“People in Pakistan are praising Kapoor & Sons; I think we can make better dramas than this” | Instep

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Dominating television these days, VJ-turned-actress Maya Ali has made a mark in the entertainment industry with her strong performances and diverse roles, especially her role in Diyar-e-Dil. She has been around for just three years but she has already won immense appreciation from the audience. The 26-year-old actress, who is also Mariah B’s muse these days, can be seen on TV, on billboards and is making a good impression all around.

Ali has worked with some of the prominent personalities of the entertainment industry including Sanam Saeed, Ahsan Khan, Usman Khalid Butt, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Haseeb Hassan and Mehreen Jabbar. With popular drama serials like Door-e-Shahwaar, Idti, Zayed, Diyar-e-Dil and Ab Min Mayal, she has proved herself a valuable addition to the pool of modern-day actresses.

Instep spoke to the Lahore-based actress to find out more about what makes her tick…

Instep: Television seems to be all about pretty faces these days. How important do you think it is to be popular as an actor?

Maya Ali: Looks matter but only to a certain extent. What I have seen around me is that only those who clear the audition qualify for acting. I also did an audition before I got my big break. In fact, even now when I am offered a role, I have to audition first.

Instep: When Min Mile started, we found Manu to be a free-spirited girl, who had the courage to express herself in front of everyone, but as soon as she got married, she became a submissive woman without a voice. Mannu’s two faces do not match. How do you justify his change in character?

MA: When I read the script initially, I was happy to see that Manu is a brave girl who speaks her mind but as I read it I felt that the situation is changing for her. In the beginning, she fights for herself but when she realizes that no one is supporting her, she turns into a person that everyone wants her to be. So, I believe it’s part of life. No one can learn to appreciate happiness until they suffer.

Instep: After the success of Diyar-e-Dil and the acclaim you received, do you think it was more challenging for you to live up to the audience’s expectations in Manmayal?

MA: Of course it was! I thought Farah was the most difficult role for me, so I thought it would be easier to play Manu. But when I played the role of Mannu, I realized that I was playing four different roles at once – with Saladin, with her husband, with the in-laws, and much more that was yet to come. . The challenging part for me.

Instep: Do you think Mannyal has been able to live up to the excitement and hype that it generated even before its launch?

MA: Of course! The feedback we have received is more than we expected. Now when I go somewhere, people know me more as Manu than Maya and I believe you succeed only when people know you by your character.

Instep: Who is a better co-star to work with; Usman Khalid Butt or Hamza Ali Abbasi?

MA: Tough question! Usman is my friend so it was easy for me to go to jail with him on set. As for Hamza, I didn’t know him personally before the play but when we worked together I realized that he is a very down-to-earth person and makes sure that You feel comfortable working with him. I love working with both of them. In fact, I wouldn’t mind working with the two of them.

Instep: What is the social and moral responsibility of the artist? How responsible do you think an artist is for breaking stereotypes and changing the way people think?

MA: I think an artist is very responsible for that. Seeing Hamza’s status, I used to wonder why he does this. He is an actor and should focus on acting. But as I worked with him and learned more about his approach, I began to do the same. Viewers don’t know common people, they know us and if we can bring some positive change in the society with our behavior then we should do so. As an artist, I consider it my responsibility to defy stereotypes. I refuse to play roles that portray women as victims of violence because I believe that women are not so weak and should be portrayed as strong, independent human beings.

Instep: Do you think the regressive portrayal of women on television supports the idea of ​​women as weak, dependent beings?

MA: Some time ago I received some negative feedback about one of the strong characters I played on television because people are not used to seeing women like that and so they are unable to accept it. I fail to understand the concept of hierarchy; It is believed that if women cry on screen, it increases the ratings. In particular, I am against morning shows that are dramas in themselves. I request them to stop showing these things. I think we should show what should be shown and not what will get the ratings. I believe that if we start making more progressive dramas, it will change the perception of people, how they see things around them. People in Pakistan are praising Kapoor & Sons. I think we can make better plays than that.

Instep: Have you been offered any film in Pakistan or across the border?

MA: Yes, I am working in a Pakistani film and I will share the details soon after things are finalized. I was offered Indian films but I didn’t accept any of them because I didn’t want to do anything that would close the doors for me in Pakistan. Now it is not difficult for us to step into Bollywood but I prefer quality over quantity. I would prefer to go for an A class Pakistani film instead of doing a C class Bollywood film.

Instep: What do you think of the whole social media scene these days? How do you deal with it?

MA: While social media has made it easier to stay informed about everything around us, it has also created more complications for us. Social media is invading our privacy. Questions like where we go, what we eat, who we hang out with are no longer personal to us. We no longer have a personal life. We are afraid to do something because now we are under a lot of pressure. I’m very active on social media and find it an effective way to connect with fans, get their feedback and promote my work, but when people engage in unnecessary discussions (especially those targeting religion) under our posts. If you fall into it, it spreads negativity. around

Instep: Are there any other projects you are currently working on?

MA: Currently I am not working on any project other than my upcoming film. I will take a break until the drama is over. However, my TV drama Sanam, which was shot last year but could not go on air due to some reason, is coming up soon.