‘Sajal is a big actor, why would I mind being compared to someone so good?’: Saboor Aly

Actor opened up on her favourite characters, her sister, and problems within the industry

Saboor Aly, who recently won an award for her performance in Parizaad, has given some memorable performances on TV in recent years. However, despite how hard she works, the actor is always pitted against and compared to her elder sister Sajal Aly. The 27-year-old actor, while on the The Talk Talk Show, reacted to the constant comparison she faces during interviews, with fans and industry professionals.

The host claimed that any interview that Saboor has ever given has always had a segment about Sajal. Upon asking if that bothers her, she said that while she doesn’t mind being asked about Sajal and her ventures, she doesn’t like it when they are viewed as one and not as people with individual identities.  

“It actually never bothered me but this one time an interviewer only asked me questions about Sajal. I gave the interview, came back, and didn't even realise it during the interview but after it was published, I started reading comments. People were bashing the interviewer for calling me on their show but asking questions about Sajal only,” she said.

The Parizaad actor reiterated that she’s immensely proud of her sister. “I am very proud of Sajal for achieving all that she has. She’s such a big name so I don’t see anything wrong in being compared to someone so good. Why would I mind being compared to the best there is?”

Upon whether the sisters give each other advice on personal and professional matters, Saboor maintained that they don't talk much about work but in relationships and life, they’re always there for each other. “I think we both have different styles in acting, so we don't advise each other on projects but I take advice from her in life and love, and also help her where I can. Nothing beats blood.”

The Mushkil actor, known for speaking her heart out, also spoke about her favourite character, social media expectations for an actor and colourism in the industry. Speaking about her character Bubbly from Parizaad, Saboor feels like it ended very quickly. “When I finally understood Bubbly’s character and got in her skin, it ended. I feel like Bubbly deserves her own drama. There is so much depth to it, it's such a sensitive topic. It was just a tease in Parizaad,” she said while adding that she would love to work with Ahmed Ali Akbar again.

The conversation then shifted to beauty standards in the industry, especially related to body shaming and colourism. About actors with dusky skin not getting enough chances on screen, Saboor, embarrassed of the prevalent racism, exclaimed, “I think it's true but things are changing with time. People have started taking a stand against it but it is true. Until a certain point, we were even told to put on a ‘gori’ base and to keep our makeup on the fairer side. Sometimes things would be reshot too after a preview because we looked ‘dark’ in some shots.”

The host then asked her about a previous comment on how she wanted to deactivate her social media accounts but cannot do that because it is a part of her work. “It was a phase, and it keeps on coming but the number [of followers] plays a huge role nowadays, and not just in Pakistan, but also globally.”

She confessed to being a little too calculated with her Instagram grid. “Like in Pakistan, if I'm posting something in a western outfit, it's in my head that I'll have to post something in an eastern outfit very soon to neutralise it. The more eastern your lifestyle is, the more followers you have. People like that more here.”

Upon difficult and challenging actors, Saboor named her own sister to begin the list with. “My own sister, Sajal, and that’s because being my sister, if I'm doing something wrong, she would be too blunt about it. She’d call me out a lot,” she said, adding Naumaan Ijaz and Salman Shahid’s names to complete the list.