Mahira is my closest friend: Momal Sheikh

The world of showbiz may not seem like the industry to cultivate long-term friendships, but Pagal Khana actor Momal Sheikh has no doubt which A-lister is her best friend: Mahira Khan.

"Mahira is my closest friend," confided Momal during a recent appearance on Ahmad Ali Butt's podcast. "We hang out all the time, even if we don't share photos and selfies for everyone to see!"

Momal added that whilst gets along well with all her colleagues, her bond with Mahira has an added layer of closeness. "Whenever we meet, it is like we are long-lost friends who haven't met each other in a long time," revealed Momal. "We always pick up wherever we left off. She is my closest friend in wavelength."

The reason for Momal and Mahira's friendship lies in the fact that the pair have more than just their careers bonding them together. "Her friendship is completely separate from the industry," explained Momal. "It's completely different, and there are mutual friends as well. We all hang out and everything."

As the daughter of screen veteran Javed Sheikh, sister of actor Shahzad Sheikh and niece of actors Behroze Sabzwari and Saleem Sheikh, Momal was resoundingly mocked last year for seemingly referring to her family as the "Kapoors of Pakistan".

"I never said that," clarified Momal. "I was asked a question. And I answered it. The problem is that people come to the wrong conclusions based on shots and reels and don't take the time to understand the whole story."

As a woman who entered the entertainment industry after getting married, Momal is somewhat of an anomaly – particularly since, as the daughter of a famous actor, she did not draw on her own connections when embarking on a career in acting. Noting that her father never expected her to enter showbiz, Momal remarked, "My father has never made a single phone call [to further my career], and he has been very clear about it." Mockingly appealing to her father, Momal turned to the camera and added, "You might as well do it now!"

However, despite having watched her parents separate in her childhood, Momal insisted that she does not hold a grudge against her father.

"I would never blame my father for anything," she maintained. "These hurdles we get are from Allah. If you believe this, your life will be easier. I'm not saying that I didn't go through anything – but for a better life and a better future, you can't keep looking back into your past. You have to see ahead. Baba wasn't there, but his heart was with us."