Embracing filmdom

Frieha Altaf goes back to acting with big screen projects

LAHORE: Model-turned-event manager Frieha Altaf has made her name almost synonymous with the entertainment industry of Pakistan. With three decades of work behind her, the runway mogul has surprisingly dabbled with acting, only in dramas — but that too is about to change. Altaf is set to make her film debut with two movies this year.

“I have a cameo in Lahore Se Aagay which is directed by a dear friend Wajahat Rauf,” she revealed while speaking to The Express Tribune. ““The other film I’m acting in is Wajood, produced and directed by Javed Sheikh.” Although she still doesn’t have details about her cameo in the Karachi Se Lahore sequel yet, she knows her role in the Javed Sheikh production will be a “glamorous” one. The film will be shot in Turkey come July.

“I already do casting, scripts, production, shooting and styling for films. The only difference is that this time I will be in front of the camera,” she remarked.



Recalling a major acting offer from her modelling heydays, “I once got approached by Feroze Khan back then but I didn’t do it because frankly I couldn’t see myself gyrating, doing item numbers on screen. I would have rather done a sophisticated role.” She declined the film offer but had brief acting stints in sitcoms Rozee and Studio Dhai, but then she gave that up too. “I left acting because in those days PTV was very disorganised — they’d make you wait endlessly. But  I love acting — I’ve done three music videos including Ali Azmat’s Na Re Na.”

Altaf, who is eager to do something different this time around, is confident that the people she will be working with are well aware of her acting chops. “They know I haven’t done it for other reasons. Back then, the movies being produced were not up to the mark and plays were good, but then they started killing the scripts with the same saas bahu redundant drama.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2016.

Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.