Ayesha on how Momo sparked 'Bulbulay's' big break

Ayesha Omar's recent appearance on Showtime with Ramiz Raja offered fans a glimpse into her life before fame and the unexpected path that led her to stardom. Reflecting on her start in the industry, Omar revealed how a series of unplanned events paved the way for her iconic role as Khoobsurat on the hit sitcom Bulbulay.

Before she was recognised as a leading actor, Omar faced significant challenges. "My father died when I was just over a year old, so I've seen a lot of financial instability and struggles and had to earn from a young age so that I could contribute," she shared, explaining how necessity led her to begin working early.

What started as a hobby—acting, performing, and participating in theatre—soon spiralled into something more. "When I was in college, I started acting. I started it as a hobby, I never wanted to turn it into a career, but it kept coming to me, and I did a lot of theatre with the best theatre artists here," she explained.

It was after college that Omar's career took a crucial turn. She moved back to Karachi, and thanks to an introduction by a roommate, found herself sitting across from the man who would cast her in Bulbulay. "My roommate's friend was Nabeel. She introduced us, saying that a friend wanted to make a sitcom and was interested in shooting a pilot episode with me," Omar recalled. It seemed like just another acting gig, but then things escalated: "They then said they wanted to do 26 episodes."

The show, however, didn't enjoy immediate success. Omar herself faced skepticism from her own family. "My mother saw these episodes and said to me, 'Is this what you're going to do? Is this the reason I educated you?'" Omar admitted, with her mother even calling it a "pathetic sitcom". Despite the harsh words, Omar stayed true to her commitment, telling her mother she would finish the 26 episodes before moving on. What neither of them could have predicted was how much the show's trajectory would shift.

It wasn't until Hina Dilpazeer joined the cast as Momo that Bulbulay really took off. "After that, the ratings peaked, and the show blew up in front of our eyes in just a few months," Omar shared, reflecting on the sudden rise to popularity. The immense public reception made it impossible for her to leave the project as originally planned. As Omar put it, "I told my mother that I couldn't leave now," and eventually, even her mother came around, recognising its success and the joy it brought to people.

But acting wasn't the only thing Omar discovered she was good at. As the interview unfolded, she also spoke about her love for music, another passion that had its roots in her early years. "In school, I was part of the school choir and in college I was part of a band, so I would sing a lot with them," she shared. Her love for performing wasn't limited to the screen or stage; music had always been an integral part of her creative expression.

Her ventures in Lahore with underground bands expanded her musical horizons further. "There was a point where I was dabbling in all performing arts. I was indulging in everything," Omar reflected, noting that her artistic range was never confined to just one medium. "Even now I'm considering getting back into music," she concluded.