Best known for his work as an actor, fashion designer, poet and creative thinker, Yousuf Bashir Qureshi (YBQ) has once again found himself in the spotlight with performances in Leader as Dada Saahib, Aik Aur Mohabbat and Raja London Ka. But away from the screen, it is his perspective on life that often leaves a lasting impression.
In a candid conversation, YBQ reflected on everything from returning to Pakistan with no connections, to raising his children differently, and why he believes faith is something entirely different from hope.
This article is an excerpt from the YouTube interview.
Faith Is Not Hope – And That Changed Everything
One of the most thought-provoking moments from the interview came when YBQ explained the distinction he makes between hope and faith. According to him, hope often depends on external circumstances, whereas faith comes from within.
He believes people often say they “hope” God will solve their problems, but in reality, faith requires certainty rather than waiting for an outcome. For him, faith is not about looking outside for answers but looking inward, because understanding yourself brings you closer to understanding God.
His unconventional way of thinking, he says, has been with him since childhood. He recalled questioning the phrase “the sky is the limit” while he was in school, insisting instead that “the sky is the beginning.” The answer earned him punishment rather than praise, but it also became an early reminder that questioning accepted ideas often comes with resistance.
Asked what advice he would give young people today, YBQ pointed to three emotions he believes limit human potential the most: fear, guilt and greed. In his view, fear keeps people defensive, guilt traps them in the past, and greed prevents them from appreciating what already exists.
From Starting Over In Pakistan To Building A Career
When YBQ returned to Pakistan from the United States in 2004, he admits he had no roadmap. There was no social media, no industry contacts and very little guidance on where to begin. He started knocking on designers’ doors, teaching fashion design at Indus Valley School, and slowly introducing people to his work before launching his own label.
What followed, however, was far from a straightforward success story. He recalled surviving an armed robbery just days after returning home, before putting his own career on hold to volunteer in the aftermath of the devastating 2005 earthquake. Trained in rescue work, he spent nearly a year in Batagram, while his wife, a gynaecologist, established a maternity camp for survivors.
Even after rebuilding his fashion career, more setbacks followed, including losing his home during the unrest that erupted after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. Rather than returning immediately to business, he dedicated the next two years to humanitarian work through an organisation that eventually grew to tens of thousands of members. Looking back, YBQ’s career has never followed a conventional path. Fashion, humanitarian work, acting and poetry have all existed side by side, each becoming another chapter in a journey built less on planning and more on purpose.
Fatherhood, Fear And Learning To Let Go
For YBQ, becoming a father did not simply make him more protective—it reshaped how he understands fear itself.
He believes the more power or responsibility a person has, the greater the fear of losing it. But instead of allowing that fear to become controlling, he says parenthood taught him that children are ultimately entrusted to us rather than owned by us.
That philosophy also influenced one of the most unconventional parenting decisions he and his wife made: homeschooling their youngest daughter. After seeing that traditional schooling was making her unhappy, they chose a different route—one focused on curiosity, life skills and personal growth alongside academics.
Today, he proudly describes her as both an accomplished swimmer and tennis player, but says what makes him happiest is not the medals. It is the way she understands everyday life, from caring for her grandparents to taking responsibility at home—qualities he believes matter just as much as classroom achievements.
Throughout the interview, YBQ’s answers rarely followed expected paths. Whether discussing faith, success or family, his reflections were less about offering easy answers and more about encouraging people to question the ones they have always accepted. To catch up on more, watch the interview below: