Sajal Ali didn't begin her journey in an acting school
"I have never taken on projects for the sake of winning awards. But yes, I am driven by people's appreciation for me, and I do like performing for them. I'm grateful to Allah for being here because through this work I'm able to tell many fascinating stories. Even when a local artist is chosen to represent Pakistan on an international level, that's a feat worth commending," she began.
Continuing her enthusiastic response, Sajal added, "I'm also proud of working on What's Love Got to Do with It? That was a great experience. It always feels good to work with and observe so many brilliant actors like Lily James, Emma Thompson, and Shabana Azmi. And there's also much to learn when you're in that environment," she said.
Sajal, who played Maymouna in the 2022 romantic comedy, maintained that there's no secret ingredient to what she does. "I haven't learned acting from anywhere. There's no method to what I do.
"But I do try to spend a lot of time with senior actors, be it in Pakistan or abroad, aside from work. I try to learn as much as I can from them, and, of course, make Pakistan proud," she said.
Remarking on her journey to stardom, Sajal expressed gratitude to have received opportunities and of a lot of support from her family, close friends, and manager. "The journey is never just your own; it's always a team effort. So, I'm blessed with great people in that regard," she said.
Despite her undeniable accomplishments, the 31-year-old actor still doubts her skills time and again. "I get confused doing every new project as if it's my first," she said. "But aside from talent, I do feel that getting opportunities is also important. There might be many talented people in Pakistan who go unnoticed. So, I consider myself lucky in that regard."
Sajal credits her success to the early-career projects that shaped her skills as an actor and helped her explore her strengths. "If I'd felt I was bad at it, I would've called it quits back then. But after those experiences, I started to believe that I might have a little something in me, you know?" she said.
A desire to inspire
The Aangan actor believes that there is a well of inspiration in her line of work and that an actor changes and grows with time. "There have been a lot of people who have inspired me. But I do work towards becoming that person for myself and inspire others, too," she said.
Owing to her experience, Sajal added that actors don't always resonate with the characters that they play since they're playing different personalities each time. "If I'm always looking for similarities between me and my characters, then that would be boring, even for the audience. Then they won't see the characters; they'll see Sajal," she explained.
The Yaqeen Ka Safar star further explained her quest to seek challenging roles that help her explore something new as an artist. "I rarely ever regret turning down certain projects," she said.
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Express Tribune
04-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Sajal Ali upgrades her accessory game
In an Instagram carousel shared on Friday, Sajal Ali flaunted a silver nose ring with a glimmering stone, which she paired with a casual black sleeveless top and jeans along with a white cap. "It's my nose ring era," she announced. Fans praised the effortless look in the caption, acknowledging just how much the accessory suits Sajal. "You are so elegant, so gorgeous, looking like a true vision of grace and beauty," a fan wrote. "First of all, you have such a cute nose, and a nose ring on top of that?" another gushed. The stream of compliments didn't stop at the nose ring, as some netizens were also mesmerised by the Dil Wali Gali Mein actor's eyes. "Your gorgeous eyes, Sajal," a user simply pointed out. Sajal's expressive eyes did feign confusion in an earlier post, in which she donned her brother's shirt, once again proving how easily casual outfits agree with her. "Stole my brother's shirt, and somehow ended up a Ferrari girl. Not complaining though," she wrote. Where the clothes brought minimal charm, the Kuch Ankahi actor's makeup did the heavy-lifting. She added a touch of glamour to the unsophisticated look with a thin streak of kohl and bold red lipstick. Sajal brings her A-game even when it comes to Eastern ensembles. In a different post, the Ye Dil Mera actor stunned in her "favourite" yellow peshwas. The outfit, called 'Secret Garden', was crafted to give the impression of an obscured lawn blooming under gentle streaks of sunlight. The motif was accentuated by a scatter of floral block print, adding to the idea of hidden blossoms. The breathable malmal made the dress gleam delicately, while the gota finishing sparked a sense of quiet luxury. Stitched with Sindhi embroidery, the top was matched with block-printed dupatta and Dhaka pajama, elevating the ensemble's fluttery quality. Sajal even got the seal of approval from the person who mattered most. "Amma always said yellow suits me the most," she wrote in the caption.
Express Tribune
19-04-2025
- Express Tribune
No preaching, no horror
Is there any tried and tested way of handling the pressures of being a role model from making a living in front of the camera lens? During a recent appearance on YouTube podcast Sunday Times, television heartthrob Ahad Raza Mir thinks he knows the answer – and it is a refreshingly laid back one. "Whatever you see on TV or in a film, you need to remember that it's just a story," muses the star, having only recently wrapped up his latest drama, Meem Se Mohabbat, earlier this month. "You shouldn't think too much about it. Just sit back and enjoy it. But it's great that people watch something and they're so moved that they feel this desire to communicate how they feel about it." Driven by the urge to be part of a story that moves people and leaves them, on the whole, feeling happier than when they first sat down to watch, Ahad stresses that he is not weighed down by a pressure to preach any lessons in any of his work. "We need to tell stories that uplift people. Everything doesn't need to have a social cause," he insists. "You should watch something and feel good about it. If you've watched a story that helps you develop new perspectives that's great – but I never think, 'This is the objective of this drama.' Let people experience what they want!" There is one thing, however, that as an artist, Ahad takes very seriously. "Our responsibility is to show good characters and show how people develop in life – there's always a lesson you learn from every story, every character," he notes. As anyone who will have gleaned after glancing at Ahad's catalogue of work, ranging from Yaqeen Ka Safar to Hum Tum, this is the lens that the actor sees all of his projects through. "When I choose something, I think, what am I going to learn from this?" he adds. "And I think, maybe the audience will feel the same way. At least, that's kind of how I look at it." Which medium is best? Television drama fans will mostly be familiar with Ahad's work on the small screen, but the TV star is no stranger to the stage either – not that he has any preference for one medium over the other. "It's all about the story you are telling," remarks Ahad. "Of course, every medium has its own technical aspects. When you're doing a TV show, there's no audience – but then you get to experience it with your audience every week. And in theatre, of course, every night is different. I don't know which one I'd say I like more. It really depends on the mood." Having trained in Canada and performed in Pakistan, Ahad is well qualified to gauge the differences between local and international acting, but is cautious to avoid painting either in a worse light than the other. "There's convincing acting, and there's not convincing acting," he reflects matter-of-factly. "If a story is moving you, it's good. I think we all adjust our styles depending on the story and the genre." Stage or screen, and international or local, there is one thing that Ahad is able to say with concrete certainty. "I'd go crazy without acting," he states, leaving little room for doubt. "As human beings, we evolve and forever change with our highs and lows, and in acting, you pick up things from the people around you." Crediting the highs of his career to the large gamut of colleagues he has worked with, Ahad continues in gratitude, "Anything you need to do to be successful is just a representation of the people around you – the writers, the directors, the actors. I've been very lucky in that respect." Career preferences Like viewers, Ahad, too, has certain genres he will gravitate towards, and it will surprise very few to learn that the laid back actor has a penchant for "romance and comedy". "I love a good thriller, too!" he adds. "There is one genre, however, that Ahad is adamant he will never touch. "I won't do horror, because I get scared," he confesses. "I don't watch any horror at home either. I don't like anything that spoils your mood or leaves you feeling unhappy or depressed!" Even within the scope of his preferred drama genres, Ahad points out that the target audience for Pakistani television is expanding ever more – and that it doesn't matter how a traditional Pakistani story is played out, as long as it remains captivating. "Our audience is not just an Urdu speaking audience – I've run into viewers from Mauritius or Nepal who don't speak Urdu, who just watch our shows with subtitles," shares the actor. "Our way of telling a story may have a set pattern, but it has nothing to do with being traditional or modern. At the end of the day, a story is a story. It's how you tell it that matters." Regardless, Ahad concedes that the showbiz industry is forever adapting to keep up with an evolving audience and a fresh wave of actors. "I think that trends are changing, and we have to change with the time," he admits. "If you compare the industry with the past seven years, a lot has changed, and if you look five years ahead, then a lot will change. It's when more new people start coming in and start pushing their ideas that change happens – and I think that shift is happening." Shift or no shift, there is one unwavering thing that Ahad is grateful for above all else. "I'm very lucky to have a large fan base of supporters who really understand who I am," he says with warmth. "It's a nice feeling to be so supported and loved." Ahad is next scheduled to appear alongside fellow star Iqra Aziz in Pakistan's long-awaited, star-studded first-ever Netflix show, Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo, rumoured to be released this June.
Express Tribune
12-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Sajal Ali dazzles in her 'favourite' yellow peshwas
Summer must be here, or maybe it's just Sajal Ali bringing the sunshine in her "favourite" stunning yellow peshwas. The Ye Dil Mera actor flaunted her vibrant ensemble from The PinkTree Company in an Instagram post shared Thursday. The outfit, called 'Secret Garden', is crafted to give the impression of an obscured lawn blooming under gentle streaks of sunlight. The motif is accentuated by a scatter of floral block print, adding to the idea of hidden blossoms. The breathable malmal makes the dress gleam delicately, while the gota finishing sparks a sense of quiet luxury. Stitched with Sindhi embroidery, the top is matched with block-printed dupatta and Dhaka pajama, elevating the ensemble's fluttery quality. Suffice to say, Sajal shone in the yellows, pinks, and greens of the dress, and she already has the seal of approval from the person who matters most. "Amma always said yellow suits me the most," she wrote in the caption. Peers and fans agreed wholeheartedly with the Kuch Ankahi actor's mother, with many waxing lyrical about Sajal's eyes. "Amma was right. You're too pretty to be real," one user wrote, while another said, "No amount of praise for your eyes would ever be enough. In that spirit, I pray that these eyes always stay in good health." In December, Sajal rocked another ankle-length yellow dress - a hand-crafted luxury ensemble from Qalamkar. The cotton net shirt and sharara were matched with an organza dupatta, stitched with opulent gota embroidery. Aside from the ensemble, the highlight of the shoot was Sajal's pairing with Zard Patton Ka Bunn co-star Hamza Sohail. Fans of the drama and the onscreen pair couldn't get enough of the two. "You both slayed your looks," a fan wrote, while another said, "Two insanely beautiful people." Recently, Sajal and Hamza reunited for Dil Wali Gali Mein, in which their chemistry as a runaway couple once again won the hearts of their fan-following.
