Joining us today is Hania Ahmed, aka Shafaq from Jama Taqseem!
Hania Ahmed is a talented young child actor who has already made her mark on television with standout performances in Baby Baji Ki Bahuwain, Mayi Ri, and Kabhi Main Kabhi Tu. Currently, audiences are watching her as Shafaq in Jama Taqseem – a character who sometimes makes us angry, sometimes says exactly what we’re thinking, and always keeps us engaged and guessing. Today, Hania joins us for an exclusive conversation about Jama Taqseem, her role as Shafaq, and much more!
This article is an excerpt from the YouTube interview.
How Jama Taqseem Came To Hania Ahmed
The role of Shafaq in Jama Taqseem came to Hania quite unexpectedly – right in the middle of her first CIE exams. She was focused on studying when her mother received a call about a new project. Initially, her mom refused, knowing Hania had exams, but after some convincing, they decided to stop by just to meet Ali Hassan for a short while. That brief meeting turned into a casting – and before she knew it, Hania was officially on board. Once her exams ended, she jumped straight into shooting, barely a day to rest before stepping onto set.
Interestingly, her very first day of shooting involved one of the most emotional scenes – the one where Shafaq sees Sidra with teary eyes. Despite not having time to read the full script, Hania managed to deliver a performance that moved audiences across social media. She credits director Ali for guiding her through the emotions and her mother for helping her understand the character. It wasn’t easy – switching between Shafaq’s harshness and her later empathy – but with her mother’s help and a lot of preparation, Hania brought the character to life in a way that felt real and memorable.
On Communication Gaps & Growing Up As Gen Z
Hania believes that while she personally shares an open and friendly bond with her parents, many kids her age struggle to communicate with theirs. She feels that a lot of parents don’t try to understand their children’s perspective and often become too controlling or strict, expecting blind obedience instead of dialogue. According to her, parents should give their kids space to talk, listen to them patiently, and respond with love rather than anger. Building trust, she says, starts with calm conversations – not scolding or punishment.
When it comes to society’s expectations of young girls, Hania finds some of them unfair and exhausting. She laughs about how people expect girls to always sit “properly,” smile constantly, and appear cheerful even when they’re just lost in thought. She admits she often gets told to smile more, even when she’s simply zoning out – something that’s common in her generation. Despite Gen Z’s confidence and awareness about how they present themselves, Hania feels people still judge them too quickly.
Talking about her own relationship with her mother, Hania lights up. She calls her mom her best friend – someone who completely understands her, matches her energy, and even joins in on her teenage gossip sessions. Whether it’s school drama or family talk, their conversations are full of laughter and honesty. For Hania, that friendship and mutual understanding are what every parent-daughter relationship should strive for.
On Expressions, Inspiration, And Being Taken Seriously
For Hania, expressions are something that come from preparation, observation, and a lot of guidance from her mother. Whenever she gets a new script, her mom is the first to go through it and explain the emotions and tone of the character. Hania then spends a few days reading and rereading her scenes – often before going to bed – to really understand the mood. She also studies performances from seasoned actors. For Jama Taqseem, her mother suggested watching Saba Qamar’s iconic role in Baghi, and Hania ended up watching the entire drama in one day, closely observing her expressions and emotional depth. On set, she blended that inspiration with the director’s vision and her co-star’s cues, especially from Madiha Rizvi, who plays her on-screen mother. The result was a performance that felt natural, layered, and mature beyond her years.
Talking about her journey, Hania admits that earlier in her career, people often saw her as “too young” for serious or complex roles. She was usually offered simpler, child-like characters. But after Jama Taqseem, where she proved her ability to handle a more mature and emotional role, the perception changed. Now, she feels that people in the industry recognize her talent and trust her with more challenging characters – something she’s truly proud of.
Want to hear more? Stay tuned for full conversation coming out soon on FUCHSIA’s YouTube channel!
