What are you reading these days?

Nothing at all. At the moment I am occupied with three different serials. The first, directed by Ali Rizvi, is much like my other serials based on a girl. The other, currently being recorded, is called Meri Behan Maya and is the story of two girls. I am also involved in the Indian adaptation of Dhoop Kinare; I am regularly contacted by Kamlesh Pandey, who has written the script, and asked to give suggestions and observations. However, I have come to feel that many of the changes brought are silly; the drama seems factory produced as do most drama serials in India.

What books are on your bedside table?

Dil ki Wohi Tanhaye by Dr Sher Shah, Mushtaq Ahmed Yusufi’s Zar Guzish and Dancing in the Light by Shirley McClaine.

What is the one book/author you feel everyone must read?

Khalil Gibran and Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

What are you planning to reread?

All comedy books in English and Urdu, such as P.G. Wodehouse and Mushtaq Ahmed Yusufi. I also wish toreread Georgette Heyer.

What is the one book you started reading but could not finish?

There are so many such books, especially those Pakistani novels written mostly by women. Stories written for digests which are being adapted into drama serials I cannot read nor watch. What is ironic about these is that they are written by women and yet portray certain women characters in a negative light.

What is your favourite childhood book or story?

Enid Blyton is my favourite childhood author. When I was younger, I enjoyed Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. I am a dreamy sort of a person and appreciated beauty; these stories held for me a certain kind of beauty.