Bits & Pieces on life of Rabab Hashim

Interview

Social Diary spoke to the talented and young Rabab Hashim and asked her about what got her into acting and a lot more on her personal and professional life. Let’s see what she told us…

What got you into the field of acting?

I started working for television at the age of 10. Initially as a TV host for a children’s program then went onto acting in serials. Acting always fascinated me. I loved the idea of being able to live the lives of so many different people through the characters I played.

What’s you favorite genre when it comes to acting?

I have mostly done serious characters and not really done any comical roles. But I love experimenting. So eventually I hope to experiment with other genres too.

What type of role would excite you the most and you would take it in a blink of an eye?

I have always felt that our TV serials had a knack of limiting female protagonists to the same stereotypical submissive characters with no strength of their own. Hence every single time I have been offered a head strong character who makes her own decisions or shows strength or an identity of her own, I have always been excited to accept them. It is not necessary that if a woman is strong, she should be portrayed negatively on screen. Unfortunately such is the common practice.

What did you do with your first pay cheque?

I was a kid back then. I was hosting a kid’s show for Geo called ‘Dekho Sunno Samjho’. I think I took my family out to dinner to celebrate with my first pay cheque. It felt like quite an achievement. I was overjoyed.

What do you enjoy the most acting or hosting & why?

I love both. Hosting I love because it gives me the opportunity to be myself and speak as I do which is very different from the characters that I play. Acting I love even more because it gives me the chance to feel and to be everything I’m not. That has always fascinated me and I think it always will continue to. Acting excites me like very few things do.

If you had to pick three things from a grocery store, what would you take?

Incidentally I’m always walking out of the grocery store with a lot of berries (all kinds), peanut butter and a lot of Gatorade. All of which are my post workout snacks.

Any funny incident from the sets that still makes you laugh?

Oh there are so many! We are always goofing around on set since we work such insanely long hours. We keep playing pranks on each other just to keep things light, especially when you’re working with friends.

Do you get along with your co-stars easily?

Yes! I have been so lucky. I have worked with some of the most wonderful people in the industry. So needless to say they are wonderful actors and even better friends now.

Whenever you feel down or sad what do you do to make yourself feel better?

I love travelling. I take frequent trips between projects to keep myself sane and that also feels like a reward at the end of a hectic shooting schedule. Besides I love reading, so that helps me disconnect when I want to. And most effective thing of all is that my day starts early in the morning at the gym. So I rely on my workouts to keep me happy. And quite miraculously that always works!

Any character played by you so far which you think is close to your personality?

Yes, Safina in Ishqa Waay. It was a serial that aired on Geo last year. I think that’s the closest a character has ever gotten to me as a person. I loved playing her because everything she felt or did or believed in made so much sense to me in every way. That project also became my favourite one so far since the character is close to my heart.

If you were stuck on airport where your flight was late what would you do to kill time?

I am always stuck on airports. I have the worst airport luck on this planet. I have found myself stranded on an airport for as long as 19 hours once in the US. I always have my head phones on me. So music saves the day and a good book mostly.

What’s the best advice given to you by someone?

‘A person’s only as good as his ability and his work. So know your worth and refuse to let anything else define you.’

The person closest to me keeps repeating these words to me when I need to hear them the most. It’s the best advice anyone has ever given me and it sums up everything I live for.

How do you stay fit, do you follow any diet regime?

I workout. I start to feel low when I can’t go to the gym for a couple of days in a row. Everyone close to me knows that about me. A morning workout is the best part of my day. Besides that I try to make healthier food choices in general. I don’t believe shortcuts and crash diets. I love food. The healthier your food choices, the better.

Any drama project you are currently working on?

I’m currently shooting for ‘Tumhare Hain’ a serial for Ary Digital. It is being produced by Wajahat Rauf and Directed by Shehrzade Sheikh.

What’s your idea of a good human being?

I judge the good in people by the honesty of the effort they put in their work. That’s the only moral ground that holds any value for me and nothing else.

Is there any song that has been stuck in your mind for a long time now?

Oh there are ever so many. I have my days and my moods. And there is an entire playlist of songs for each mood. That also helps me in my work.

What’s your motto of life?

I think I’m still trying to figure that one out. The question I ask myself often is ‘What for?’ and that applies to anything and everything. I think you should always figure out the purpose as to why you are doing what you are doing. If you don’t have the answer to that question then you will never know where you’re headed.

What would be your advice to your 20 year old self?

Well I’m 23. So I don’t think I’m yet in a position to give any advice to my 20 year old self. I can answer this one in maybe another 7 years. All I know for certain is that I do not regret a single decision I have ever made no matter what the outcome was. Good or bad. Conscious decisions only teach you what you ought to learn sooner or later.

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

I see myself happy. That’s all I can say.

A few words for your fans out there….

Thank you for such tremendous support and love always. I love what I do. But all your feedback and words make every second of it worth it even more. I hope each one of you also achieve whatever it is you seek in life and continue being such a fabulous support system that you are. Love and prayers!