My engagement to Asim was written in destiny, so it happened: Merub Ali
In a recent interview on Express TV's The Talk Talk Show, Merub Ali, a rising star in the Pakistani entertainment industry, sat down with host Hassan Choudary to discuss her journey into acting, her passion for law, and the challenges she has faced in her career.
When asked about her decision to pursue law alongside her acting career, Merub expressed her deep love for the subject. "I'm actually interested in studying," said the star when asked about choosing to pursue law whilst modelling, acting, and creating content. "I had to take a gap year in the middle - I had to come to Karachi, which is why I had one year left. But this was always the plan."
When asked why she chose law, she replied, "I love law. When I was younger, I was interested in criminal law. I used to watch documentaries. I knew all the serial killers' names. I knew what they'd done. I was very interested in getting into their heads to understand why they do what they do." At this point, the host questioned why she didn't choose psychiatry to which she jokingly responded, "I have so many issues of my own, how will I solve others' issues?"
The unexpected break
Merub also recounted how her journey into acting began unexpectedly. "It was a weird journey," recalled the young actor. "I remained quite ill since I'm so small," she said playfully. "My visits to doctors started increasing due to my poor health. One of my doctors - Dr Ayesha, I still remember her name, she asked me to audition for a Sajjad Ali video. At that time, I knew how to do everything, but I couldn't do it in front of people. Like an introverted extrovert. She encouraged me to audition...I auditioned and got an email from Zaw Ali. Thankfully I'd given my number. Zaw called me and asked why I wasn't checking my email. I was 15 or 16 years old, what did I know about checking emails?"
However, the conversation suddenly changed to the topic of Merub's much-contested age. As she did the math to provide listeners with an age bracket for how old she was during the video shoot, the Sinf-e-Aahan actor said, "Some people say I am lying about being 21 now. Google says I'm 27. I'm fine with it, what can I do about it? Then someone else will say that I look so young. Decide - either I am not 21, or I am not young...What's the point? I'm 57, it's fine" she joked.
As for choosing roles after Sinf-e-Aahan that “did not do justice to her craft or her on-screen personality”, Merub responded, "I think when you're starting out, you don't really have a clue about what you're doing. You get offers - I think I understand better now - but I do think even that was a good experience for me, a good learning curve. I liked Paristan, everyone told me I should do Ramazan plays because of TRPs, I thought, 'Fine.' I did it, and I had a lot of fun doing it. With Wabaal, I thought I'd have a lot of fun because it was a serious character...but it's fine. I did enjoy it." She reiterated that she's very careful now.
It’s all about the stars
On script choices and lack thereof, Merub said, "In the middle, in all honesty, I did get scripts - even in the beginning. But it's very unfair and unfortunate that you don't get the 'break' because of these scripts that established artists get when they get a good script. For the new kids - it's very discouraging, I feel. A lot of people force you, they say, 'Oh, the director is a big name, or the cast is such huge names.' Those things matter, but if you're not adding value to the drama, then what is the point?" She spoke about feeling a certain amount of guilt in the beginning but leaving things up to God. "I won't compromise," said Merub.
Upon being asked about how even successful actors have had to go through the hustle to become established names, Merub stated, "This is my opinion, I don't know if it is right. The point at which these stars were struggling, there were not so many eyes on them that exist now due to social media. Now, you make a small mistake in a drama and you're trending. They won't see the fact that it's your first, second, or third drama...Opinions are formed so fast that you have to be very careful." The actor also said, "Criticism is important, but to form an opinion after one project? I think this is why people are now afraid."
Merub also briefly shared her experience of becoming the breadwinner in her family when their residential status in Saudi Arabia became uncertain. "I did what I could...I've worked a lot in my childhood," revealed the actor.
Speaking about her engagement with singer Asim Azhar, Merub revealed, "Our parents said that this was a good thing to do. They decided for us, and we agreed. Everyone was in agreement. It was very easy...It was written, and it happened." When asked if it was their choice to be partners, Merub coyly said, "Yes." Upon being asked about her marriage plans, she said, "I don't plan for my future, ever. Whenever you plan and things don't work out, you are saddened. Whenever it is written, it will happen."
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