Nadia Afgan is no stranger to television, having achieved the uncommon blend of critical and financial success that all artists strive for. Afgan recently opened himself to the world in an interview.
The presenter introduced the audience by stressing the nuanced aspects of her role as Shamim in the well-known drama series Kabuli Pulao. The host remarked, “Sometimes we feel for her, and sometimes she enrages us,” capturing the contradiction that made Shamim a compelling figure for viewers.
Afgan began by stating that she has not had an interview in the past two years following the success of the dramas Parizaad and Suno Chanda. She revealed that over the last three to four months, she had been on television screens constantly, presenting different projects at the same time.
Despite her admission that she isn’t a big drama watcher, she received a ton of emails thanking her for playing Shahana in Suno Chanda. Afgan remembered, “A fan from India admitted that they had never heard of the drama before, but now their whole family was enthralled, a testament to the universal appeal of Nadia’s artistry.”
When she mentioned how Kashif, a well-known filmmaker, had contacted her and piqued her curiosity with the prospect of an intriguing role, the conversation took an intriguing turn. But Shamim was not the first character presented; rather, it was her elder sister. Nadia was drawn to the film by its Lahore backdrop, the script, which was written by the renowned Zafar Miraj, and Kashif’s involvement. When Kashif phoned her back two days later, he offered her the role of Shamim.
“I feel that Shamim embodies true love because she is capable of love, betrayal, and a sincere desire to see others happy,” Afgan added. The way that Kashif told stories and engaged the actors in character discussions helped to fully develop the complexity of Shamim’s connections.
Nadia talked about her early concerns about collaborating with Ehtisham. Their in-depth conversations, an exercise that let them learn more about Shamim’s personality, were led by Kashif. The audience was captivated by Shamim’s romantic triangle with Haji and Ilyas in the drama, evoking a range of emotions. Nadia talked about the comments she got from women who could relate to the character’s challenges since they had also encountered similar difficulties when their relationships had been set up by well-meaning mothers.
A recurrent topic in the drama was couples’ chemistry and capacity to work with each other’s moods and quirks. This was evidence of the emotional complexities the play explored.”It’s a beautiful experience to feel loved by someone who, in the grand scheme of things, has no obligation to love you,” she said, citing a specific statement that spoke to her.
Other professionals in the field, such as Sarmad and Sania, praised Nadia for her deft portrayal of Shamim, using adjectives like “stupendous” to characterize it. Nadia glowed with delight as she admitted that her relationship with the character came first, taking precedence over the actors, director, or budget. She said so. “When you step into the role, it’s more important to do the role justice than it is to compete.”
The subject of age disparities in weddings came up in conversation. In response to a question on whether she thought age had a role in marital success, Nadia Afgan adamantly stated that age stopped mattering when there was love and respect between couples. Twelve years her junior, Nadia felt a level of maturity with her spouse that went beyond simple age. She continued by explaining that a major factor in their union was her strong believe in destiny.
Living together all the time, she talked about the many habits that could occur, like her spouse being a night owl and her being a day person. But their friendship served as the cornerstone that made all the difference. They have participated in a variety of social welfare initiatives together after meeting through a project. It was her husband’s candid statement of his affections for her that started their married journey. “Marriage is not just about living together, and it’s about growing together,” the woman cited her husband as saying.
An important feature of their partnership was their agreement to keep each other’s family relationships intact by not meddling in each other’s affairs. Nadia remembered how their older parents welcomed their marriage despite their differences in religion. She stressed that people should have the freedom to make decisions about their lives and expressed her dissatisfaction at the double standards that were prevalent in society about these issues.
The delicate subject of not having children came up in the discourse, which gave it a significant dimension. Nadia Afgan talked about the psychological toll that having two miscarriages took. “No one can understand the depth of this pain unless they have experienced it,” the speaker stated.
In addition to being physical, the suffering was also social because social constraints exacerbated the trauma. She was open about her experience with in vitro fertilization (IVF), describing it as a physically and psychologically taxing procedure. The several women who came out to her after she went public with her experience inspired her to tell her story. She heard tales of extraordinary resiliency and optimism.
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.