She has that infectious energy around her. She is bohemian, she is bold and she is original. She is none other than Nida Butt, music director par excellence.
you & me
She has that infectious energy around her. She is bohemian, she is bold and she is original. She is none other than Nida Butt, music director par excellence. Nida has been in the showbiz industry for more than a decade now. Since childhood she has been inclined towards dance and music, so becoming a music director was a natural choice for her. Nida is associated with MAD school - a music, art and dance institute as well as performance venue - inaugurated in 2009. The school facilitates Karachi’s local artist community by providing arts education programmes to aspiring and talented young artists. This week meet the one and only Nida Butt in our You & Me section and let’s see what are her likes and dislikes... 
How many theatre/musical/ stage shows you have done so far?
‘Chicago’, ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Grease’, ‘Carnage’, ‘The Pillow man’ and ‘Karachi - the musical’. MAD has also brought ‘The Karachi Mubarak Festival’ and the ‘I AM KARACHI music festival’ (in partnership with ‘I am Karachi Campaign’) to Karachi audiences.
What are your most memorable stage shows to-date?
‘Chicago’ has special memories because it was one of the earliest ones but then ‘Karachi - The Musical’ left a mark too as it was Pakistan’s first original musical with 12 original songs composed by Hamza Jafri.
Is direction your passion or just a time pass? Or a way of making money?
If it was a way to make money, I should be rolling in it by now. Arts is a struggle in Pakistan, but I chose it because it fed my soul.
What was your recent project?
MAD School just wrapped up Braadri broadcast where I was the executive producer. 2017 remains open now to fresh ideas. (The Braadri Broadcast is an acoustic, cross-ethnic 15-piece orchestra that plays 10 original songs in 10 different languages spoken across Pakistan - Urdu, Sindhi, Punjabi, Balochi, Pashto, Seraiki, Marwaari, Hindko, Brushaski and Shina).
Your favourite international label:
Chanel.
Your favourite designer:
From the local ones I think Shehla Chatoor is so edgy.
Your favourite photographer:
Love Nadir Firoz Khan and wife Maha Burney’s work.
What do you usually wear in daily life?
Comfort clothing all the way!
What is one cosmetic you cannot do without?
Conceal conceal concealer!
When stepping out, do you wear makeup all the time?
Depends on where I’m going - mostly it’s the office, so no!
Your idea of romance:
Surprise me! I’m a meticulous planner myself so the element of surprise is woo hoo!
One thing you like best about yourself:
Now you got me thinking ....probably my resilience.
Which designer’s clothes you would always love to wear?
Chanel.
You like guys who are....
Like Hamza Jafri.
Your favourite co-star:
With so many talented actors, it would be a sin to choose one.
Your most irritating habit...
Preening - I’m a Rooster (Chinese sign) so it’s part of our psyche.
You don’t like people who are...
Hypocrites! Stay away please.
You always feel happy in the company of...
Animals. Their trust and innocence go a long way.
You are afraid of...
Fear itself. Rise and conquer!
Happiness is...
A warm fire on a cold day, sunsets at the beach and my three dogs by my side.
Your most valuable possession:
My grandmother’s rings.
What’s your favourite restaurant?
One that serves a mean burrito.
Your all time favourite movie?
Zoolander - who can resist that face?
Are you shopaholic?
This one I am terribly guilty of. YES!
What bores you the most...
Laziness - already snoring.
When feeling low you prefer:
Prayer and my BFF’s comfort.
You are crazy about...
Horses. Want to retire on a farm one day.
Among your friends you are known as...
The Doer.
Are you a social person or a loner?
Social - although with time I am becoming selfish with giving myself to others.
How do you like to spend your Sundays...
With nature.
What’s your favourite breakfast food?
A spicy omelette and a side of hash browns. Lastly, waffles if I still have room left.
Your beauty regimen:
Cleanse & moisturize! Dry skin is the root cause for wrinkles so lather it on.
Your favourite exercise...
Yoga, stretch and find inner peace.
The best gift you have ever received?
The gift of life.
The best thing that’s been said about me...
She’s ready for Broadway.
The biggest misconception about me...
I have a hard outer shell, so co workers often can’t see past that. I’m rather soft from the inside.
What do you like most about job?
The faces of my happy audience. The world needs more happy people.
If you weren’t doing what you are doing today... you would be...
Working for a cause. Either for the rights of women/children or animals!
