You are a multi-talented artist; you’re an acclaimed singer, as well as a reputed actress. Time and again, we’ve seen you as a brand ambassador for many products. You’re also a fashion ramp regular. Out of all these, which do you feel the most passionate about? For me, all of it is about self expression. I use my performances to emote various moods. Sometimes through different avatars/roles and other times as myself, acting and singing both are tools that let me communicate the humour, love, anger and drama that travels within me. So you could say I’m very passionate about self-expression. And as a performer, I don’t want to limit myself to any one medium. Be it visual arts/painting, singing or acting. From 2013’s ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ to this year’s ‘Mor Mahal’. How much do you think you’ve evolved as an actress? I hope I continue to evolve until my last breath. But yes, between ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ and ‘Mor Mahal’, I have learnt my craft better, absorbed a lot of enriching experiences and advice and matured as a person which helps immensely. Your film ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ was 2013’s highest-grossing film in India. How confident were you of the film’s success and what did you consider before signing it? I considered the script and of course the award winning, extremely talented team that I was working with. Those two factors are always very significant in my selection of projects. ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ was no different in that regard. I have always maintained that I would much rather be a small part of something big than be a big part of something small. How soon will your fans be seeing you on the big screen again? I’ve gone through a number of scripts this year and haven’t really felt the urge to invest in any of them. It’s a music heavy year for me as it is, since this was the first time I did a very demanding concert tour of the US, recorded multiple new songs and have been writing new music as well. ‘Mor Mahal’ shoots and workshops took the better part of 2015, and I do like to keep a steady balance between the two prominent facets of my career so far. Like I said, you’re a multi-talented artist. You have graduated in Fine Arts from NCA. Is there any other profession you’d like to give a shot? I aspire to write in the future. Again, that also stems from my need to communicate and express myself. If I feel really ambitious, I will probably illustrate my writings myself as well. “I’ve learnt to ignore men who feel threatened by powerful women” You have been counted among the 100 most influential people in Pakistan by an international magazine. What, according to you, are the right attributes/traits a person should possess to achieve success? I can only speak for myself, and here I would definitely say being selective and confident about my choices has helped. The other thing to remember is hard work! A lot of it. And consistency. There are rarely any short cuts to success. How difficult is it for a woman to make her mark in a male-dominated society like that of Pakistan? What challenges did you have to face initially when you set foot in the industry? Misogyny is rampant in our surroundings and showbiz is no different. Some of the biggest divas I’ve encountered have been men. But I’ve learnt to ignore men who feel threatened by powerful women. Fortunately, there are also many men that I have worked with who are very vocal of their support towards the women making strides in this industry or any other sphere of life. Which, according to you, has been your greatest achievement until date and how have your achievements changed you? My greatest achievements are yet to come. But the ones that have already come along the way have taught me how important it is to be humble. To keep one’s ego in check! As our ego and arrogance can often be our ultimate downfall. How do you strike a balance between your family life and professional life? I would have to say this one is all about being married to the most amazing man on earth. Out of the trifecta of work, family and social life however, I find myself sacrificing my social life frequently. Having understanding friends and family helps a lot. And the great thing about them is that they’ll still be around once my kids are a bit older. How do you unwind? Yoga! Who or what has been your inspiration? My mother and the countless other mentors I have been blessed to work with and be guided by over the years! Mira Nair, Rohail Hyatt, Athar Shahzad, HSY, Sarmad Sultan Khoosat; the list is long and that makes me smile. I am nothing if not grateful. What does it mean to be Pakistani for you? Everything. I am born and bred in Pakistan. I didn’t even go abroad for college. We, at Daily Times, consider you one of our national heroes. Who are some of yours? Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Hamid Akhtar, Sir Saeed Akhtar, my mother, Rohail Hyatt, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen ji and of course, Edhi sahib. Achievements Master Of All Trades Meesha Shafi is not just a seasoned musician but a recognised TV and film star as well. She has tasted success in both professions and continues to inspire. Consecutive Box Office Hits After Meesha Shafi debuted on the big screen with the internationally-acclaimed ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ in 2013, she bagged a role in her first Bollywood film ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’, which was 2013’s highest-grossing film in India. She achieved further critical success for playing Laxmi in Bilal Lashari’s 2013 action/thriller Pakistani film ‘Waar’. The film ranks among the highest-grossing Pakistani films of all time in the country. The Face Of Many Brands Shafi has endorsed and been the face of many local and international brands during her career, like L’Oreal, Coca-Cola, Fanta, LG, Mobilink, Allied Bank, Lipton and Sprite. International Star Other than appearing in a Hollywood and a Bollywood film, Shafi has been featured in many international publications such as L’Officiel and Vogue India. She attended and performed at the official Doha Tribeca Film Festival 2012. Her single “Jugni” was used in several Bollywood films like ‘Cocktail’, ‘Diary Of A Butterfly’ and ‘Jugni’. Influential Artist In 2013, Shafi was named among the 100 most influential people in Pakistan. Her single with singer Arif Lohar “Alif Allah” gathered over 20 million+ views on YouTube and is the most-viewed ‘Coke Studio’ song ever.