As we move towards the end of September, we proudly feature the ever-evolving, refreshingly candid, and deeply thoughtful Ushna Shah as our digital cover muse. Celebrated for her compelling performances and her commitment to meaningful storytelling, Ushna continues to inspire with her honesty and passion for growth. In this exclusive conversation, she reflects on her personal journey, her experiences as a host, and the projects and causes that truly resonate with her. Read on…
I have always been empathetic and compassionate, and I have realized a lot of that ties into being neurodivergent. People with ADHD tendencies often cannot tolerate unfairness, and I think that is me
1. Ushna, the last time you were on our cover you were already a force to be reckoned with; how has your personal and artistic journey deepened since then?
My journey has become more intentional. I have grown into someone who understands which projects are truly for me. I do not take myself too seriously anymore and I do not feel the need to constantly prove myself, which has given me artistic freedom. I am more content and self-aware, so when I choose work, I know what I can do well and what I should not force. I am excited to keep exploring creatively and I am also enjoying discovering a more confident side of myself.
For me, hosting is about kindness, creating a space where people feel respected, and sharing real conversations. If my guests walk away feeling valued, then I have done my job, and that means more to me than ratings
2. You are often described as fearless. Where does that courage come from?
For me, it has never been about wanting to be fearless. If I see injustice, I feel compelled to speak. It is instinct. I get it from my mother, who was the same way. I have always been empathetic and compassionate, and I have realized a lot of that ties into being neurodivergent. People with ADHD tendencies often cannot tolerate unfairness, and I think that is me. But I do not see myself as a martyr or someone unusually tough, it is just how I am wired.
3. With ‘After Hours with Ushna Shah’, you have shifted from being in front of the camera as a character to leading unscripted, real conversations. How has stepping into the host’s chair changed the way you see people and yourself?
Hosting has taught me so much, not just about people I have admired from afar, but also about people I have known and worked with for years. I have learned more about their journeys in a way I never expected. I also want to set an example. I have often been on the other end of interviews where someone tried to get a rise out of me or push me into a headline. I am very intentional not to do that. For me, hosting is about kindness, creating a space where people feel respected, and sharing real conversations. If my guests walk away feeling valued, then I have done my job, and that means more to me than ratings.
I was really excited to play Rani in Alif, Allah aur Insaan. It was such a different story from what I had done before, and I was glad people enjoyed it
4. Hosting means asking the questions instead of answering them. Has this role made you reflect differently on your own public persona and the way you are portrayed in the media?
Yes. It has shown me how narratives can be shaped, and it has helped me separate “public Ushna” from who I really am. That awareness makes it easier to stay grounded.
5. Looking back at all the dramas you have done, which role were you most excited to take on and, in hindsight, is there one you wish you had not done?
I was really excited to play Rani in Alif, Allah aur Insaan. It was such a different story from what I had done before, and I was glad people enjoyed it. As for the ones that did not work, I would not call them regrets, but there have been projects where the role was not right for me, or the team was not the right fit. I will not take names, because every project is someone’s hard work, but I will say that even in those moments I learned something valuable. Those lessons stay with me.
I have realized I cannot spend my energy fighting every headline or tweet. People are free to think what they want
6. On the flip side, is there a role you turned down that you regret, or even a past drama (yours or someone else’s) where you secretly wish you could have played the lead?
Honestly, no. There is really nothing I regret turning down. I believe what is meant for you finds you, and those roles were clearly meant for the actresses who played them so well. To say otherwise would be unfair to them.
7. If you had a completely free weekend, no work, no commitments, how would you spend it? Paint us a picture of your perfect off-duty day.
I am a self-proclaimed vegetable on my days off. My perfect day is spending time with my husband and my dogs. Since he is away often, it is usually me on the sofa with my dogs, either watching something meaningless or falling down an ADHD rabbit hole of learning. Lately, I have been obsessed with perfume-making, which has always been a childhood passion. We even call our private lounge the “veg room” because that is where we go to just be.
I feel like I have outgrown the endless cycle of cousin romances. I want to take on projects that feel authentic to me, ones I personally enjoy and can give my all to, instead of doing something just for ratings
8. If you could lead one nationwide campaign for change, social, cultural or environmental, what would it focus on?
Animal welfare, without question. It has always been close to my heart because so few speak up for the voiceless in Pakistan. But right now, my heart also aches for Palestine. As a nation that has experienced colonization, watching apartheid and now genocide unfold so brutally is devastating. It is what I eat, sleep, and think about. I wish I could speak up for all the oppressed, everywhere, from Sudan to Palestine, because no injustice should be forgotten.
9. If you could swap wardrobes with any fictional character or celebrity for a week, who would it be and why?
Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City (not the reboot, the original). Her fashion was daring and playful. Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl is another; her style was timeless and would still work today. And honestly, I would love to dress like a queen from The Tudors every day, just for the drama of it.
Women in Pakistan face a constant push and pull of hypocrisy, at home, in the workplace, in the industry, even from audiences. Having the freedom to make our own choices without being judged, controlled, or second-guessed is still the hardest battle
10. What is one misconception about you that you would like to clear once and for all?
I used to be really sensitive about misconceptions, like hearing on set, “We thought you would be difficult, but you are a delight to work with.” That one always puzzled me. But I have realized I cannot spend my energy fighting every headline or tweet. People are free to think what they want. What matters is that those who know me, and the fans who have followed me over the years, who understand me, encourage me, and lift me up, see me for who I am. Their love and respect mean everything.
11. If you could star in a remake of any iconic Pakistani drama or even a global hit, which one would you pick and who would you cast opposite you?
I would love to star in a remake of Kill Bill. That role is so iconic, and I have always wanted to play a character with that kind of power and intensity. I would also love something like Split. What James McAvoy did in that film was phenomenal, and exploring such complexity would be incredible. Right now, I am really drawn to action-oriented roles. I feel like I have outgrown the endless cycle of cousin romances. I want to take on projects that feel authentic to me, ones I personally enjoy and can give my all to, instead of doing something just for ratings. For me, it is time to embrace roles that make this process exciting again.
12. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge for women in Pakistan right now, in entertainment and beyond?
Autonomy. It always has been. Women in Pakistan face a constant push and pull of hypocrisy, at home, in the workplace, in the industry, even from audiences. Having the freedom to make our own choices without being judged, controlled, or second-guessed is still the hardest battle. Until women have true autonomy, every other achievement comes with strings attached.
13. What would you say to a young girl who feels silenced or pressured to conform to societal expectations?
Do not dim your light to fit in. You are not here to live someone else’s script. Your voice, your choices, your dreams, they matter. You matter, regardless of what anyone tries to tell you. And work hard to be financially independent. That independence is the foundation of freedom, and once you have it, the choices you can make for yourself are limitless.
14. If someone made a movie about your life, would it be a rom-com, a thriller, or a full-blown action saga and who would play you?
It would probably be a dramedy, a mix of humor, chaos, and heart. As for who would play me, I would like to think she has not grown up yet. Hopefully, no one makes a film about me for a while, but when they do, I hope the actress who takes it on brings a lot of love to the role.
15. What kind of roles or projects excite you now that maybe did not five years ago?
It is less about what excites me now and more about what does not. The range of characters in our dramas has become very limited, confined to living rooms, repeating the same tropes. That no longer inspires me. The projects that have fulfilled me, like Habs, Alif, Allah aur Insaan, Balaa, or Lashkara, were different, strong, and creatively rich. The only time I really enjoyed playing the traditional damsel was in Bashar Momin. Since then, I have not been in love with that type of role. I am looking forward to stories that break boundaries and offer something new, both to me as an actor and to audiences.
16. When people look back on your career years from now, what do you hope they say about Ushna Shah?
I hope they say I was authentic, that I brought change. I would like my legacy to be that I pushed the industry forward, whether in shooting styles, characters, or storylines, and that I left behind work that made a difference.
Interview: Safa Adnan
Styling: Rao Ali Khan
Outfit: Manal Ajaj
Hair & Makeup: Nabila
Photography: Shahbaz Shazi