There is a quiet confidence to Zoya Nasir that extends far beyond the characters she plays on screen. Whether portraying emotionally layered women like Mehwish in Mahnoor or Sherin in Bas Tera Saath Ho, the actor has steadily built a career on performances that feel thoughtful rather than performative. Yet away from the camera, the conversations that seem to matter most to her revolve around faith, family, self-awareness and continuous growth.
In a candid conversation, Zoya reflected on everything from strengthening her relationship with Allah and taking a deliberate pause from work to preparing for her recent roles, the lessons her mother continues to teach her, and why working alongside actors like Farhan Saeed has reinforced the importance of generosity on set.
This article is an excerpt from the interview
‘Giving time to Allah gave me peace’
For Zoya, stepping away from the relentless pace of work was never simply about taking a career break. It became an opportunity to reassess her priorities after years of back-to-back projects that left little room for family or herself. She admitted that success had arrived quickly after Humsafar, but it also meant sacrificing birthdays, family gatherings and countless moments with the people closest to her.
That pause eventually deepened her relationship with Allah in a way she had not experienced before. She explained that her understanding of faith had evolved over the years, largely because of her father, who taught her to see God not through fear but through hope and compassion. Rather than treating prayer as an obligation, she gradually found herself turning towards it whenever life became overwhelming, describing how what initially felt difficult slowly transformed into habit and eventually into a genuine spiritual connection.
She also spoke about overcoming the hesitation of offering prayers on set, initially worrying about how colleagues might perceive her before realising many actors around her quietly did the same. Watching fellow actors like Ali Rehman, Affan Waheed, Humayoun Ashraf and Shagufta Ejaz openly prioritise their prayers encouraged her to embrace that part of herself without embarrassment, something she now considers one of the most meaningful changes in her life.
“Namaz is a burden, then it becomes a habit, and then it becomes worship.”
Zoya Nasir on her relationship with Allah
Studying Gen Z, building Sheerin and working with Farhan Saeed
Although Sherin in Bas Tera Saath Ho appears effortlessly natural, Zoya revealed that creating the character required far more observation than viewers might realise. Since Sherin is a college-going Gen Z girl, she consciously studied younger people around her, paying attention to how they dressed, spoke and carried themselves. Instead of relying on exaggerated expressions, she deliberately toned down her naturally animated personality, something director Qasim Ali Mureed repeatedly reminded her of during filming.
Even Sherin’s signature glasses and minimal styling emerged from collaborative discussions with the director. While Zoya naturally gravitates towards darker colours, Qasim Ali Mureed insisted the character live in soft pastels. The glasses, casual wardrobe and restrained body language all became defining parts of the role, allowing her to portray a generation that communicates with subtle expressions rather than dramatic gestures.
Reflecting on working with Farhan Saeed, Zoya Nasir was equally complimentary, describing him as one of the industry’s most dependable co-stars. She praised his professionalism, preparedness and willingness to support fellow actors during emotionally demanding scenes, recalling how he would often encourage additional takes whenever he felt they would help elevate someone else’s performance rather than simply finishing his own work. She also admired his calm temperament, positive outlook and willingness to embrace every genre throughout his career, calling him one of the industry’s most complete performers.
Her mother’s advice still shapes the way she lives
When asked what advice she would give a 20-year-old, Zoya’s answer immediately brought the conversation back to her mother. She believes one of the biggest mistakes young people make is dismissing their mothers’ instincts, particularly when it comes to friendships, because experience often allows parents to recognise warning signs long before their children do.
Beyond that, she spoke passionately about encouraging young women to broaden their horizons through education, work and greater exposure to the world. Financial independence, she argued, gives women confidence not only in their careers but also in their ability to make decisions for themselves without constantly seeking validation from others.
Discussing success, Zoya rejected the idea that money alone defines achievement, explaining that peace of mind remains equally important. She also described emotional intelligence as the quality she values most in a partner, placing mutual respect above everything else. Looking back at her own relationships, she admitted she has always chosen self-respect over losing herself in another person, believing genuine love can only exist when both people continue valuing each other’s individuality instead of sacrificing it.
Why Mehwish from Mahnoor became an emotionally demanding role for Zoya Nasir
Among all the characters she has played, Zoya considers Mehwish from Mahnoor the most psychologically exhausting. Rather than approaching the character as simply obsessive or villainous, she viewed Mehwish as someone deeply shaped by abandonment, insecurity and years of emotional neglect. To portray those contradictions authentically, she immersed herself in the character’s emotional state, even losing weight during filming because of the intensity of the role.
One of the drama’s most memorable breakdown scenes, in which Mehwish explains the emotional wounds that shaped her behaviour, was largely improvised by Zoya herself. She requested a close camera setup before filming because she knew she would not be able to recreate those emotions multiple times, choosing instead to perform the scene spontaneously while drawing from everything she had understood about Mehwish’s traumatic upbringing.
For Zoya, the performance was never about justifying Mehwish’s actions but understanding them. She believes deeply flawed characters rarely see themselves as villains; instead, they are often trapped in survival mode, convinced their actions are necessary because no one ever taught them healthier ways to process pain. That layered approach ultimately made Mehwish one of the most challenging—and rewarding—performances of her career.
Head over to our YouTube channel for the complete conversation.
