Chilling with her chihuahua, Mehwish gets candid with Images on Sunday about her likes, dislikes and her high and low moments in life.

“Bruno was only two months old when he came into my life and now he is 14 months. He is my cute little baby. Pets act as great stress-busters because no matter however tired and stressed out, when I return after a long day at work, the affection that Bruno gives me makes me feel cheerful instantly.”

Mehwish describes herself as a “spendthrift, too blunt for my own good, and a perfectionist which can make things difficult for me at times. But on the upside, I think I’m dedicated, persistent and honest.” She gleams with pride but all the hype doesn’t make her head spin which sits pretty on her shoulders.

“My best is yet to come. I work hard on every project that I choose but playing Tooba Wahab Ahmad in Manjali could perhaps be one of my outstanding performances supported by the flawless story, direction and other performances. It is extra special to me because I sang my first OST called Pani Barsa Hai for it. Other favourites include, Mehru of Thori si Wafa Chahiye;, Arsheen Bukhari in Shehr-i-Dil kay Darwazay and Maham of Mere Qatil Mere Dildar for which I received a nomination for best actor (female).”

It’s this mix of her ability to sizzle in front of the camera along with her girl-next-door avatar which is working for Brand Mehwish. Is she inspired by a showbiz diva? “None,” she says, “I’d rather be a trendsetter than be someone who follows other people’s footsteps. I would love to be a diva later in life when I’ve bagged more experience.”

The truth is that Mehwish is ranked among the most promising actresses on the mini-screen today along with contemporaries like Aaminah Sheikh, Saba Qamar and Sana Askari. “I would like to play meatier roles that represent the strength and power of a woman, unlike most TV plays where women are portrayed as crying, helpless, wretched souls. My dad says that women are the real architects of society and I absolutely agree with him. I would like to play Benazir Bhutto, Margaret Thatcher, Joan of Arc and Cleopatra. It would be a real honour and a dream come true for me.”

Mehwish has a lot on her agenda and her wish list includes performing at the Royal Albert Hall as a musician. “There is so much that I want to do — from attending the Academy Awards to embarking on a world tour, or even setting up an NGO to help the homeless.

When she is not working, Mehwish says she loves spending time with her family, reading or singing along with songs. Presently working at a punishing pace on projects that include TV plays, commercials and fashion modeling, she wants to be remembered as “someone who brought about a positive change in the world through my work and existence.”