“It’s Challenging to Play On-Screen Mother to Former Heroes”: Zainab Qayyum

Veteran Pakistani actress and host Zainab Qayyum (often known as ZQ) has opened up about the unique professional and emotional challenge of playing on-screen mother to actors who were once her contemporaries or “heroes.”

In a recent interview on a PTV talk show, Qayyum addressed a common question she faces: why does she accept motherly roles to stars like Faisal Quraishi and Humayun Saeed? She clarified that the decision is not born out of “greed” for roles, but is a considered professional choice. She explained that very few people understand how challenging it is to portray the mother of one’s former on-screen heroes.

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More Than Just a Role
For Zainab Qayyum, acting remains a passion. She approaches every scene with the intensity of it being her “first or last.” She expressed gratitude for being able to earn a living from her craft, which she considers a blessing.

Her primary criteria for selecting roles are the production house and the director, believing that this combination is crucial for delivering quality work. A notable example is her role as Faisal Quraishi’s mother in the popular Geo TV drama “Khalish” nearly seven years ago.

A Testament to a Long Career
With a career spanning decades, Zainab Qayyum’s notable dramas include Khalish, Mohabbat Chhor Di Maine, Kala Doriya, Aangan, and more recently, Din, for which she has received significant praise.

Her remarks shed light on the natural, yet sometimes personally complex, evolution of an actor’s career—transitioning from leading roles to mature, character-driven parts as the industry and audience perceptions shift.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why does Zainab Qayyum find playing mother to former co-stars challenging?
It involves an emotional and professional adjustment to portray a maternal figure to actors she may have worked alongside in different dynamics earlier in her career, requiring a shift in on-screen relationship and audience perception.

2. How does she select her roles?
She prioritizes the reputation of the production house and the director over the specific role, believing that a good team leads to a quality project.

3. Can you give an example of such a role?
A prominent example is her portrayal of the mother to actor Faisal Quraishi’s character in the hit drama series “Khalish.”

4. What is her view on acting?
She considers acting her passion and expresses deep gratitude for being able to pursue it professionally, treating every performance with dedication and freshness.