Zhalay's showbiz pedigree

Actor talks being related to Zia Sarhadi and Salma Agha

Oftentimes, the entertainment industry introduces a lineage of artists to the audience, with ancestry paving the way for younger actors to emerge from the same family. Notable examples include the Kapoor family of Bollywood, and our very own Sheikh family.

However, sometimes these relations are not advertised to us, as in the amusing case of Zhalay Sarhadi, who herself wasn't aware of her familial link to stardom until much later. The Beqadar actor spoke more about this during her guest appearance on After Hours with Ushna Shah.

She revealed that she is the granddaughter of renowned writer and director Zia Sarhadi, who is known for notable films such as Abhilasha (1938), Madhur Milan (1938), and Footpath (1953). His contribution to the film industry influenced what is now regarded as the Golden Age of Indian Cinema.

"There was a communist tagline back in the day - food, cloth, and shelter. This slogan preached that everyone has the right to these three basic things," she began. "My grandfather was a part of many films of the time. He was also one of the writers for Mother India and Mughale Azam, and he was also a songwriter," she continued.

After being complimented on her own singing skills, the Guru actor mentioned, "Everyone in my family sings! My father was a beautiful singer. Even my paternal uncle, Khayyam Sarhadi, who everyone knows, and who is the reason for the recognition I have." Khayyam lived through generations of the Pakistani and Indian entertainment industry, and was also part of the cast of the commercially successful 2011 film Bol.

"My paternal aunt is Salma Agha," Zhalay further shared. "Well, she's not directly my paternal aunt. As in, she's not my father's sister but his cousin." The casual mention was a bolt from the blue even for the host, who confirmed whether or not Zhalay has ever spoken about these surprising tidbits of her showbiz-inspiring kin.

"When I went to India, I worked with Annu Kapoor, who used to host Antakshari. There was a similar show that was made with a focus on Pakistan-India collaboration," she said, adding that she was only 19 at the time. "When I told him of my connection to Zia Sarhadi, he gave me so much respect. I can't even describe how that felt; I was a nobody. Still, he was so sweet, and that was when I figured out that my grandfather was a big deal."

On the topic of discovering her big-name blood ties, she admitted, "I didn't even know that nepotism was a thing you could use to become something in the industry." She further stated that her career wasn't incidental; she always wanted to become an actor and performer. "If I was in India right now, I would've been a dancer more than anything else."