LAHORE: Award-winning Pakistani actress Meera Ji, confirmed to Daily Times that her youngest sister Syeda Shahista Abbas has now officially joined the Pakistani drama industry and will be working with renowned actor/performer Shahroz Sabzwari in an upcoming project. Meera Ji, very excitedly, shared details of how her sister is as a person and how excited they all were as a family to have Shahista a part of the industry. ‘Shahista has a huge circle of friends back in London and strictly takes advice from them only. Yes, being her elder sister and a veteran in the industry, I’m also there for her but Shahista is very independent like that as she has lived alone’ “She has a very pretty face, much suited for the small screen camera. The project which she is about to do sounds really good. You see, Shahista is a very focused girl. She’s a highly-qualified individual and very modern in her approach towards life. She is better than everybody else, I guarantee. You know, sometimes she reminds me of Katrina Kaif. In terms of how British she sounds but is still starring in desi projects, you know. Shahista was born and raised in London, and holds a British passport,” Meera said, while talking exclusively to Daily Times. When asked who raised her there, when Meera’s entire family is in Pakistan, Meera replied after much thought, “My khala (aunt), my mother and me also whenever I visited London. We funded her education and are proud to say that she’s 21 but will be a barrister soon. She graduated from law school with a high GPA. Initially, she received a lot of offers to work in Indian dramas, but Shahista wanted to do cultured dramas and shows. She is not into vulgarity. She needs good family dramas to work in. She doesn’t like the glamour world.” We asked Meera if she guides and advices her sister on what projects she should do, Meera said, “Shahista has a huge circle of friends back in London and strictly takes advice from them only. Yes, being her elder sister and a veteran in the industry, I’m also there for her but Shahista is very independent like that as she has lived alone and doesn’t really need anyone to constantly guide her.” Shahroz Sabzwari had earlier expressed to the media about how “intrigued” he was to be working with the sultry actress’ sister. ‘She has a very pretty face, much suited for the small screen camera. The project, which she is about to do, sounds really good. You see, Shahista is a very focused girl. She’s a highly qualified individual and very modern in her approach towards life’ He had said, “I’m working with Meera’s sister, Syeda Shahista Abbas. She is a lawyer and has worked in Dublin. I was intrigued that I was going to work with Meera’s sister as I’ve seen Meera in Javed Mamu’s films,” he said. “This story is based on nawabs and Usman Pirzada is a part of the film as well, so you can imagine that it will be a beautiful play. I think in the next five years, the Pakistani industry would make a film that would really convince the world that we’ve arrived. Look at ‘Parchi’, ‘Rangreza’ and ‘Punjab Nahi Jaungi’ – they have all been amazing and I’m sure we’ll get better.” In the interview, Sabzwari also pointed out how he had high hopes from the Pakistani film industry improving beyond measure in the next five years. Here’s wishing Shahista all the best for her future endeavours, as we’re really excited to see her on our TV sets now. Published in Daily Times, December 4th 2017.