Syra and Shahroz: This celeb wedding just got reel

Syra and Shahroz Sabzwari to play on-screen couple for the first time since they tied the knot in 2012

LAHORE:

One of Pakistan’s most sought-after celebrity couples, Syra Shahroz and Shahroz Subzwari are in full swing to mark their on-screen debut together, with the TV drama serial, Pasheman, that will be aired on January 20. Although the dynamic duo walked the aisle in 2012, they have been exceptionally selective about their on-air appearances. Prior to marriage, the two appeared in Tanhaiyaan Naye Silsilay, following which they featured in a commercial for a telecommunication giant. Speaking to The Express Tribune, the couple shares how being married for four years has fared for their careers, while spilling details on how the two pick their roles.

The couple’s upcoming drama serial, Pasheman, which will air on Express Entertainment, unravels the story of a strong-headed, stubborn girl (Syra), who marries a humble, decent guy (Shahroz) —something she never wanted initially. Saleem Sheikh plays her actual love interest in the serial, while renowned actor Behroz Sabzwari plays Syra’s father. Of what tempted the duo to play their off-screen love on-screen, Syra shares “I liked the fact that I don’t like Shahroz in the drama. I pretty much hate him, and I feel the audience would enjoy watching us in such a different situation.”

For Syra, it was a tricky situation to appear together on-screen with her beau. “You’re husband and wife, so there is no awkwardness on any level and of course, there is a certain amount of given chemistry. As time has lapsed, I’ve also become more comfortable in my skin and less shy as an actor.” Likewise, Shahroz admitted how stints in dramas come naturally to him when he is acting with his wife. “We are both acting in this, but no matter who it is, I’ll always make it a point to create chemistry because after all I am an actor,” he says.



Shedding light on the drawbacks of having a celebrity ‘significant other’, Syra notes that if the two repeatedly star opposite each other, the audience won’t be able to digest seeing them alongside other actors from the industry. “If tomorrow I am to romance someone else on-screen, people might be like ‘haww’ but that’s about it. We have held back from appearing together because too much of it would be the death of our careers.” Speaking on the same note, Shahroz mentions “It was a marriage of two actors, and so we were too much in everyone’s face. We wanted to avoid that.”



Do Syra and Shahroz feel cashing in on their ‘couple fans’ will boost their individual careers? “In that case it has to be something great,” adds Syra. “One can never predict if it will be great, the public is the one to decide, but we go for a project if we feel it has some spark.” However, Shahroz believes that it is more of a boost for the producers, who are cashing in on their “real-life couple”, because the audience want to see them together.



Finally, divulging into married life playing a vital role in both their career options, the pair holds mutual views regarding the type of roles they like to perform. “I don’t want to do the same kind of roles which gain the audiences’ sympathy.  That does not apply to someone who takes acting seriously. You must challenge yourself with every role,” adds Syra.

While Shahroz admits that marriage and his baby daughter have not changed the kind of roles he is offered, he has overcome being offered stereotypical roles with his recent TV drama, Manaa ka Gharana. “People don’t feel comfortable experimenting with me because they say I have ‘baby looks’. I don’t think maturity in acting can be defined by of a beard or the lack of it. I keep working hard on my acting so I can get past that.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2016.

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