Navid Shahzad of ‘Such Gup’ and ‘Daur-e-Junoon’ fame is back with her first film appearance! ARY and 6 Sigma Production of ‘Punjab Nahi Jaungi’ starring Humayun Saeed and Mehwish Hayat, released this Eid featured Navid Shahzad in a pivotal role in the expected block buster. Extremely excited about the film, Navid said that her experience of working with stalwarts like Humayun Saeed, Behroze Sabswari, Sohail Ahmed and Waseem Abbas was an unforgettable experience. “It was like a big family on a picnic,” she said, but added that they had to “work very hard since Nadeem Baig is a perfectionist!” The iconic television, theatre and radio veteran is one of the pioneering names associated with Pakistan television’s best years. From covering live transmissions of national elections to writing poetry, public speaking and narrating documentaries, directing smash hits like “The Importance of Being Earnest”, “Teahouse of the August Moon” and “Antigone” for theatre to teaching at Punjab University, heading the Pakistan School of Fashion Design and setting up Pakistan’s first liberal arts institution, Beaconhouse National University, where she is also designated distinguished professor of performing arts, Navid has done it all. Her own performances in theatre and TV over the years have been lauded for their sensitivity, elegance and realistic portrayal of characters. Navid features prominently at literary festivals and is one of those rare people who are equally at home in English, Urdu and Punjabi. Speaking to us at her apartment in Gulberg, the evergreen and elegant Pride of Performance winner said that she was delighted with having worked with the ‘Punjab Nahi Jaungi’ team of “wonderfully talented” cast and crew. Since the launch of the film’s trailer last month, Navid confesses that she has been overwhelmed with a barrage of film and TV offers. Though she has done a film with the highly respected Sabiha Sumar, Navid says the film was meant only for limited release and has yet to be screened in Pakistan. Deeply interested in literature and media studies, an indefatigable Navid has finished writing a film script and is currently working on a book on aspects of Turkish television while reading scripts for her next venture. Published in Daily Times, September 10th 2017.