Zhalay remembers Urwa Hocane's quiet support

Actor recalls moment she'll never forget

In a world where celebrity friendships often play out on Instagram and red carpets, actor Zhalay Sarhadi recently shared a story that cut through the noise; an anecdote of real, unshowy kindness. Speaking with a local news channel, Zhalay opened up about a time of deep personal grief following the passing of her father. Amidst her silence, someone she barely knew showed up in a way she never expected: Urwa Hocane.

"Generally speaking, I am a very friendly person," Zhalay began, setting the tone. "But I don't like to share details of my personal life with people. I am a good listener but I speak very little of my own life."

It's a guardedness many will recognise, especially in industries where strength is often equated with emotional distance. At the time, Zhalay was grieving in silence, telling almost no one what she was going through. "Only a few people who were working with me knew of my father's demise." And then came Urwa.

The two had only worked together on one project, the 2013 drama Aik Pagal Si Larki. Urwa had just moved to Karachi to begin her career, navigating a new city, a new profession, and the uncertainty that comes with both.

"Urwa was living in a rented house and driving a rented car," Zhalay recalled. "She stayed with me for two days and I had no idea what she was going through. I'll never forget that."

The quiet gravity of those words speaks volumes. "This is a very rare quality," Zhalay continued. "My friends were with me but I had only done one serial with Urwa. Despite that, she decided to be there for me. One always remembers these things."

Aik Pagal Si Larki aired in 2013, directed by Saife Hassan and starring Urwa, Zhalay, Arij Fatyma, and Azfar Rehman. Beneath its seemingly familiar premise of friendship and betrayal, the drama stood out for its raw portrayal of mental health, class anxiety, and the fine line between vulnerability and manipulation, offering more psychological nuance than many of its peers at the time.

For Zhalay's old fans, her emotional candour comes as no surprise. In a deeply revealing conversation on Frieha Altaf's podcast last year, the actor opened up about the various personal battles she's fought off-screen.

"I struggle with body dysmorphia," Zhalay disclosed. She recalled being a chubby 14-year-old with a 42-inch waist. However, once a modelling offer came her way, she lost the weight in three months and had a 24-inch waist, but not without lasting damage. "I had anorexia, I used to faint everywhere."