'Criticism is superficial'

Zara Noor Abbas talks industry talents and brand rejections

Ehd-e-Wafa fame Zara Noor Abbas recently made an appearance on Faysal Qureshi's podcast. During the interview, she discussed tackling parenthood as an actor and shared personal struggles that come from trying to strike a balance between the two.

She began dissecting the trajectory of her life by answering a question about her transition to Karachi through marriage after being born and raised in Lahore. "I think Lahoris are very warm, loud, and extroverted. And in Karachi, at least the family I'm in is very loud, But they have a lot of different things aside from that, such as food - things I've never tasted. Their behaviour is also different; Karachiites are more reserved," she compared.

"I'm not sure if this is prevalent in Karachi, but in Lahore, people have the tendency to do things for each other. They pay each other's bills sneakily, they take food over to other people's homes, and so on. It might just be a family thing for me, but Punjabi culture is different, in my opinion," she said. "Lahore is a very laid-back place."

Industry faves

The Jhoom actor then discussed her industry favourites. "I think Yumna Zaidi is a very sensible actor; she adds a new flavour to things. I also think that Faryal Mehmood is a smart actor, and I'm speaking in terms of craft here. Of course, Saba Qamar as well, and Sajal Ali," she enthusiastically listed. "When Sajal cries, the whole nation is moved to tears with her. Her on-screen weeping will have you wanting to surrender everything to her."

"There are some whose craft adds to the characters they play. Yumna has a lot of variety in that sense; I've seen a lot of shifts in her characterisation," Zara mentioned, before praising specific quirks that make Yumna the nationally adored artist that she is. "The nuances that she's picked up resonates with the masses." She further reasoned, "This thing that people often say, that we're inspired by India, it's not like that. It's just a bigger market."

Ageing and vanity

On her take regarding cosmetic procedures, she answered, "I have no specifications in life anymore, like whether something is wrong or not. It all lies in a grey area, and to each their own; I might not prefer what you enjoy. Some things that are classed under right and wrong categories are ultimately subjective, so who am I to judge?"

"A new thing I've understood in my life is that vanity is very short-lived and the more you dwell over how you look, you'll succumb to its weight. This is not going to last long, so let your hair be white if you want that," she urged. "Ageing is a natural process, and it shows how long you've been on this earth and all that you've experienced. Ageing is beautiful. Youth also has its own beautifications and glory, but I think aging is very cool and speaks of your acceptance of the process."

Embracing parenthood

She also offered insights on raising children. "You have to lead by example. You can't just command them. You have to do it for them to implement it because they're like monkeys and they'll absorb information only by looking at us. Whatever environment has been established inside a home, the child will follow that," she suggested.

On people believing that she has bid farewell to the industry after becoming a mother, she said, "I think people believe that being a mother sets you back, when instead it just means having a job and a half. You have a child and an active career."

The 33-year-old didn't completely evade criticism as she added, "Now that my daughter is here, I'll have tune her into my life. I'll have to make her understand my dynamics and environment. Hopefully it won't come to that, but if she ever wants me, I'll leave everything and be there for her. That's just what you must do as a parent."

"I have come to that point where I just let people say what they want to say, feel, or react to. If they want to send profanities my way, or hate on me, or if they don't like something about me from my acting to my body, it's all great as long as I'm doing what I want to do and I'm happy with it. All of this is superficial stuff!" she enthused.

"Once when I was pregnant, a brand discontinued their TVC with me," she mentioned. "They wanted to terminate the contract because according to them, I didn't appeal to the target market since I no longer looked flattering and charming. That really put me back."

"However, another brand stuck by me at the time. They were super happy that I was pregnant and promised to be with me at every step. They couldn't shoot a new commercial yet they renewed my contract. That contract ended only recently based on mutual agreement, but that was a beautiful relationship," she recalled.

"In India, it's perfectly normal for actors to work while pregnant, but there's a lot of hindrance here regarding the matter," she admitted. "The fact that you're a mother should add value to your life."