Your favorite, unforgettable Azra AKA Javeria Saud from Baby Baji spoke to us about how she stays happy, how she & Saud met and what are her plans to keep Azra present in her life!
Javeria Saud, formerly known as Javeria Jalil, is a multifaceted talent in the Pakistani entertainment industry. She has earned recognition as an actress, producer, singer, and television host. Her most notable role was portraying the lead character Jameela in the Geo TV drama series “Yeh Zindagi Hai” from 2008 to 2013. In addition to her creative pursuits, she is married to the renowned film and television actor Saud. Together, they own and operate the production company JJS Productions since 2006, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s entertainment landscape
Not only did she star in Yeh Zindagi Hai she even produced it, which contributed to its 6 year long success. Since 2015, she hosted the morning show, Satrangi and Ramazan transmissions as well. Her latest project Baby Baji, where she played the cunning outspoken Azra has been deemed a hit.
She started her journey 20 years ago, stepping into the entertainment industry when in class 7! She spoke to Rabia Mughni, Editor – FUCHSIA! & here is what she spoke about:
Her Mantra To Her Happiness
When FUCHSIA Magazine host Rabia Mughni asked about her secret to always being so bubbly, chirpy and smiling and what her mantra is?
She responded her mantra is when you start imbibing gratitude, thanking the Lord in everything no matter the situation, you won’t be seen crying in front of people. “Every person in life has sadness, difficulties and pain but mai apnay pay haavi nae karti, it is , after all, God’s will so mai zindagi enjoy karkay guzarti houn.”
Since she can remember, she saw her mother never losing her will even when something really bad happened, she would always say: “God will help and make it okay” and thus she has adopted her resilience from her mother.
About How Saud First Set His Sights On Her
They saw each other passingly at a match in Dubai, after her last drama Ana, where she was with her cast members. They were walking past each other and they both took a peek at each other. While that was that, fate had plans for their marriage set in stone, 4-5 years later Saud’s sister played matchmaker and showed Saud Javeria’s picture as a potential match, Saud remembered he had already seen her once. Next they saw each other again at a Ghazal program and lo and behold, he sent an official proposal to her house the very next day.
She told Rabia Mughni, Editor – FUCHSIA, it was purely an arranged marriage, it’s funny she said that because she thought she would never get married to someone in the showbiz world.
While sharing advice from a childhood friend who once told her to marry a guy who may be more successful just “because in our society, mostly men cannot handle successful women and are dominating but Alhamdulillah Saud only brought out all my talents after marriage, from singing to writing. He never had a problem or an insecurity, he is really happy for all my achievements.
On Acting & Was It Her Dream?
Though she says she acted a lot in school, she neither thought nor dreamt of acting, she is thankful and considers it her luck that she started at PTV where they would correct her Urdu, her tone, her pronunciation! All the seniors would rehearse together and guide you as you went along.
About her break from the acting world in 2006, she said she did not miss the drama world because having started work at an early age she felt she hadn’t really spent a lot of time with her family and when she took that break, it was pure fun with her brother, sisters and parents. “Yes it impacted a bit financially but being home reduces the expenses too. My family never took from my earnings, my papa and bhai handled all the expenses.”
She also added that after her mom asked her to take a break in 2006 which she did, she stopped talking to most people from the industry and she wasn’t ever quite social. “I meet everybody but sometimes I feel like I am wasting my time, I don’t like being around soul-less people with no depth in their conversations. I wonder why I should sit there, I should rather enjoy with my family.”
Her Thoughts On If Its Easier For Girls In The Industry Now
When asked if she sees a change in the industry now as a woman, she says “it is easier to work for girls now, there’s social media, NGO’s and more awareness. Girls can protect themselves better, back then things weren’t as easy.” Though adding “sometimes it’s the women who malign, lie also but eventually whether a man or a woman, both have their respect.”
While she also adds there is more work being done now, artists are much more pampered but goes without saying new people also face trouble but at the same time, are more outspoken.
Public Assumptions About Actors
She shared last year on Hajj (Islamic Pilgrimage), she and her husband were having tea after fajr in Mina. A woman stopped by and inquired if it was Javeria herself. When she replied yes, the woman questioned what she was doing there? Javeria wittily said: “Mera football ka match hai, wo khelnay aei hou, app bhi ayega” Her husband, Saud nudged Javeria saying: Hajj pay hou, kaisay baat karai hou logo say?” To which she told her husband to rather look at the absurd question the woman was asking. “Hum Ehraam pehnayi, Mina mai hai. Hum nae asaktay kya? Hum Hajj ane karsaktay?”
Her Kids & What She Says She Learns From Them
She mentioned about her relation between her kids and her: “Roub kay sath bachoun ko app pay confidence hona chahye kay they can tell you anything. Mai parhai pay nae dant ti aur meray khayal main bachoun ko ehsaas-e-zimedari khud honi chahye. I dont believe in pressuring them.”
She added: “We are learning from our kids, they think very differently compared to Saud and I. From asking me why I add filters, questioning me if I am not satisfied with God’s creation and to making me delete the filter app from my phone. They tell me to be wary about racism, have such strong view points about politics whereas to be honest, we never really thought about these things.”
The Legacy Of Azra From Baby Baji
On her initial reaction to being offered Baby Baji, she and Saud both begrudgingly though humorously thought: “asal mai tou saath hai, abb tv pay bhi saath?” But she said the script was so mazyedar she had to do it.
For all Azra fans, she said she is in the works and thinking how to make sure Azra lives on because she wants people to not forget her as a character. “Itni asaani say azra jaan nae chorege!”
Sounds like Azra’s fans might be in for some good news. Here is more from Azra herself!
