Cultural differences aside, Sara Khan reveals working in the neighbouring country was an enriching experience
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; September 13, 2017)

"Arts should not be mixed with politics," says Sara Khan, having just completed shooting for Pakistani show, Laikin. While ties continue to remain strained India and Pakistan, the actor says she received tremendous love in the neighbouring country. "A lot of reality gets lost with media intervention. The truth is far from what they show. The people I worked with were extremely warm to me."

An unusual love story, Laikin marks her second small screen outing in Pakistan after Bay Khudi. "The show explores romance between a pair of cousins. The love-hate dynamic between the two central characters has been captured beautifully," she says.

Khan’s tryst with Pakistani shows began early last year when she was signed on for Bay Khudi, after a casting agent spotted her in Sapna Babul Ka Bidaai and was impressed by her performance. It was well-timed for the actor who always wanted to be a part of Pakistani shows because of their "rich content". "It was my Nani’s wish that I do a show in Pakistan ever since she began watching Zindagi [the channel]," she smiles.

Her experience of shooting in the neighbouring country was similar to that back home, barring a stray incident, this time around.

"After the day’s shoot, I headed down to the hotel lobby to unwind, casually dressed in a pair of shorts. In Mumbai, nobody cares about your outfits. But, things are different there. Many people in the lobby were quite shocked by my choice of outfit. A unit hand then told me that people refrain from wearing shorts outside. I ran back to my room and changed immediately."

However, she is quick to add that she was also privy to some powerful, independent women. "The roles of channel head, director and additional directors were helmed by women. That was encouraging to me."