Mehwish Hayat says 'Ms. Marvel' Partition scenes reduced her to tears

Mehwish Hayat's love letters to Ms. Marvel cast and crew continue as the star has now shared a heartfelt note for her director, the Oscar-winning filmmaker, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy. 

Hayat plays Aisha, Kamala Khan's - aka Ms. Marvel - great grandmother in the series. She thanked the director for showcasing Karachi the way she did in the Marvel show. "Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, what really made episodes four and five of Ms. Marvel resonate with so many people and touch them in this most amazing way was having you at the helm as our director," Hayat penned. "Your attention to detail and the collaborative way in which you work not only with the cast but the whole team was an enlightening experience for me."

Talking about the way Obaid-Chinoy incorporated Karachi in the popular show, the Load Wedding star added, "The way you brought our home city to life was something only you could have done - It was as one person has described 'a love letter to Karachi'." She also talked about the infamous partition scene which saw varied opinions from fans.

"Then the Partition scenes - what can I say? Walking onto that set reduced me to tears every time - it so vividly brought home the horrors that our ancestors went through. I could walk away when the camera cut - but for countless millions, it was their reality," Hayat shared, adding, "Thank you for not only giving their stories a voice but also doing it on one of the most prolific Hollywood platforms."

The Dillagi star, further praising the Saving Face filmmaker, shared, "I have always admired you for all that you’ve achieved for Pakistan and for women. You’ve broken so many glass ceilings and have always been a role model of mine, to whom I have looked up."

She added, "Working with you on Ms. Marvel reinforced the idea that these platitudes are not misplaced. You are an amazing director - the best that an actor could have asked for. Thank you for entrusting me with the role of Aisha and helping me create the character we see on screen. I know that God has great things destined for you and I wish you good luck and success in all your future endeavours. Keep making us proud. Onwards and upwards"

Previously, the actor shared another note for the cast and crew of Ms Marvel. "I have nothing but respect for Sana Amanat who first came up with the idea of a Muslim superhero and devoted so much of the past few years getting it from the pages of the comic books to the screen," she had shared. "I applaud her persistence and fortitude - I only too well know the heartaches of getting pet projects greenlit. Your hard work has paid off through Ms. Marvel, all girls - not just brown or Muslim - can now seek and acknowledge the superhero in all of us. Thank you for letting me be a part of this."

Directed by Belgium filmmakers of Moroccan descent Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Indian-American director Meera Menon, and Pakistani-Canadian journalist Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the series attempts to dispel caricaturized portrayals of South Asians in Western popular culture while giving the young superhero a unique origin story. 

Iman Vellani, who plays Kamala in the series, was already a Marvel fan when she chanced upon Ms. Marvel comics at a local bookstore.