Why did Veena Malik do ‘Astaghfar’?

The starlet shares her experience of hosting a show that she believes addresses problems affecting the common man.

KARACHI:

Staying true to her title of Controversy Queen, Veena Malik has struck again by stirring up another commotion – this time with “Astaghfar”, a special Ramazan show hosted by Veena for Hero TV. Through this show, Veena aims to address ‘sinful’ societal issues while repenting the wrongs she has committed and asking for forgiveness.

In a telephonic interview with The Express Tribune, Veena shares her thoughts and feelings about this Ramazan show. When asked about “Astaghfar”, she says, “Firstly, for me, it is social norms and human behaviour in society that is the imperative subject of discussion. How should we behave with other people? What does religion say about how we should act with others? Since I hold a degree in Sociology, this interests me very much.”

Further elaborating on the line of thought she follows in her show, Veena adds, “I have always been approached by channels asking me to do political shows, to share my thoughts on what political parties are up to here in the country. But I believe these issues are not of interest to the common man. He is a frustrated individual, who faces financial instability and other problems on a daily basis. It is his problems and issues that need to be addressed – this is something that is missing on TV and channels must address it.”

Veena also realises that it is indeed the little things in life that matter, as she states, “From dealing with hard core issues, we should now be more involved in looking and solving the simple issues of life that are affecting the common man on the street.”

On the sets of “Astaghfar”, Veena often gets calls from viewers who speak to her in harsh and condescending tones, with some criticising her blatantly as well. Veena says she feels sympathy for the people who criticise her as she believes, “The way a man speaks or talks to others represents what kind of society we live in; his behaviour shows what sort of person he is and gives the impression that he is definitely living in a very frustrated society. We are often told to treat others with respect to beget respect. I definitely feel sympathy for such individuals.”

With 13 episodes on air so far, Veena seems very excited about her new venture. She believes that her show is based on a beautiful concept and also touches upon some imperative family related issues “related to father-daughter and brother-sister relationships and how they should treat each other.”

In conclusion, when asked why she chose to do this show, Veena says, “The answer is simple and very clear – to interact with people and to know their worries.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2012.