Riding on the wave of Laal Kabootar’s immense success, the talented actors sit down with Mehek Raza Rizvi to talk about the overwhelming response they’ve received

Mansha Pasha:

“I gave Laal Kabootar over a year of my life. The journey has been exciting and exhilarating, serving as a huge learning experience. The payoff just makes it all worth it.”
—Mansha Pasha

Audiences had been waiting anxiously for Laal Kabootar ever since the trailer launch and for good reason. How does the phenomenal response feel?

The response feels absolutely incredible. I’m extremely humbled by the love all of us have received, not just from our fans but also from within the industry. It’s very overwhelming when your peers, seniors and mentors are rooting for you.

I gave Laal Kabootar over a year of my life. The journey has been exciting and exhilarating, serving as a huge learning experience. The payoff just makes it all worth it.

How challenging did you find portraying Aliya? Do you see any similarities between her and yourself?

Honestly, no. I don’t think Aliya and I have much in common at all. That doesn’t make portraying her challenging though, because that’s exactly what an actor’s job is—to step into another person’s shoes. She’s very quiet and internalises her emotions a lot, which is unlike me. I can’t really relate to her, but yes, I can definitely empathise with her.

This was Kamal Khan’s debut as a film director. While he’s definitely here to stay, what lead you to trust his vision?

I think his past work speaks for itself, but more than anything, what intrigued me the most is the way he orates and describes his vision. I knew from day one that he would execute this film brilliantly. When Kamal wants to tell a story, he gets absorbed in it in a manner I haven’t seen before. He won’t stop until he gets the desired shot and will make sure his team keeps doing their best too. I also enjoyed how we all bonded as a team, as it helped to have honest conversations about everything with him. Apart from this, he has commendable work ethic and that’s always a plus.

“I think the most amusing aspect has to be the fact that Ahmed and I were kept apart on set by our director.”
—Mansha Pasha

Share some memorable moments from the set.

I think the most amusing aspect has to be the fact that Ahmed and I were kept apart on set by our director. He was very firm about us not joking too much or being silly. Other than that, I’ll never forget that Ahmed broke my phone or the friends I made during our journey.

What’s next?

For now, I’m completing a drama for ARY. I look forward to doing projects that are different and lighthearted.

Short & Sweet

If you could play any other character in the movie, which one would you pick?

Rashid Farooqui’s character is remarkable, even though I don’t think I’d be able to portray it. His wife’s character is also great.

What’s your favourite line from the movie?

“Tumharay haram kay paisey nai yeh kiya hai” (Your black money caused this)

Best thing about your job?

It keeps me on my toes

And the worst?

Actors don’t really connect with each other a lot, except while working together. We all share the same problems, so I feel if we worked on building a community and support system for each other, it would benefit everyone.

Apart from Ahmed, who are your favourite co-stars?

There are so many people, but if I had to pick one, it would be Sami Khan

Biggest competition?

My own self. I always feel like I can do better.

Do you have a life motto?

Just to be happy and not be too hard on myself

AHMED ALI AKBAR:

What does Laal Kabootar mean?

Laal (red) symbolises blood, violence and love, while Kabootar (pigeon) symbolises  freedom, peace and flight. The name of the movie depicts the conflict the characters face in a city like Karachi, where freedom, blood, violence and peace go hand in hand.

Many believe your portrayal of Adeel may be your finest performance to date. How does the love you’ve garnered from the movie feel?

The response is overwhelming. I feel extremely fortunate to be part of Laal Kabootar. It’s something I’ll look back at and be proud of. I was very confident about the film, Kamal Khan’s intricately stylised storytelling, Mo Azmi’s beautiful cinematography, Taha Malik’s unique music and almost all other aspects of the film except for myself. It’s so hard to gauge one’s own work, so I had no expectations.

What were the most special moments while shooting for Laal Kabootar?

There were so many special moments that I can’t pick one. Although, the one thing that makes the entire process extraordinary was how we all drew inspiration from each other. Everyone on this team was so focused, the synergy of the team was remarkable. Every member had an earnest love for their craft and was driven to give their best.

What were the challenges you faced while trying to deliver a convincing performance?

I had no idea how I was going to play a Karachiite. I had to trust Kamal whenever he told me I was on the right track. When we started shooting, it had only been a few years since I’d moved to the city, so portraying a local was a challenge. Adeel could easily have been a caricature, but I wanted him to be real and flawed. I think the toughest bit was to be someone else, yet make the struggle as relatable as possible without crossing the thin line that borders on exaggeration.

“The name of the movie depicts the conflict the characters face in a city like Karachi, where freedom, blood, violence and peace go hand in hand.”
—Ahmed Ali Akbar

What’s next?

Can’t disclose much, but there might be something very exciting coming up in a year’s time. As far as the near future is concerned, I’m just reading different scripts at the moment

Short & Sweet

If you could play any other character in the movie, which one would you pick?

Ibrahim, the character played by Rashid Farooqui

What’s your favourite line from the movie?

This is not the kind of script where I can pick a line. But two scenes that I really enjoyed watching in terms of dialogue were where an intense conversation takes place between Rashid Farooqui and Mohammad Ahmad, and the moment Aliya offers Adeel double the amount in return for an unspeakable crime.

If you could go back in time and redo any one thing in your journey with Laal Kabootar, what would it be?

I’d be more careful snatching Mansha’s phone in the scene mentioned above. I accidentally broke the screen.

Best thing about your job?

The variety of skills one has to learn in order to emulate the characters in the vast range of stories we become part of.

And the worst?

As George Clooney once said, “An actor is always looking for work.”

Apart from Mansha, who are your favourite co-stars?

Yumna Zaidi, Osman Khalid Butt, Omair Rana, Sanam Saeed and Nadia Jamil

Do you have a life motto?

Don’t be good to be rewarded, let your goodness be a reward for others

Entrepreneur, politician and mother, Hina Butt wears many hats and excels in all of them. In a short span of time, she has become a respected voice for women’s rights, all while continuing to build her fashion house. Areesha Chaudhry talks to her about her journey and how she balances her life

You’re quite an accomplished woman. Tell us a bit about your educational background.

I went to LUMS for my undergrad and MBA and was lucky enough to make it to the Dean’s Honour List both times. From there I decided to delve into International Relations and completed a Masters in it from Middlesex University Dubai. I have also participated in the Global Leadership and Policy course at Harvard Kennedy School.

Take us through your career and your entry into the political arena.

Being a strong advocate of female entrepreneurship, I launched my fashion house Teena by Hina Butt after graduating from LUMS. There I also conducted vocational training for women who desired to be financially independent. For this I collaborated with FACES Pakistan for vocational training programs and market accessibility, where mine and my brand’s role has been to polish the skills of the women, in order to make their products more marketable.

“Being a strong advocate of female entrepreneurship, I launched my fashion house Teena by Hina Butt after graduating from LUMS. There I also conducted vocational training for women who desired to be financially independent”

Politics came about as a result of this programme. I became aware of the dire situation of women’s rights in the country and the lack of opportunities for a large majority of them. It was obvious to me that I’d have greater influence over driving such change through politics; ultimately, I received a reserve seat for women in 2013.

How has politics helped you achieve these goals thus far?

Once in the political system, I strived to create equal opportunities and obtain rights for Pakistani women. This included bills and resolutions that I presented; some of the ones that I am most proud of include the “Child Marriage Prohibition Bill 2013,” “Punjab Home Based Workers Bill 2016” and the “Punjab Domestic Workers Employment Rights Bill 2016.”

I’m also grateful to have served as the General Secretary of the First Women Parliamentary Caucus of Punjab (2015-2016) and am currently serving as the Women Health Representative of the Women Caucus. But, the Women Protection Bill was one of the highlights of that tenure.

You were selected once again in the 2018 elections through the reserve seats. What policy changes are you focusing on this time?

Primarily education. However, I am also actively engaged in obtaining maternity rights for women and have submitted a bill regarding acid and burn victims.

“When you’re trying to challenge the status quo, you’ll face a lot of detractors. However, you need to step out of your comfort zone and pursue your goals with unwavering dedication”

Please tell us how you balance work and your personal life. 

It’s all about priorities. I quite enjoy being a mum, so my son is my priority and I enjoy spending time with him. In the morning it’s politics and the afternoons are with him. Then it’s straight to my business and dinner again with the family. I also ensure that I incorporate working out in my routine.

Any tips to achieve such a balanced life?

Make sure you engage in quality time with your family members: kids, spouse, parents, siblings —this keeps you grounded. And always enjoy your bedtime routine. It relaxes you for the day to come.

What are your thoughts on social media and its relation to all the work that you do?

My social media is very active, especially Twitter. I communicate all that I’m working on, as well as my thoughts on current affairs through this platform. For my business, Instagram has worked brilliantly. In my opinion, social media is like any other tool—one must use it wisely.

You’ve recently represented Pakistan at the World Economic Forum, which is quite prestigious. How did that feel like?

I had been invited by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader —quite prestigious indeed! I was able to meet various heads of state and multiple companies who were interested to invest in Pakistan. My meeting with UNICEF’s director to discuss projects for the Pakistani youth was inspiring.

Recently you submitted a resolution in the Parliament requesting the UN to revoke Priyanka Chopra of her UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadorship. Why is that important to you?

I believe it’s quite contrary to the role of an ambassador of peace to commend military aggression, be it for any country. I felt it was irresponsible for someone in her position to encourage such aggression. Peace can only be achieved if we all work towards it and think of the greater good.

What message would like to give our readers?

When you’re trying to challenge the status quo, you’ll face a lot of detractors.  However, you need to step out of your comfort zone and pursue your goals with unwavering dedication. Achieving your goals justifies the struggle. I’m a firm believer in Allah’s plans for all of us, so I keep faith that the path I’ve been set on will be fulfilling.

Photography: Ali Agha