Ushna Shah and the art of holding your own

Actor gets candid about her ‘bold’ persona with host Mira Sethi

Ushna Shah surely has a knack for speaking her mind. Her work on a number of hit serials like Bandhay Aik Dor Say, Balaa, Alif Allah Aur Insaan, Bewafa and Mere Khwabon Ka Diya has only added to her knowledge and expertise.

In a recent interview with Mira Sethi, the actor opened up on a bunch of topics related to showbiz, especially the label of being “bold” that is often given to female actors. “I think when people call me bold, it’s just simply very silly because it can have so many meanings, whether it’s about being too risqué or it the fact that when I speak, I don’t sugarcoat my words for the sake of other people,” Shah began.

For a cause

“I’m passionate about certain things, one of them being animal rights. I’m strongly opinionated about this firstly. Aside from that, it can be anything we as humans care about. Now this doesn’t mean I’ll speak on issues 24/7. I’m not an activist; I’m an actor,” she said, when asked about speaking her mind in a constricted society like ours.

Sethi furthered the discussion on this “concoction of activism and acting” that today’s stars offer. She also mentioned how being too bold could also lead to less commercial projects for one. “Yes, absolutely! This happens because our activism is too ‘controversial’ for brands and our work most certainly gets affected,” Shah agreed. “You know the reason to this is that raising one’s voice in a country like ours is not considered ‘sexy’ or ‘attractive’ because the expectation from us is to be a blank canvas at all times, so people could project the holier-than-thou perception on you.”

Life as an actor

“You know, I read this quote somewhere that said you have to be ‘liked’ to sell your work, find agreeability everywhere around you, to put up a persona that’s approved enough for someone to take your work seriously. So that for me is not normal in any line of work because it wreaks havoc on your mental health,” explained the starlet. “This may happen in the West but more so in Pakistan because of our culture. It’s more conformed, more constricted.”

Feminism and #MeToo movement

Sethi then brought up a cause that birthed in 2017, when female actors across Hollywood raised their voices against the rampant sexual harassers in the industry: the #MeToo movement. Of this, Shah said, “It’s not an issue I have voiced to be particular because there are many who are voicing it and raising the bar in our industry. I mean, I’m aware of the fact that women around me or the ones I know have gone through some sorts of experience that falls under this cause.”

Actor continued, “I think MeToo has generally given a platform to many women so the cause itself is very undeniable and close to every one of us. I’m not so vocal about this matter because I’m more focused about other issues which one needs to voice, it’s uncommon, and at one point, uncanny as well.”
Shah maintained, “I’m a proud feminist, always will be and am also happy to hear there are many men out there, or the ones I know, who call themselves pro-feminism. I’ve been in the industry for seven years and I’ve said this before too that there’s a certain point till which we will get roles which are expected to narrate a much diversified storyline. As an actor I see the script, and all the other normal things. As for my excitement, that’s been dead for quite some time because all the off-track roles, something that offers me adventure but has been done already.”