Pakistani starlet Mawra Hocane is celebrating her 10 years in the industry. The actor, who shot her first drama serial, Mere Huzoor, in 2011, has come a long way since then. With a Bollywood project under her name and several accolades, Mawra could be touted as one of the most popular Pakistani stars.
In a recent tell-all with her fans, the Sammi star took to social media and had an #AskMawra, where her followers posed all sorts of queries. In a tweet, she penned, "Shot my first serial in November 2011 that later aired in February 2012. 10 years and almost 25 projects later, all I have is utmost gratitude." She added, "Being an artist has given me so much more than I could’ve asked for!"
Shot my first serial in November 2011 that later aired in February 2012..
— MAWRA HOCANE (Hussain) (@MawraHocane) November 30, 2021
10 years & almost 25 projects later.. all I have is utmost gratitude♥️
ALHUMDULILLAH ✨
Being an artist has given me so much more than I could’ve asked for!
Ask anything, let’s go!!! #10yearsofMawrahocane
Mawra, in the same session, went on to divulge what inspires her, her career highs, her personal favourites and what she thinks of her peers. Here are some of the best responses.
Inspirations and aspirations:
When a fan asked how she has grown as a person as well as an actor, Mawra had nothing but gratitude. "That is truly my biggest achievement," she replied. "Who I have become as a person is an amalgamation of all my fears and joys. All the people I’ve met, each time my heart broke, when I succeeded or failed. Ever so grateful for this beautiful journey."
Talking about her inspirations, she said, "I don’t feel inspired by one person or one personality. I feel inspired by the common ideology that a person can do anything be anything if they’re determined enough! That’s all that matters: hard work and good heart."
She also added how her mother gave her the best piece of advice. "To give respect to be able to earn it," Mawra commented. "My mother told me you can not demand the respect you have to command it with your own actions so that has been my key characteristic of interacting with anyone in life."
Speaking about her strengths, the actor shared, "My ability to grow and adjust in whatever circumstances life put me in. All my lessons that my mother has taught me have been my biggest strength." She then added, "After my parents, I have been my own support. Every time I fall, I have picked myself all by myself and that’s what my parents taught me; to be self-propelled and self-sufficient."
Mawra then went on to respond when a fan asked what advice would she give to the youth of the country. "The advice would be to hold tight onto your value system, no matter what someone tells you, be your most authentic self! Don’t succumb to societal pressure ever! I have done it as a young person and finding a way back to myself wasn’t the easiest thing to do."
And no, she doesn't believe in love at first sight. "No, I don’t. Love at first interaction can be a thing but I don’t understand how looks can merely make one fall in love."
Insight into her fruitful career
Mawra then spoke about how she became an actor. For her, it wasn't a well fleshed out plan. "I didn’t decide it, it just happened," she revealed. "Initially, it was just a temporary source of income while I finished studying, I didn’t even realise and it became my identity and my career. I am so so grateful for it. The industry has been what it is, competitive and mad!"
One tweep inquired when we will quit showing women as weak in the dramas. "When every girl in Pakistan is free," she retorted. "Most women are suffering every day in their homes. We are a depiction of our society! InshaAllah one step at a time."
In 2016, Mawra starred in her Bollywood debut, Sanam Teri Kasam, opposite Yashvardan Rane. The actor, upon asking, deemed her experience as working in the Indian film industry "life-changing." She also revealed her favourite Indian food is Dosa Sambar.
The Haasil star's fame didn't come without its costs. Mawra also shared the toughest part about her job. "Toughest part is to be your authentic self while playing characters that aren’t really you," she said, adding, "To be able to reconnect to your own self. [To] still grow into whoever you’re meant to become but not lose yourself completely. It’s tricky."
So, what has her career taught her so far? "I have learnt many things from my career but most importantly: nothing lasts forever. When there are ups there are downs, when there are good days, there are bad days. It’s important to remember them all and take it in your stride!"
Talking about what profession she would have chosen had she not been an actor, Mawra revealed, "Oh, I would’ve been a surgeon. if I had one more life, I’d become a doctor. A profession I’m most envious of."
With over 25 projects, Mawra has done some noteworthy work. However, she still thinks her characters in Sabaat and Sammi are her personal favourites. "I think it would be one of Sammi or Anaya," she wrote. "Both girls belong to different classes of society yet reiterating the same stance of letting a girl make her own free choices. They’re the same on the root level, their value systems are the same I feel." In another tweet, she remarked, "Any character that inspires women, makes them feel liberated, entertains yet teaches them a lot!"
Speaking about something she wishes to work on, Mawra continued, "Oh, I wish I could be better myself as an actor." She added, "As much as I love my job I still feel unsatisfied with my own performances, I just really wish to be my best self! One day, InshaAllah."
Personal favourites:
When asked what was the last thing she binged, Mawra too, couldn't spare Joe Goldberg's charm and killer charisma. She sheepishly responded, "Loved the latest season of You!" When a fan asked what makes her happy, Mawra responded, "Flowers, smiling faces of humans I love. My fans and their appreciation - these are a few things that make me happy instantly."
She also shared how she prefers cricket when Pakistan is playing and is a football fanatic otherwise. Upon inquiring if she is whether flower or chocolate girl, Mawra quipped, "Flowers! Anyday!"
Her #AskMawra would not have been complete without fans asking Mawra about her rumoured beau, her Sabaat co-star, Ameer Gillani. The two have been the talk of the town since rumoured affair and Mawra, in her Twitter session, shared a thing or two about her 'favourite co-star.' When asked what she likes the most about Ameer, Mawra shared, "His heart! It’s the purest heart I have known in my whole life!"
On her industry peers:
Mawra also spoke highly of her fellow artists. The actor, when asked to share a few words about Maya Ali, commented, "Maya is a beautiful person inside out. Self-made. Hardworking." She went on, "In my few interactions with her, I have felt she’s really warm. I’d love to work with her."
When a fan asked her thoughts about Ayeza Khan, the Qissa Meherbano Ka star quipped, "Ayeza is a brilliant human being. I worked with her in Shaadi Mubarak. This mad world didn’t change her even one bit!"
Mawra has always spoken very highly of Mahira Khan and this time it wasn't any different. "My friend! One of my very few friends in the industry. We [Mahira and I] don’t stay in touch all the time but whenever we reconnect we are able to start, exactly where we left it."
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