Sharmila Farooqi Reveals Why She Quit Acting After Just One Drama

Pakistani politician and women’s rights activist Sharmila Farooqi has revealed an unexpected chapter from her past: a brief foray into acting long before she entered politics. The Pakistan Peoples Party leader shared that she starred in a single television drama at the age of 15 but never intended to pursue it professionally.

During an appearance on Faria Al-Taf’s podcast, Farooqi explained that her interest developed during her convent school years, where extracurricular activities boosted her confidence in performance and public expression. This led her to explore acting as a hobby.

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With her father’s connections to senior PTV producer Haider Imam Rizvi, who lived near their home, she was offered the lead role in an early private TV production. The drama was produced by renowned producer Abdullah Kadwani.

While she described the experience as memorable, the demanding shooting schedule began to interfere with her studies. Fearing her education would be compromised, she made a conscious decision to prioritize academics and, eventually, her political career over acting.

She clarified that acting was never part of her long-term career plan, which is why she did not accept any roles after that first project. However, she hinted that if time and circumstances permit in the future, she might consider working on a short drama or theater play focused on a social issue.

FAQs About Sharmila Farooqi’s Acting Career

1. Why did Sharmila Farooqi quit acting after one drama?
She left acting because the time-consuming shoots were affecting her school studies. She chose to prioritize her education and later, her political career, as acting was never her professional goal.

2. Which drama did she act in?
She starred in an early private TV production. While she didn’t name the drama, it was produced by Abdullah Kadwani, a well-known figure in the industry.

3. How did she get the acting opportunity?
Her father knew senior PTV producer Haider Imam Rizvi. Through this connection, she was offered the lead role in the drama when she was just 15.

4. Would she ever return to acting?
She mentioned that if time allows in the future, she might consider a short drama or theater play centered on a social cause, but politics remains her primary focus.