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Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Aina Asif is still a kid
You need not have a particularly vivid imagination to picture the pressures faced by a teenaged actor in a world of unfiltered social media piggybacked to a ruthless comments section. If, however, you lack even the unvivid imagination required to come to this realisation on your own, 16-year-old actor Aina Asif is here to confirm that the throbbing pressure is indeed real – albeit backed with support, passion, and an ounce of common sense, it is entirely survivable. Taking pains to illustrate the unique experience of a Gen Z adolescent flourishing in the public eye, the young Parwarish star could not stress enough in a BBC Urdu interview that viewers still struggle to grasp her real age. "No matter how I dress, no matter how I act, people know I'm 16!" she began. "Everyone knows this, and yet they say, 'But you don't look like a child!' But whatever I look like, I still have the mind of a 16-year-old!" Becoming Maya Aina's acting career began at the tender age of 14 when she played a teenaged mother in Mayi Ri, although her current claim to fame is playing the head-over-heels-in-love Maya in Parwarish. Fans will recall Maya convincing her (deeply concerned) mother that her beau of choice, Wali, is in his 'struggling phase' and will soon be rolling in riches after he embarks on his imminent career in music. "Maya is close to her mother, and has the space to vent and share her feelings – something she cannot do with her father," noted Aina. Whatever else the script puts Maya through ("Maya is forced into marriage, and I cannot even imagine myself in a situation like that!") sharing a bond with a parent is nothing new to the girl who brings her to life. As someone who has grown up in a loving, supportive family environment, the closeness Maya shares with her mother is one that, to Aina, felt like home. "I found it so relatable to play Maya, because I, too, can tell my mother anything," explained Aina. "I feel like Maya has a canvas on which she can express her emotions, which is very much needed for a growing child." Unrelatable roles Not all of her roles, of course, have been as easy to relate to for the emerging young actor. If Aina found it difficult to stomach playing a young girl forced into marriage, inhabiting the skin of a teenage mother, Aini, in Mayi Ri was one she found even more alien. "When I was filming Mayi Ri, I was still learning. I was 15 – no, 14!" recalled Aina. "My character had a daughter, so when I would pick her – because of course, there was a real kid on set! – she would cry every time. Then I would turn to the camera, because I was so flustered! I was like 'I'm a kid too, How am I supposed to handle this?'" So overwhelmed was Aina that she would turn to director Meesam Naqvi (who has also directed Parwarish) and plead, "Should I just give her my phone for two minutes?" Two years down the line, Aina has not forgotten her director's next words. "He would say, 'No, Aina, if you are so frustrated, remember that you will go home at 10PM. You will not have to put her to bed or anything. But a real mother your age (because Aini was my age), she will feel the same things. I want you to feel things, because I want these things to come out." The realisation that other girls endure in real life what she was struggling to portray on screen proved to be a humbling lesson for Aina. "It really hit me that me, Aina, with the family that I come from, it's very different from the characters that I play," pointed out the star. "I mean, I cannot even imagine that my mother or father would come and tell me – and this age, especially – that they have found a rishta for me. So to understand that hurt, that pain, was a little difficult for me, but once it hit me, it hit me hard." The impact of Aini's story, and what it represents, is not lost on Aina. "Even today when I think of Aini, I get teary-eyed," she confessed. "Because what happened to her was so unfair." Finding fame at 14 Besides having the opportunity to peek into how the other half lives, as it were, Aina is well aware of the cost of having a very public career at her age. If she had her own say, she would reduce working hours for actors, but for now, she has set her own boundaries ("I don't wear revealing clothes and I don't like intimate scenes"). Through it all, she still acutely feels the pressure of finding fame at 14. "You need to enforce a specific track or mindset on yourself," she mused. "I need to make sure that I am not affected by some things. As for criticism, – there are some parts that I need to understand, but these are the people who will help you get where you need to go. You need to know who you should listen to and who you can ignore." Social media, of course, is a different ballgame. Again, Aina has been forced to learn to block out hurtful comments – mainly about her looks – and has trained herself to firmly look the other way. "It used to affect me so much – to the point where if I read something negative about me, it would ruin my whole night," she admitted. "I would start to cry. Now – I am still affected, I am not totally immune, but I try to not think about them so much." Aina does, however, have some choiceful words for those who insist on commenting on her looks or comparing her unkindly to cartoon characters online – something she assures viewers has happened. "I don't think anyone should comment on the way anyone looks. If you don't like someone, don't watch them!" she said. "I remember one time I saw this post where someone was comparing me to a cartoon character [...] I didn't realise until later that they meant it as an insult!" The actor then did the very thing she should have avoided: she dived into the comments section. "Everyone was making fun of me! It affected me – but then I felt sad that people don't see the craft. My career is about acting. They don't consider that I'm a child. These things obviously hurt!" Aina's eye-opening foray into the world of social media has led to a determination that there are parts of herself she will never reveal to fans and followers. "There are certain parts of my life that are just mine that no one has been able to comment on," she insisted. "If people start criticising that too, I would lose myself."
Express Tribune
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Aina Asif is still a kid, and wants you to remember it when you troll
You need not have a particularly vivid imagination to picture the pressures faced by a teenaged actor in a world of unfiltered social media piggybacked to a ruthless comments section. If, however, you lack even the unvivid imagination required to come to this realisation on your own, 16-year-old actor Aina Asif is here to confirm that the throbbing pressure is indeed real - albeit backed with support, passion, and an ounce of common sense, it is entirely survivable. Taking pains to illustrate the unique experience of a Gen Z adolescent flourishing in the public eye, the young Parwarish star could not stress enough in a BBC Urdu interview that viewers still struggle to grasp her real age. 'No matter how I dress, no matter how I act, people know I'm 16!' she began. 'Everyone knows this, and yet they say, 'But you don't look like a child!' But whatever I look like, I still have the mind of a 16-year-old!' Becoming Maya Aina's acting career began at the tender age of 14 when she played a teenaged mother in Mayi Ri, although her current claim to fame is playing the head-over-heels-in-love Maya in Parwarish. Fans will recall Maya convincing her (deeply concerned) mother that her beau of choice, Wali, is in his 'struggling phase' and will soon be rolling in riches after he embarks on his imminent career in music. 'Maya is close to her mother, and has the space to vent and share her feelings - something she cannot do with her father,' noted Aina. Whatever else the script puts Maya through ('Maya is forced into marriage, and I cannot even imagine myself in a situation like that!') sharing a bond with a parent is nothing new to the girl who brings her to life. As someone who has grown up in a loving, supportive family. environment, the closeness Maya shares with her mother is one that, to Aina, felt like home. 'I found it so relatable to play Maya, because I, too, can tell my mother anything,' explained Aina. 'I feel like Maya has a canvas on which she can express her emotions, which is very much needed for a growing child.' Relatable roles Not all of her roles, of course, have been as easy to relate to for the emerging young actor. If Aina found it difficult to stomach playing a young girl forced into marriage, inhabiting the skin of a teenage mother, Aini, in Mayi Ri was one she found even more alien. 'When I was filming Mayi Ri, I was still learning. I was 15 - no, 14!' recalled Aina. 'My character had a daughter, so when I would pick her - because of course, there was a real kid on set! - she would cry every time. Then I would turn to the camera, because I was so flustered! I was like 'I'm a kid too, How am I supposed to handle this?'' So overwhelmed was Aina that she would seek solace from director Meesam Naqvi (who has also directed Parwarish) and plead, 'Should I just give her my phone for two minutes?' Two years down the line, Aina has not forgotten her director's next words. 'He would say, 'No, Aina, if you are so frustrated, remember that you will go home at 10PM. You will not have to put her to bed or anything. But a real mother your age (because Aini was my age), she will feel the same things. I want you to feel things, because I want these things to come out.' The realisation that other girls endure in real life what she was struggling to portray on screen proved to be a humbling lesson for Aina. 'It really hit me that me, Aina, with the family that I come from, it's very different from the characters that I play,' pointed out the star. 'I mean, I cannot even imagine that my mother or father would come and tell me - and this age, especially - that they have found a rishta for me. So to understand that hurt, that pain, was a little difficult for me, but once it hit me, it hit me hard.' The impact of Aini's story, and what it represents, is not lost on Aina. 'Even today when I think of Aini, I get teary-eyed,' she confessed. 'Because what happened to her was so unfair.' Finding fame at 14 Besides having the opportunity to peek into how the other half lives, as it were, Aina is well aware of the cost of having a very public career at her age. If she had her own say, she would reduce working hours for actors, but for now, she has set her own boundaries ('I don't wear revealing clothes and I don't like intimate scenes'). Through it all, she still acutely feels the pressure of finding fame at 14. 'You need to enforce a specific track or mindset on yourself,' she insisted. 'I need to make sure that I am not affected by some things. As for criticism, - there are some parts that I need to understand, but these are the people who will help you get where you need to go. You need to know who you should listen to and who you can ignore.' Social media, of course, is a different ballgame. Again, Aina has been forced to learn to block out hurtful comments - mainly about her looks - and has trained herself to firmly look the other way. 'It used to affect me so much - to the point where if I read something negative about me, it would ruin my whole night,' she admitted. 'I would start to cry. Now - I am still affected, I am not totally immune, but I try to not think about them so much.' Aina does, however, have some choiceful words for those who insist on commenting on her looks or comparing her unkindly to cartoon characters online - something she assures viewers has happened. 'I don't think anyone should comment on the way anyone looks. If you don't like someone, don't watch them!' she said. 'I remember one time I saw this post where someone was comparing me to a cartoon character [...] I didn't realise until later that they meant it as an insult!' The actor then did the very thing she should have avoided: she dived into the comments section. 'Everyone was making fun of me! It affected me - but then I felt sad that people don't see the craft. My career is about acting. They don't consider that I'm a child. These things obviously hurt!' Aina's eye-opening foray into the world of social media has led to a determination that there are parts of herself she will never reveal to fans and followers. 'There are certain parts of my life that are just mine that no one has been able to comment on,' she insisted. 'If people start criticising that too, I would lose myself.' Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.
Express Tribune
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Samar talks about co-star Aina
Samar Abbas Jafri and Aina Asif have captured the hearts of Pakistani drama fans through their on-screen chemistry and compelling performances in Parwarish. Sharing a candid off?screen friendship as well, Aina and Samar play Maya and Wali in the hit TV series. In an interview with a local news outlet, Samar said that he is happy that fans are enjoying his pairing with Aina. "If you are playing a character and they are showing a 'love angle', and people love it, what's better than that for the actors?" Samar added, "Chemistry is the most important thing for the male and female leads." Talking about what he feels he has in common with Wali, he said, "I could relate to that character because one of his biggest struggles was about music." Samar, who released the music video for Hoor earlier this month, said Wali's arc made him reflect on his journey as a musician, confessing, "I thought I was not good enough for music." Building confidence in his music was not easy, but the young actor is grateful for the positive reception of his songs for the drama series. Parwarish is a family drama that delves into the emotional complexities of parenting and adolescence, exploring how generational trauma, pressure, and societal expectations shape young minds. The story follows two teenagers, played by Aina and Samar, as they navigate rigid upbringings, conflicting family dynamics, and the search for personal identity. The duo first appeared together in the 2023 hit Mayi Ri, where Samar played Fakhir and Aina portrayed Annie. Critics and audiences alike praised their acting skills, and the internet was soon "shipping" the pair. In a recent interview with Buzz, Aina echoed her co-actor's sentiments, "We are very good friends, and I don't mind fans shipping us together," she said. "I wouldn't want it to happen with anyone else." Aina explained, "Because that would make me uncomfortable to work with them then. But with Samar, I'm comfortable because we share such a good bond. And I know that he always has the best interest and heart for me." Earlier this year, while appearing on a local channel's morning show, the duo appeared with their Parwarish castmates Reham Rafiq and Abul Hasan. Talking about the themes of their drama, the Gen Z actors gave their take on parenting. Samar advised parents not to pressure their children to do things, "If you force them, kids become rebellious." Talking about facing challenges, Aina said, "Before delving into solutions, we must first identify the problem," building on her own life experiences and how parents can help their children successfully.
Express Tribune
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
And the nominees are
Express TV's Razia has been nominated for Best Ensemble Play. Photo: File The nominees for the 23rd Lux Style Awards were unveiled on social media on Saturday. Various showbiz celebrities are expected to attend the ceremony, which will take place in Lahore. "The coveted silver trophy will be presented to artists who have done exceptional work in the fields of fashion, film, TV, and music during 2023," read a statement, which followed up with the full list. Fashion Critics' Choice Category Best Emerging Talent 1. Abid Bangash 2. Amaz Butt 3. Ghulam Nabi 4. Hussain Rajput 5. Maleena Mansoor Fashion Model of the Year 1. Abeer Asad Khan 2. Eesha Asad 3. Jaweria Ali 4. Sauban Umais 5. Suleman Hussain Best Fashion Stylist 1. Hafsa Farooq 2. Hussain Ijaz Fashion Hair and Makeup Artist of the Year 1. Arshad Khan 2. Shainal Parwaiz 3. Syed Hussain 4. Umar Aziz Fashion Forward Brand of the Year 1. Fahad Hussayn 2. HSY 3. Hussain Rehar 4. Munib Nawaz 5. Sania Maskatiya Fashion Photographer of the Year 1. Aleena Naqvi 2. Asad Bin Jawed 3. Ayaz Anis 4. Gul Ansari 5. HM Studio Fashion Photographer of the Year 1. Furqan Bhatti 2. Omer Khalid Butt (OKB Films) 3. Usman Mehar Films Drama Critics' Choice Category Best Ensemble Play 1. Baby Baji 2. Kabli Pulao 3. Kuch Ankahi 4. Razia 5. Sare Rah Best TV Director 1. Ahmed Bhatti - Sare Rah 2. Haseeb Hassan - Jannat Se Aagay 3. Kashif Nisar - Kabli Pulao 4. Nadeem Baig - Kuch Ankahi 5. Syed Wajahat Hussain - Mannat Murad Best TV Play Writer 1. Mohammed Ahmed - Kuch Ankahi 2. Nadia Akhtar - Mannat Murad 3. Naila Ansari - Jaisay Aapki Marzi 4. Umera Ahmed - Jannat Se Aagay 5. Zafar Mairaj - Kabli Pulao Best TV Actor Male 1. Ehteshamuddin - Kabli Pulao 2. Farhan Saeed - Jhok Sarkar 3. Khushhal Khan - Mohabbat Gumshuda Meri 4. Mikaal Zulfiqar - Jaisay Aapki Marzi 5. Wahaj Ali - Tere Bin Best TV Actor Female 1. Iqra Aziz - Mannat Murad 2. Ramsha Khan - Jannat Se Aagay 3. Saba Qamar - Tumharey Husn Kay Naam 4. Sabeena Farooq - Kabli Pulao 5. Yumna Zaidi - Tere Bin Best Emerging Talent TV 1. Aina Asif - Mayi Ri 2. Mamya Shajaffar - College Gate 3. Romaisa Khan - Hadsa 4. Samar Abbas - Mayi Ri 5. Shuja Asad - College Gate Drama Viewers' Choice Category Best TV Play 1. Kuch Ankahi 2. Mein 3. Mujhe Pyar Hua Tha 4. Tere Ishq Ke Naam 5. Tere Bin Best TV Long Serial 1. Baby Baji 2. Dil Hi Tou Hai 3. Ehsaan Farhamosh 4. Mayi Ri 5. Sirf Tum Best TV Actor Male 1. Bilal Abbas - Kuch Ankahi 2. Hamza Sohail - Fairy Tale 1 3. Imran Abbas - Tumharey Husn Kay Naam 4. Khushhal Khan - Mohabbat Gumshuda Meri 5. Wahaj Ali - Tere Bin Best TV Actor Female 1. Ayeza Khan - Mein 2. Hania Aamir - Mujhe Pyar Hua Tha 3. Saba Qamar - Tumharey Husn Kay Naam 4. Sajal Ali - Kuch Ankahi 5. Yumna Zaidi - Tere Bin Best Original Soundtrack 1. Ankhain - Kabli Pulao 2. Fairy Tale 1 - Fairy Tale 1 3. Kya Hoti Hai Bewafai - Tere Bin 4. Mujhe Pyar Hua Tha - Mujhe Pyar Hua Tha 5. Tumharey Husn Kay Naam - Tumharey Husn Kay Naam Music Viewers' Choice Category Song of the Year 1. Bewafaa - Veerays, Gohare Nayab 2. Dhun - Sunny Khan Durrani, Inqalab 3. Lesson - Abdullah Khan 4. Tu Hai Kahan - Aur 5. Wishes - Hasan Raheem, Umair, Talwiinder Singer of the Year 1. Ahmed Jahanzeb - Tera Mera Hai Pyar 2. Nehaal Naseem - Beqadra 3. Sunny Khan Durrani - Geet 4. Talha Anjum - Downers At Dusk 5. Usama Ali - Long Time No See Most Streamed Song of the Year 1. Lesson - Abdullah Khan 2. Shikayat - Aur 3. Tera Mera Hai Pyar - Ahmed Jahanzeb 4. Tu Hai Kahan - Aur 5. Wishes - Hasan Raheem, Umair, Talwiinder Music Critics' Choice Category Music Producer of the Year 1. Abdullah Kasumbi - Hungama 2. Abdullah Siddiqui - Wakhri 3. Mekaal Hasan - Chamba Kitni Dur 4. Sharif Awan - Music in Covid Times 5. Umair - Wishes Artist of the Year 1. Aur - Tu Hai Kahan 2. Bayaan - Sapna 3. Hasan Raheem - EP: Maybe, It's Love 4. Natasha Noorani - Matlabi – Wakhri Version 5. Young Stunners - Benz Most Stylish Musician of the Year 1. Aima Baig - Satrangi 2. Faisal Kapadia - Jadu 3. Meesha Shafi - Saranjaam 4. Talha Anjum - Open Letter 5. Rovalio - Sapna Film Viewers' Choice Category Film of the Year 1. Babylicious 2. Chikkar 3. Gunjal 4. John 5. Teri Meri Kahaniyaan Film Actor of the Year Male 1. Ahmed Ali Akbar - Gunjal 2. Fawad Khan - Money Back Guarantee 3. Muneeb Ali - Sanak 4. Sheheryar Munawar - Teri Meri Kahaniyaan 5. Wahaj Ali - Teri Meri Kahaniyaan Film Actor of the Year Female 1. Hira Mani - Teri Meri Kahaniyaan 2. Mehwish Hayat - Teri Meri Kahaniyaan 3. Ramsha Khan - Teri Meri Kahaniyaan 4. Romaisa Khan - John 5. Syra Yousuf - Babylicious Film Playback Song of the Year 1. Andhera - Gunjal 2. Baaghi - Wakhri 3. Chitthiyan - John 4. Ding Dung - Gunjal 5. Kahaniyaan - Teri Meri Kahaniyaan Film Critics' Choice Category Best Film Director of the Year 1. Babar Ali - John 2. Nabeel Qureshi - Teri Meri Kahaniyaan 3. Nadeem Baig - Teri Meri Kahaniyaan 4. Shoaib Sultan - Gunjal 5. Zaheer Uddin - Chikkar Film of the Year 1. Chikkar 2. Gunjal 3. John 4. Teri Meri Kahaniyaan 5. Wakhri
