Anika Zulfikar Gets Honest About Self-Doubt, Slower Success and Why Meaningful Work Comes at a Cost
Anika Zulfikar doesn’t rush her process and that choice is evident both on screen and off it. While the industry increasingly pushes actors toward immediacy and visibility, she has remained focused on the long game, choosing roles that allow room for emotional complexity and personal truth. Her characters often exist in grey areas, resisting easy labels and inviting deeper engagement from the audience. Shot in a dramatic, atmospheric setting for our January issue, this feature reflects the range and restraint that shape her work. In conversation, Anika speaks candidly about ambition, self-doubt, and the patience required to build a career on intention rather than compromise.
People hear my accent and see the way I dress and assume my values are Western, when that couldn’t be further from the truth
When people meet you for the first time, what’s the biggest misconception they usually have, and what’s the side of you they only discover later?
Many find this hard to believe, but I’m actually quite old-fashioned in many ways. I believe in cooking from scratch, and that everyone should know how to cook. That elders should be respected irrespective of their behaviour, and that you should always finish everything that’s on your plate. People seem to hear my accent and see the way I dress, and immediately jump to the conclusion that I have “modern” (read: strictly Western) values, when that could not be further from the truth.
I’m drawn to characters that are harder to root for, the ones that feel unresolved rather than neatly written
You’ve played characters that feel emotionally layered rather than surface-level. What draws you to a role when you’re reading a script for the first time: dialogue, backstory, or that one scene you can’t stop thinking about?
I look at the novelty of the story and the characters, and what I can add to them in terms of depth and nuance that is not always there on paper, or even sometimes in the director’s vision. In all the roles I’ve taken so far, I’ve prioritised layered portrayals, especially in characters that are somewhat harder to root for, or that seem two-dimensional on paper. Characters should be portrayed as humans, without being put in a “good” or “bad” box. It’s been a challenge to navigate in Pakistani drama narratives, but I’m up for it.
Characters shouldn’t be put into ‘good’ or ‘bad’ boxes. They should be portrayed as human
Is there a performance of yours that you feel didn’t get talked about enough but meant a lot to you personally?
I did a telefilm called Meri Uraan last year, and that was a lot of fun and very cathartic to do. It was directed by two female directors, Muskaan Kadwani and Shehrezade Sheikh. It was about an architecture major in her fourth year navigating family pressure to get married, her own ambitions to build a career, and dealing with online harassment. As a woman who also had to fight to pursue a career unfamiliar to my family, it resonated deeply, and I’m very grateful to have played a role like that.
Social media has made validation louder, scarcer, and far more fleeting than it used to be
You belong to a generation that grew up both online and off-screen. How has that shaped the way you see fame, validation, and success compared to older actors?
I’ll be honest, I feel like my generation’s concept of success is quite warped. Validation is a human need, and being online heightens both the excess and the scarcity of it. It’s also very fleeting. Social media has lifted the veil off the mystery and enigma that used to be associated with actors in the past, and was very much required. Now it’s the opposite: you absolutely need a social media presence before even stepping foot into the industry to be considered seriously. In some ways, it’s lowered the bar for entry and made the industry more accessible and less gatekept. But in doing that, the quality of work and craft has suffered because popularity is often prioritised over skill.
Popularity is often prioritised over skill, and that has cost the quality of craft
What’s something about acting that surprised you once you were actually in the middle of it, something no one really prepares you for?
No one really prepares you for how intensely and deeply you have to confront yourself when you’re acting. Somehow, that’s what makes it so cathartic and fulfilling, at least for me. I find that I mask myself a lot in the real world, but on screen, as a character, I’m given the space to feel and react naturally. It seems counterintuitive, but I’m most honest with myself when I’m acting a scene.
Acting forces you to confront yourself in ways nothing else really does
On days when motivation is low or self-doubt creeps in, what grounds you again: routine, music, a person, or complete silence?
I remind myself of words of encouragement from mentors, and positive feedback from people whose craft I respect. Self-doubt, especially at this point in my career, is quite high. While I trust my abilities, I’m aware of my shortcomings and can be harsh on myself. It’s challenging trying to prove your potential while still earning your seat at the table, especially when contemporaries and peers seem far ahead. What grounds me is seeing how far I’ve come without comparing myself to others, and having gratitude for the journey. The lows now will make the highs that much more fulfilling, God willing.
On screen, I’m given the space to feel and react honestly, even more honestly than in real life
If your career so far had a soundtrack, which three songs would be on repeat and why?
Mast Hua by Asrar. It has a light-hearted take on the societal rejection that comes with choosing an unconventional career as a performing artist, and how the pursuit of art can be a greater act of divine love (ishq) than surface-level displays of religiosity.
Ajab Si from Om Shanti Om. It always makes me feel like the heroine of my dreams and instantly uplifts my mood. It takes me back to being a kid dreaming of being on screen.
Everything I Wanted by Billie Eilish, because my dreams are coming true, but at what cost? It hits me right in the feels every time and helps me come to terms with the sacrifices I’ve made, while reminding me to take care of myself.
Self-doubt is high at this stage of my career, especially when you’re still earning your seat at the table
You’ve experimented with different moods and energies in your work. Is there a genre or character you’re secretly itching to try next but haven’t had the chance to yet?
I’m a sucker for the fantasy and mythical genre. I want to play a fairy, vampire, ghost, or something along those lines. The genre doesn’t really exist in Pakistan yet, but I got very excited when I watched Jinn Ki Shadi Un Ki Shadi. I’d love to play a powerful mythical creature with unclear intentions. I also absolutely love period pieces, so maybe the role of an ancient queen.
I don’t want to settle into safer roles. I want the work to mean something
What’s the most unexpected compliment you’ve received from a director, co-actor, or even a stranger that stayed with you?
Someone once told me that when I’m on screen, it’s hard to look away, and that I hold my own even when performing alongside experienced and respected actors. I was pleasantly surprised by that, and it was very reassuring to hear.
I believe the lows now will make the highs that much more fulfilling
Between takes and long shooting days, what does Anika actually do: scroll endlessly, crack jokes on set, disappear into a corner, or overthink everything?
Hate to admit it, but I am prone to the dreaded doom-scroll. I also listen to music, explore the location I’m shooting at, and take in my surroundings. I’m generally introverted on set, but I enjoy listening to veteran co-actors’ stories from the “good old days” of television.
How do you decide what parts of yourself to keep private in an industry that constantly wants access to your personal life?
It’s tricky. At this point, I’m trying to show up more as myself while still protecting my private life. I don’t go out or socialise much and have a very small, close-knit group of friends. My personal and family life is private, and I only allow people who respect that boundary to have access to me. While trying to be more authentic online, I’ve found a balance between honesty and oversharing, though it really is a fine line.
Looking ahead, what excites you more right now: doing better work, doing braver work, or doing something that completely scares you?
Doing better and braver work. I never want to become jaded about the risk I took in becoming an actor and actually making it this far. It means too much to me to become complacent or settle into safer, plainer roles. I want to be part of projects that leave a positive mark on our industry and society as a whole. This ambition has admittedly made work scarcer for me over the past year, but I genuinely believe what’s meant for me is out there.
RAPID FIRE
● Early call time or late-night shoot?
Early call time
● Script reading in silence or with music playing?
Silence
● Coffee before a scene or after it wraps?
Before
● A role that made you cry the most?
Junoon-e-Ishqam
● One genre you’d say yes to instantly?
Period piece
● Comfort food after a long shoot day?
Thai red curry
● A co-star who made set days lighter?
Azaan
● Social media detox or constant scrolling?
Detox
● A line from a script you still remember?
“Humari rooh ki dastaan humari dharti ke tilism se juda nahi.” (The story of our souls is inseparable from the magic of our land.) — Mahtab
● City that instantly inspires you?
Karimabad, Hunza
● One habit you picked up on set?
Evening chai with biscuits
● Dream role you’re manifesting right now?
A powerful supernatural entity
Interview: Sundus Unsar Raja
Photographer: Hasan Habib Hashmie
Designer: Parishae Adnan
Hair and Makeup: The Trio Salon
PR Management: KAGENCY