdu and make it compulsory in all schools. States she, “It’s like my religion, after Islam. I find it very difficult to exist with people who haven’t inculcated the habits talked about in the book.”
Nabila claims to possess dozens of copies of it which she hands out “left, right and centre.” However, she realizes that the book came to her at a time when she needed it the most and that it might not be as effective for others. As she very succinctly puts it, “the teacher appears when the student is ready”.
The other book Nabila raves about is Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff, by Richard Carlson. She says it is “an interesting book and easy reading as compared to the other one. It teaches you how to take life easy. I turn to it time and again.”
She also loves Your Sacred Self, by Dr Wayne W. Dyer, and describes it as “a liberating book — very good for self esteem.” She says it remains on her bed-side all the time for easy referral.
Her all-time favourite, however, is Teachings of Buddha. In half jest, she says, “Strictly speaking, I am a Tibetan!”
Nabila’s favourite books also include Twenty Twenty Business Thinking, Children Are From Heaven, and Life’s Strategies. She is also fond of Dr Phil’s books and claims she is a quick learner and wants to live her life today such that she is a better person tomorrow.
PINNING down Nabila, hair-stylist par excellence and nominee for the forthcoming third Lux Style Awards in the category of hair and make-up, is no easy task. She works 24/7 as she is one of the most sought after stylists in Pakistan and hardly has time even for meals.
