Up close with Kubra

In a recent interview, Pakistani drama and film actor Kubra Khan, fresh off the big screen with her new Eidul Azha release, Abhi, spoke about her new and upcoming projects, Palestine and more as she sat down with Independent Urdu.

The actor revealed the reason she hadn’t worked in films for the last two years. “London Nahi Jaunga came out in 2022, then I immediately started working on Jannat Se Aagay. In the middle of that, I started Noor Jahan. Abhi was being filmed simultaneously, and now I’m here,” said Kubra. “In 10 years, I’ve done six films, that’s a lot compared to others. I think I’ve done quite a few. I started with Na Maloom Afraad, then Parwaaz Hai Junoon, Jawaani Phir Nahi Ani, and now Abhi, that’s a lot of films to my name,” she continued.

The Noor Jahan actor furthered on to reveal how she picks and chooses which projects to accept. “I’m very picky when it comes to my characters, and my scripts as well. Till it doesn’t touch my heart, I don’t do it. In Abhi, what appealed to me was that it was about minorities. We’re not talking about different ethnicities or religions, we’re talking about the idea that if you don’t have any power, your life has no meaning. I think it’s a very important topic that has not been spoken about.”

Kubra didn’t mince her words as she stated, “In Pakistan, it’s usually the case that the rich become richer, and the poor become poorer.” She later shared what makes the film so special. “A very important thing about this film is that it talks about Pakistani people. It’s important to value everybody’s life. It’s important to respect and value whoever’s beside you. It doesn’t matter if they don’t have any power, if they have rights, they have rights.”

Kubra then shared a little about her character, Zara in Abhi, saying, “The character is very much like me. She talks like me, but I’m an introvert, she’s more extroverted. One similarity is that when she takes a stand, she takes it fearlessly.”

The Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay actor also sang praises of her Abhi co-star and musician, Goher Mumtaz. “Goher is a great artist. He’s phenomenal when it comes to music. Look at the history, the greatest anthems in our industry have come through the Jal band or Goher. He’s contributed quite a bit, so I knew the songs would be amazing and when it comes to music, I’m all for it,” she said. Talking about music in films, Kubra revealed, “I will not be doing an item number like Dharak Bharak again, unless it is relevant and in context,” referencing her dance sequence in the Mahira Khan starrer, Superstar.

“It’s not like there are no films coming out,” said Kubra, referencing a baseless idea that Pakistani films aren’t being released. “There is Na Baligh Afraad, there’s Umro Ayyar coming, and I feel like if we don’t support these films, who will?”

The actor then went on to address the reason why she stopped giving interviews after Jannat Se Aagay was released. “I’ve become an introverted person in the last few years. Giving interviews is very daunting for me, that’s why I run from them. Many times, when you say something, it gets misconstrued as something else. And when people have an opinion, it takes a lot to change it.”

Addressing the ongoing genocide in Palestine, Kubra expressed her deepest sorrow for what Palestinians are going through. “I don’t understand how I’m sitting here giving an interview while an entire nation is being wiped out in front of our eyes. I’m not saying to stop living your life, work has to go on, and I’m not saying to take extreme measures, but the least you can do is condemn the actions, you can talk about it, so people are made aware of the situation,” said the actor.

“Did you know it’s been around 150 days of this genocide and there are still people out there who don’t know what’s going on in Palestine? This is killing our humanity. If we can’t even speak about it, then what’s our use as human beings?” Kubra concluded.

Previously, in conversation with The Current, Kubra reminisced about her most memorable project, Alif. “I gave my heart and soul to Alif,” she confessed. “It left an impact. Even with Jannat Se Aagay, I put in a lot of effort because in Jannat I had to be seven different personalities in one go.”