I will not compromise on my work to sustain TV's 24-hour transmission: Sonya Hussyn

'Mere Humrahi' star's next project sheds light upon a social taboo that hasn’t yet been addressed

ISLAMABAD: The talented Sonya Hussyn has evolved and how. From being a girl-next-door to a modern-day diva, the Nikkah-famed actress’ transition has been impressive to say the least. Back to the grind after a brief hiatus from television, I begin our conversation by asking Sonya where she’s been and what’s kept her away from the small screen, she smiles, and blames substandard scripts for her being missing from the scene.

“Like you just said, I have indeed come a long way from where I began, I know that for a fact and at this point in my career, I don’t want to take up something that’s conventional or something that I know I’ve seen before,” she says of being open to experimentation. “You see hundreds of serials are made in a year and I understand that that’s important to sustain a 24-hour transmission, but just because of that, will I compromise on the kind of work I want to do? Of course I wouldn’t!”



The actress who made her acting debut essaying a drug addict in the serial Don’t Jealous was last seen in Nazo on television playing a disabled girl. Somehow or the other, she does find herself often playing roles that might not be as pleasing to the eye or help in establishing herself as a heartthrob, but are surely empowering and emancipated. How does she manage to transport herself from her diva-persona off-screen?

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“That’s the beauty of acting I feel, you play who you’re not,” she is quick to respond. “Perhaps that way I am able to empathies with my character better, I feel their struggle and what all they go through. I thrive in making all my characters humans first, they need to be believable and for the serial I’ve just began shooting recently, I know it allows me to explore its facets further. Nazo is a serial that’s very close to me, I trust its makers for always bringing the best in me and offering me content that is in line with the kind of assignments I want to take up, I just couldn’t have said no to this.”

And that brings us to discussing her comeback of sorts to the small screen, in and as Pakeeza. To be helmed by Badar Mehmood and penned by Mohsin Ali, Pakeeza will be produced under the umbrella of Fahad Mustafa’s Big Bang Entertainment, whom she had collaborated with earlier on two projects. Apart from the leading lady, the serial also marks the return of morning show host and yesteryear actress Nadia Khan after 17 years, while Sami Khan and Saba Hammed will also feature in titular character alongside Hussyn.



“Pakeeza raises a very relevant debate. It addresses the adversity of social media and how it can conveniently ruin a girl’s and her family’s life in our society,” she shares. “Pakeeza, after which the serial’s been named as of yet, is a very real character and even though I’ve been fortunate enough to have never gone through what she does, I do know of incidents where girls have been manipulated like this which is just not acceptable. Why is the girl to be blamed for having the freedom she deserves? I think it’s something that hasn’t been addressed, but it must be.”

The tense events that unfold as Pakeeza’s pictures get leaked; Sonya sees this as an opportunity to also make girls more aware of themselves and their surroundings.

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“You can never trust someone too much; also you need to know where to draw the line, for the betterment of your own self. I’ve just began shooting this week, so I’m not sure if I should be delving deeper into its plot, but I do know that it’s extremely gripping and has numerous subliminal messages for both, men and women of becoming cautious and taking their personal space more seriously,” she exclaims of what one may expect.

While Pakeeza might potentially end up becoming too controversial for anyone’s liking, it’s a pleasant surprise to see Sonya think otherwise. “I wouldn’t call Pakeeza controversial at all. It’s a serial the entire family can watch together and learn from. It has something for everyone, I feel every member of a household will relate to one character or the other for every role has been written with enough existence and back-story,” the starlet responded.



“It’s on the social taboo of how dangerous social media can be. It is a disturbing story, but I can assure that it won’t make the viewer uncomfortable.”

Though she says she hasn’t yet shot with her co-stars, she does share great off-screen camaraderie with producer and actor Fahad Mustafa. “Fahad and I starred in his production house’s first serial, Mere Humrahi, so I’ve seen the company grow in front of me and I’m very proud of what it’s become today. Establishing one of the leading banners in the industry is no piece of cake and I feel Fahad is someone who is capable of this and so much more,” she says of the multi-talented actor.

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“Apart from the script, Pakeeza was Fahad’s production, so I knew I could trust him with his vision, knowing how sincere he is to his craft.”

Apart from Pakeeza, for over a year now, Sonya’s been working on Imran Malik’s feature film, Azaadi. Touted as a patriotic, action-thriller, the film will mark her second cinematic appearance after having made her foray into the cinemas with the critically acclaimed Jami Mehmood directorial, Moor. Essaying the character of Zara, a feisty, independent, British-Pakistani journalist, Azaadi traces the struggle of Kashmir’s independence, while also highlighting feminism through Sonya’s vigorous portrayal of an equally spirited woman on-paper.



“A few scenes from the first half of the film are to be shot abroad, I’m not sure when that’ll happen since I’ve now took up Pakeeza, but Azaadi is surely something to look forward to,” she claims.

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“It’s a beautiful film, that’s been shot exceptionally well across the northern region of Pakistan and also a spell was done in Thailand. In a nutshell, it offers quality cinematic experience, while also awakening the inner patriot in you. Playing the protagonist, I couldn’t have asked for a better film debut.”

Also starring seasoned film-actor, Moammar Rana, veterans, Javed Sheikh and Nadeem Baig, Sonya promises a “guest appearance” in the film that will surely come across as a thunderbolt.

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