‘Chalay Thay Saath’ is very different from ‘Janaan’: Syra Yousuf

‘Chalay Thay Saath’, ‘Project Ghazi’ to open more avenues for Syra Yousuf

LAHORE: Despite criticism for being just another pretty face, actor Syra Yousuf has proved her mettle over time. She has walked as a showstopper, been the face of heavyweight fashion brands and experimented with both drama serials and telefilms. This year, she made her big screen debut with a cameo in Ho Mann Jahaan and is now essaying lead roles in two films slated for an early 2017 release.

In Chalay Thay Saath, Syra plays a doctor but that is not the only reason the film piqued our interest. Playing her love interest in the film is Kent S Leung, a Chinese actor who does not know a word of Urdu. “The film is about how love doesn’t need a language,” she tells The Express Tribune. “Kent and I became friends instantly. It was his first time in Pakistan and that too in the remote Northern areas of Pakistan, but it was great fun.”

The actor reveals that the film deals with various themes. “The film is about the different kind of relationships you deal with in life whether they are with family or friends.” The character she plays, Resham, has been written exclusively for her and that is what makes it special.

Chalay Thay Saath has also been compared to Janaan because the latter too has been shot in the northern areas of Pakistan. Speaking about this, Syra mentions, “It is similar to the film in that sense because Janaan was focused on the Pukhtun culture and this is on the Hunza culture but their storylines are completely different.”

Syra has been selective about the films she associates with, even previously rejecting a Hollywood production with Ben Kingsley. “Other films didn’t click and I’m a very picky actor so I thought if I’m going to do a film, it should check all the boxes. I liked the people, the storyline, the producer and director and their passion for it.”

Another point to note is that the Yousuf-Subzwari clan is one that has immersed itself fully into the industry. Syra and her husband Shehroz are actors, as well as Shehroz’s father Behroz Subzwari, who is  also starring in Chalay Thay Saath. Syra’s sister, Palwasha Yousaf was also roped in as the stylist. “Palwasha read through every character and designed individual looks for everyone,” shares Syra about her sister’s styling stint in the film.

While Chalay Thay Saath is slated for a February 2017 release, Project Ghazi will be released later next year. Touted as Pakistan’s first-ever superhero flick, the film is based on a mission and stars Humayun Saeed, Sheheryar Munawar and Syra in lead roles alongside Adnan Jaffar, Aamir Qureshi and Nusrat Hidayatullah.

Syra shares that the only thing in common between the two films is the progressive nature of the roles she is essaying. “They are completely different in their genre so I’ve been living a different character for 45 days and then coming home and completely snapping out of it.”

While she has always talked about her inclination towards directing, she discloses she has already written the rough draft of a story. “It’s a love story and what inspired me to write it was that my father was in aviation so all my life I’ve just seen him fly in and out.” Syra hopes that directing a film will be the next step of the career ladder that she continues to climb.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2016.

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