Girls, start your careers: Zoya Nasir

Actor talks 'Noor Jahan', financial independence

Reaching for the skies for that coveted lead role may be the stuff of dreams for an aspiring actor, but Noor Jahan actor Zoya Nasir - also known as the reviled Maha who stole Sumbul's husband - is the exception to the rule.

In a recent conversation on Gup Shup with Fuchsia, Zoya gives the lowdown on Maha's character arc, her strict advocacy for financial independence, and why landing a lead role may not always be the dazzling reward you may think.

On playing Maha

"A lead is not the most important thing," explains Zoya right off the bat. "If you are part of a big script and have a good role, then why not?"

In Noor Jahan, Zoya plays the role of "the other woman" Maha, who weds the love of her life, Safeer - who is already married to the meek and mild-mannered Sumbul. It is a move bound to polarise audiences, but one Zoya did not shy away from. "I like challenges," she confides. "I like difficult roles. Enjoying it is the biggest factor for me. I just have this passion for acting. It doesn't feel like work."

In a show that places a microscope on the dynamics of a joint family, the character of Maha was loathed by fans - until most recently.

"Everything Maha does is justified," explains Zoya, sticking up loyally for her character. "That's what makes the script so great. She is justified in marrying Safeer because he promised her he would! He never said he wouldn't. And people are starting to root for Maha now - they would hate her before, but they're starting to come around now. Maha told Safeer to get a divorce so that Sumbul would be free, and now Sumbul is happy! So you see, everything that happens in the script is justified."

Whether Sumbul returns to wreak havoc upon the household, however, is a development Zoya remains tight-lipped about. "You'll just have to watch the show and see!" she teases.

Financial independence

According to Zoya, one of the reasons Maha goes about life so serenely no matter how controversial her actions may be (such as agreeing to marry an already married man in a family where the mother-in-law is a certified dragon) is her financial independence.

"Maha is independent and clear in her thought process," points out Zoya. "She doesn't let Safeer walk over her, and I think that's such an important message to show."

Zoya is adamant that financial independence is crucial for women everywhere so they can become empowered enough to make life decisions not just related to money.

"I think especially for moms and women, having financial independence makes you a responsible citizen," stresses Zoya. "It has a psychological effect. If a woman is not earning, it's like she is just waiting for pocket money. You need to have your own income to start feeling like an adult. It makes you braver."

Elaborating on the empowering effect of financial independence giving you decision-making authority, Zoya points to the example of a hypothetical mother fielding requests from her child.

"When your child asks if you can buy something, a woman who is not working will end up saying, 'Let me ask Baba.' But if she is also earning, she says, 'Okay, let me think about it,''" the actor explains. In her eyes, such a shift can only take place if girls are encouraged to have a career and not just enter into marriage as soon as they graduate.

"In our society, a girl is sheltered all her life," laments Zoya. "But once girls start working after completing their education, they will understand how the world works. They need to be ready for the world out there before they get married. It is only then that they will truly know how to handle marriage, in-laws, and kids."

If art is a reflection of life, then the message in Noor Jahan is clear. Just like Zoya observes, a woman with a career has a better grip on her life choices, and there can be no clearer example than Maha.