“I was always inclined to take up acting.”

After making her mark on the fashion runway for years, being the poster child for top brands like Maheen Khan’s Gulabo, Areeba Habib has stepped into the wonderful world of acting and is now ready to make her debut on television. She’ll be introduced in the upcoming play Koi Chand Rakh, a love story which also features Imran Abbas, Ayeza Khan and Muneeb Butt in lead roles. Areeba plays one of the female leads in a love triangle.

We spoke to Areeba about branching out and what it would mean for her career.

Instep: Tell us how Koi Chand Rakh happened and did you have to audition for this role?

Areeba Habib (AH): I auditioned when I found out that this role was being offered. The casting team had sessions with me for about 90 days before I was selected. There were other aspirants but I was finally chosen for the role.

Instep: Imran and Ayeza are senior artists and have huge fan following. Did you at any point feel intimidated by their presence?

AH: I didn’t feel intimidated but of course Ayeza and Imran are established, senior artists and I looked up to them. After just a few days on the set we had a very comfortable working relationship and it was a great team to work with. My confidence grew with time.

Instep: What is the one thing that you feel you learnt from Ayeza and Imran?

AH: Ayeza was my mentor on the sets and constantly helped me like an elder sister throughout the serial. She was instrumental in teaching me the little secrets of acting. I would like to thank Imran, who was extremely tolerant with me and for his constant support.

Instep: Is Koi Chand Rakh a love triangle?

AH: Yes, it is a love triangle.

Instep: How did you prepare for the role and what were the challenges?

AH: Siraj Ul Haq, the director of the play, worked hard at bringing out the best in all of us. He was constantly busy generating an intensity that demanded high level work from his team. I must give him credit for his tolerance and for creating mental spaces in which new actors like me can flourish.

Instep: Do you think it has become more or less predictable that every model who is successful on the ramp eventually ends up on TV?

AH: Not at all. I was always inclined from the beginning to take up acting. I was always told by people close to me that I had a natural talent for acting. I was waiting for the right opportunity and had a vision of what role I wanted to debut with. When I read the script for Koi Chand Rakh I was absolutely sure this part was made for me.

Instep: You have a great relationship with top designers including Nomi Ansari and Maheen Khan; do you think it helps to have a mentor or a guide in this field?

AH: The fashion fraternity is my family and of course, I have a healthy relation with all my seniors. Nomi is a dear friend then there is Deepak Perwani, Nubain Ali, Tapu Javeri, Aamna Aqeel, Frieha Altaf, Sheru (HSY), Shehla Chatoor, Misha Lakhani, Tena Durrani, Saba Ansari, Nabila, Jaffer Hassan, Nadir Toosy and Mohsin Sayeed. I am very close to all of them. Maheen for me is a bundle of so many people rolled in one. She is like a mother to me; she is a friend, at other times she is my shoulder to cry on, she is my teacher and a mentor in real sense. I don’t take any step without her approval. I adore her and love her to death.

Instep: What would your advice be for girls who want to take up modeling career?

AH: Work hard and keep your goals in focus; eventually it will pay off and you will one day reach your destination.

Instep: What do you think about the #MeToo movement and have you ever experienced anything unsavory?

AH: Of course, as a woman I completely support the movement. After hearing so many ordeals I consider myself extremely lucky not to have encountered any such incident. I am also very careful not to put myself in an environment where I give any opportunity to have my space violated but let me make it absolutely clear that this does not justify sexual harassment nor does it make any form of violence against women acceptable.

Instep: Do you feel the pressure of being active on social media and how important it is in a model’s career?

AH: We have just recently discovered social media as a powerful tool. Our success is measured by how many followers we have and, of course, to achieve higher ratings we must attract a large audience. We all have dreams. Through our stories and pictures many people can share and be a part of their own hopes and dreams.