Zoya Nasir opens up on faith, self-respect and finding peace beyond fame

Actor Zoya Nasir has reflected on her evolving relationship with faith, the importance of self-respect in relationships and the personal cost of chasing success, saying true fulfilment comes from inner peace rather than constant professional validation.

Speaking in a recent interview, Nasir described how reconnecting with her faith helped her navigate anxiety and the pressures of working in the entertainment industry. She credited her late father with changing her understanding of religion from one rooted in fear to one centred on love and trust.

"In childhood, we are scared of Allah," she said. "But my father changed my perspective. He said, 'Allah loves you a lot,' and he always encouraged me to ask questions."

Nasir recalled initially feeling hesitant about praying openly on drama sets, fearing how others might perceive her. That changed after seeing a fellow actor confidently laying out a prayer mat, prompting her to embrace her faith more openly.

"I took little steps, and what I did was start praying. I felt more and more connected to Allah through each step."

She encouraged others to focus on being good people while trusting God's plan. "Just be a good human being and have belief in Allah. Just believe that you did your best. If it doesn't work out for you, it doesn't. Keep trusting in God, because He is the best of planners. Where I stand in life, I am more than happy with it and am content with the person I am," she stated.

Reflecting on relationships, Nasir said self-respect should always come before love, adding that many people lose their identity in pursuit of romance. "You can't love a person you don't respect," she said. "There is a very thin line between an argument and disrespecting each other," she added.

The actor also opened up about the demands of television stardom following the success of Mere Humsafar, saying taking on multiple projects left little room for a personal life.

"When I became an actor, especially after Mere Humsafar, there was a race of dramas. My life became too complicated and too fast. If you are collecting four to five projects, you won't have a personal life," she added.

She said the relentless workload caused her to miss family milestones, including birthdays and opportunities to spend time with relatives abroad, eventually prompting her to step back and reassess her priorities.

Currently appearing as Shareen in Bas Tera Sath Ho, Nasir said she deliberately chose to portray the antagonist as quietly manipulative rather than overtly villainous, a decision that initially surprised both her co-stars and director Qasim Ali Mureed's creative team.

She revealed that friends had jokingly called to tell her they "hated" both her performance and her character—feedback she viewed as a sign that the portrayal had resonated with audiences.

Nasir also praised co-star Farhan Saeed, describing him as a positive, genuine and risk-taking performer with no on-set ego.

Calling herself a "director's actor," she said she trusted directors to shape the overall vision of a project rather than imposing her own interpretation of a character.

Reflecting on her personal journey, Nasir spoke candidly about being bullied during her school years because of her family's association with the film industry, saying those experiences later fuelled a tendency to seek validation through people-pleasing.

"People-pleasing doesn't happen because of self-confidence, but because of a lack of self-worth," she stated. Having since learned to set healthy boundaries, Nasir said her definition of success has fundamentally changed. "Success is peace and money. Be yourself," she added.