“If there’s anything we can compete at, it is content”

—Ayesha Omar, top Pakistani TV artisteAyesha Omar stands true to her reel life name Khoobsurat —beautiful in Urdu —from the sitcom Bulbulay (Bubbles) which premiered in 2008 and made her a star. Although she has been a part of major productions, but it was Bulbulay that propelled her to the centrestage. After completing almost a decade in the industry, the model-turned-actress is beaming about the Hollywood premiere of her début film Karachi Se Lahore (From Karachi to Lahore).Written by Yasir Hussain, Karachi Se Lahore features Ayesha Omar and Shehzad Sheikh in the lead roles and looks game to woo cinegoers as the first Pakistani road-trip flick on the heels of a rom-com. “The script is very strong with a lot of good, clean-cut humour — not your typical slapstick make-do. Yes, there is song-and-dance, but nothing is overdone. There’s no glamour bingeing,” Ayesha Omar tells Community in an exclusive interview at a reputed hotel in Pakistan’s picturesque capital Islamabad.Sipping strong tea with honey and a lemon tart, Ayesha is keeping her fingers crossed about making it big in parallel cinema.  “Nothing can be predicted until you really do it. I have done theatre when I was growing up, in school and college. When I started doing television, I didn’t know it’ll be a successful career. I got into it by default — am actually a painter by profession. I just wanted to do art, but I did acting and couldn’t have guessed Bulbulay will be so successful, so you never really know until you do something,” asserts Ayesha. The fledgling Pakistani film industry doesn’t compare with its Indian counterpart on many counts, but Pakistanis are deemed to be streets ahead in television drama. Ayesha is convinced the Pakistani industry is finer and stronger in terms of content and script. According to her, it’s the deep characters and script one can always relate to. “Our production budgets are nothing compared to Bollywood. People are investing their own money and trying to make movies. We are seeking help from a lot of brands, but if there is anything we can compete at, it is content,” contends Ayesha. “Our content is very strong. I feel we know how to play with the script, and have some amazing script writers. That’s why our drama is getting rave reviews across the border, in India. Our characters are very deep as well and we keep them real — something people can relate to.”Despite Pakistanis making their mark in Bollywood in the last few years, there is no real initiative for joint ventures. Ayesha feels the unhelpful political situation is holding back the possibility of joint productions; she is also saddened over how Pakistani productions are being stonewalled. Mahira Khan-starrer Pakistani love story Bin Roye had a global release recently, but was banned in India despite Pakistan ignoring a tit-for-tat call at home to scrap Salman Khan-starrer Bajrangi Bhaaijan, which was filmed on 74 cinema screens in Pakistan.“Pakistani movies are being banned in India. They want their own industry to prosper, of course, but we’re the same people with the same culture and interests. I think people are scared right now because of the political situation. Otherwise, people in both the countries love each other,” Ayesha argues.Despite being a huge fan of Bollywood, Ayesha feels it is not the right time to venture out. “Frankly, I’d be very honoured and humbled, but I want to work in Pakistan because my country needs us right now. The Indian industry is very lucrative and it’s easy to go there — rather everyone who’s getting even a whiff is going there. It’s great because it’s a huge industry with a global reach, but I want to stay back for a few years and work here. I might however, do a really good project if it comes my way — only if I don’t have to compromise values and feel there is substance in it.”Ayesha remains obsessed with Aamir Khan’s Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. “Khan has been one of my favourite actors since I was a kid. He is versatile and has done some fantastic work. I’d love to work with him one day. I’m a big fan of Shah Rukh as well. I follow Naseeruddin Shah, Nana Patekar and Deepika Padukone, keenly too. Am also a big fan of Kareena Kapoor. Among older stars, Madhuri Dixit-Nene and Kajol are icons.” A sneak peek into Ayesha Omar’s item number (Tutti Fruity) in Karachi Se Lahore was enough to prove her chutzpah. “When (Director/Producer) Wajahat asked me to render a single, I was very excited because I love singing and I didn’t even charge him a penny for it. The style of singing was very different from the kind of songs I’ve already done.” Ayesha feels very strongly about a decent education as the stepping stone to success. She feels a lack of it tends to hurt aspiring actors, especially females. “I think the lack of education fuels a certain lack of respect for women, especially. Then, there’s no sense of privacy, people just don’t let other people be in our country. I feel these are issues which need to be worked at with a deeper social connect.”Ayesha is grateful for the love fans shower on her, and has a message for cinegoers, who may get a chance to watch her forthcoming flick in Doha soon. “Thank you so much for your love. Please go out and watch Karachi Se Lahore. For Pakistanis out there, I know you miss Pakistan…so watch the film and regale in the fond memories of your homeland.”