Multi-talented star Amna Ilyas had been one of the most prominent faces in the Pakistani fashion world before transitioning towards the silver screen. Sana Zehra sits down to have a candid conversation with this model-turned-actress on her journey thus far
“Stereotyping models as non-actors is a fallacy. Of course they can act and anyone who claims otherwise has been proven wrong globallyâ€
There’s a common misconception that models don’t make good actors. Did you feel any pressure trying to prove your craft?
Stereotyping models as non-actors is a fallacy. Of course they can act and anyone who claims otherwise has been proven wrong globally. Acting is a skill anyone can acquire. You just need to be passionate and dedicated to the craft.
When I first transitioned into acting, I don’t believe I was good at all, but I remained committed to my job and started exploring the layers my characters had. I started picking up more work and gave each performance my all. I learn new things every day and feel my understanding of drama improve.
How do you think your modelling career prepared you for films?
Changing multiple looks every day means being in different character each time. From eastern wear to western wear and from wearing tons of makeup to being barefaced, I did it all as a model. This routine taught me how to build a character visually; just a slight change of lip colour can make a huge difference on camera. Modelling also taught me how to face the lens, a long with other aspects of direction.
The trailer for your movie “Ready Steady No†is out. How would you say it’s different from typical rom-coms?
“Ready Steady No†is a comedy and it’s very easy for people to label lighthearted content as cliché. We’ve tried to keep our performances as close to reality as possible. Having said that, the audience is the best judge, so I’ll let them decide for themselves.
“Working with Meera was like a dreamâ€
Another upcoming movie of yours, “Baaji,†has fans excited. Tell us more about your role and your experience working with Meera.
“Baaji†revolves around a girl who works at a beauty salon. Just like every other working woman, she has many dreams and aspirations. She wants to provide a life of comfort for her family and grabs every opportunity that comes her way to fulfill that goal. The big turn in her life comes when she meets a popular star called Shamira. To see how their relationship evolves, you’ll have to see the film.
Working with Meera was like a dream. Sharing screen space with a senior artist like her, who has done over 200 films has to be a great learning experience. She’s truly an icon.
When choosing scripts, are you mindful of the impact your character may have on the audience?
I don’t necessarily choose to play a character based on what the audience may think of it. My priority is assessing what I can bring to the table and whether or not I can leave people with some sort of awareness.
In 2015, you lifted the Lux Style Awards trophy for Best Female Model, with an acceptance speech on the lack of inclusivity in the fashion industry. Do you think things have changed since then?
Conversations on inclusivity are definitely gaining momentum on social media, so I’d say there’s been improvement since then. However, there’s still a long way to go.
“My priority is assessing what I can bring to the table and whether or not I can leave people with some sort of awarenessâ€
What is Amna Ilyas like at home? Tell us about your childhood and family.
I’m super chilled out. At home, you’ll always find me in my pajamas, with a cup of coffee in my hand, spending time with family, or catching up on a good show.
I’m the youngest of five siblings. As a child, I remember being shy and liked keeping to myself most of the time. The one person who enriched my childhood with her unconditional love and support was my mother. She taught me the importance of hard work and faith. I truly believe that’s what’s kept me going throughout my career.
“Growing up, I had a very clear vision for my life and it always revolved around the artsâ€
Your sisters Uzma and Salma were both successful models. Did growing up in their shadow leave you intrigued by the media?
Growing up, I had a very clear vision for my life and it always revolved around the arts. I’m grateful for having my sisters as inspiring role models. They influenced my decision to foray into the industry and excel at what I do.
What does the future hold for you?
Hopefully many fruitful ventures for my career. I pray the coming years are kind to those I love and they remain happy and healthy. I can’t be certain of where life will take me, but I sure hope the journey is exciting.
SHORT & SWEET
Film screens or fashion runways?
Film screens
Biggest pet peeve?
Unpunctuality
What should every woman do at least once in her life?
Take a solo trip to an exotic land she hasn’t explored before
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
“Keep quiet and speak only when it matters”
Favourite Pakistani celebs to follow on Instagram?
Mehwish Hayat and Mahira Khan
What irks you most about social media?
How time consuming and addictive it is
What are the last three items on your credit card statement?
A few things from the grocery store
What was the last photo you took?
It was a shot of my salad
What’s the biggest fashion faux pas you’ve committed?
This is quite embarrassing, but I tripped on the red carpet recently. I hope nobody noticed
Who would be on your guest list for an ideal dinner party?
Drake, Rihanna and Meena Kumari
What was the last lie you told?
I told my sister I returned home at 9PM, when in reality, it was much later
One habit you have that annoys your family?
The fact that I don’t make it to family affairs because of my hectic schedule
Do you have a nickname?
Lilly
What one thing would you like to change about the entertainment industry?
Favouring light skin over dark skin
What’s your favorite movie quote?
“I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
Interview: Sana Zehra
Coordination: Umer Mushtaq
Styling: Aneela Murtaza
Hair & makeup: N-Pro
Wardrobe: Deepak Perwani
Photography: The Rohail
PR: Catalyst & Mindmap Communications
Stuck in a style rut? Let the experts give you a lesson in styling staples every woman should own. This fortnight, fashion stylist Mehek Saeed dresses up her favorite fold technique — pleats. Feminine and fun, pleating was a top detail on Fall 2019 runways. Ladies, take note
Dress: Local boutique in Istanbul
Bag: Charles & Keith
Shoes: ALDO
Dress: Local boutique in Istanbul
Bag: Charles & Keith
Shoes: ALDO
Top: Mango
Skirt: Local boutique in Thailand
Rings: Zohra Rahman
Shoes: ZARA
Top: Mango
Skirt: Local boutique in Thailand
Rings: Zohra Rahman
Shoes: ZARA
Top: ZARA
Skirt: Local boutique in Thailand
Bag: Almas
Shoes: ZARA
Accessories: H&M
Top: ZARA
Skirt: Local boutique in Thailand
Bag: Almas
Shoes: ZARA
Accessories: H&M
Top: ZARA
Skirt: Local boutique in Thailand
Bag: Almas
Shoes: ZARA
Accessories: H&M
Photography: Ali Agha
Coordination: Mehek Raza Rizvi
Photographer, Rehan Khan, explores the human desire to crave what cannot be consumed. As Mark Twain said, “There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirableâ€
Procrastination — a word that almost instantly evokes negative connotations. It reminds one of those who aren’t able to manage their time or priorities and is often associated with laziness and idleness.
I disagree. Those who know me were probably expecting that; even the title of this piece probably hasn’t come across as a shock to you. However, this isn’t just me justifying my biases. I completely arm to announce that there is indeed an upside to procrastination.
Personally, I’ve always had a slightly laid-back approach to deadlines. Whenever anything was assigned in college or tasks set at work, I was never the one to immediately jump on them. I still am that way. I’ve always maintained that I work well under pressure and that some of my best work has been produced that way.
Even with the pieces I have to write for GT, I take my sweet time (I certainly did with this one). Initially, I had a completely different topic lined up and did my research on it as well. However, I found out that it was recently covered in another publication, which meant I was back to square one.
So, I did what any decent millennial would do, I procrastinated. In a classic “me” move, I began to clean. I went through drawers upon drawers of stuff that I hoarded over the years, organised folders, threw out old receipts, shredded unnecessary documents, arranged my books and prepared a big bag to recycle. All of this was done in true millennial fashion — listening to a carefully curated playlist on Spotify, while simultaneously FaceTimeing a friend from college. This entire exercise ultimately gave me the idea for this piece. Sure, my to-do list was still pending, but, while I diverted attention from it towards decluttering my belongings, I ended up decluttering my mind as well.
I went through every scrap paper I came across and reminisced about the memory associated with it. Photographs from college, postcards in both recordings and even my old transcript, planted a smile on my face. I do believe that thorough spring cleaning has a therapeutic effect, but that is a topic for another day.
Observing how productive my procrastination was, I immediately turned to my best friend, Google. Turns out it wasn’t just wishful thinking. I came across a fascinating article in the New York Times by Adam Grant, a professor of management and psychology at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, titled, ‘Why I taught myself to procrastinate.’
Grant argues that although procrastination might lower your productivity in the short run, it can serve as a catalyst for creativity. It turns out that when you put off an assigned task and instead choose to clean your room, indulge in binge watching Netflix or simply listen to music, you ultimately become more creative. Allegedly, it’s because your mind has had a chance to ruminate and you go beyond the conventional ideas that come to you immediately after hearing of the task.
However, this certainly doesn’t mean one should begin a task too late. A rush job is equally as bad as one executed as soon as soon as it’s been assigned. What’s required is a bit of discipline. Let your mind wander, use the time to complete other tasks, but know when to return to your top priority.
This leads me to my second point — productive procrastination. If you have to divert attention, focus on other things you’ve been putting off for a while. These could include things such as cleaning out your closet or sending out emails. The instant gratification from achieving those minor tasks will elate you and you can return to your original task feeling excited. Moreover, you might just learn something new through productive procrastination. For example, if you end up reading articles online, going through a book or watching a riveting documentary as part of your procrastination, you end up intellectually stimulating yourself and exploring new concepts. Whenever I choose this mode of procrastination, I always go through the numerous articles that I’ve bookmarked; I’ve decided I’ll be tweeting a summary of all that I’ve learnt whenever I do this (follow me on Twitter @hassantl to read for yourself).
Now, some of you might not subscribe to the ideas detailed here. Perhaps, for you the sin of laziness is unforgivable and this sounds like millennial mumbo-jumbo, a mere justification for our quirky ways of working. However, like anything in life, it’s your approach to it that defines its value. Of course, I’m no saint — I also waste time on social media and Netflix. But forcing myself to be productive while procrastinating has a charm of its own. You learn new things and just get a lot of boxes checked off the to-do list. Whenever I get back to the task at hand, my mind is decluttered enough to take on the challenge.
In conclusion, what I’ve learnt today, through my procrastination, is that it’s okay to not rush into your task list. Sometimes, it’s okay to take a step back and divert your attention to other matters to clear your head. However, all things are good in moderation. One must know when to go back to work. I implore all of you to try to procrastinate a little before completing your next tasks and see the difference that makes. Happy procrastinating!
