I am very finicky now in life: Ayesha Toor
By Sadia Malik

ISLAMABAD—Definitely not your regular bimbo whose only claim to fame is just her good looks and the minute she opens her pretty mouth, all you are left capable of is to emit a squeal of disgust. Yes, such dames still abound in the world of glam but Ayesha Toor is not one of them. And you can bet on it! She is one refined and collected girl who knows how to carry herself with panache. You will not see her splashed across every other newspaper or magazine. This could be due to the fact that she is not just a successful television personality, but also a dedicated wife who manages an immaculate home for her hubby.
What are your academic qualifications?
I did four years at National College of Arts, Lahore...
What were you doing before you plunged into showbiz?
was working for one of the leading daily newspapers of Pakistan, The News International...
So how did you actually get in?
I got roped in by Saqib Malik for his video Behti Naar. That was the starting point. This was followed by offers for other projects of which some I chose, others I rejected. However, I still remain a reluctant warrior...
What about your other siblings, anyone else chose showbiz as a career?
No! They’re all pursuing different fields. My sister works for the Export Promotion Bureau; one brother is a banker and the youngest is working for Pakistan International Airlines...
Your family’s reaction when you sprang on them your desire to join the showbiz clan?
They chose not to react, but I demand respect and to an extent, adulation from them...
What was it you always wanted to be?
I wanted to be a plastic surgeon when still young so I studied medicine but I guess I got distracted somewhere along the line. Since then it’s new aspirations every two years...
Which is more gratifying, acting or modeling?
I enjoy acting quite a bit and ideally I’d want to go to a performance arts school to get some formal training. The actors I have worked with so far like Rahat Kazmi, Bushra Ansari, Sajid Hasan were fantastic and whatever little I know about acting is by watching these people bring characters alive. People are put into asylums for what actors get paid for...
What other genre of showbiz have you tried your hand at?
Besides hosting shows, I have also modeled for a few commercials, Nescafe, Don Carlos, Habib Bank and Ufone. ..
Is this a hobby or a career for you?
Well at this stage I hope to make a career out of it...
Tell us about some of the projects you have featured in.
To date I have done three videos - two for Rushk and one for Ali Azmat; one telefilm for Misbah Khalid, one for Angeline Malik that I am very proud of; a soap with Jaleel Akhtar, presented and wrote six shows for various channels. The rest I don’t remember...
Besides show business, what else gets you going?
If I could travel and write screen plays, that makes me happy. For instance, if I am given a script to write I’d like to go to Turkey and write it there. Places inspire me and sometimes if I am lucky, even people do...
Besides showbiz, how do you keep yourself occupied?
I like to spend my time watching movies and reading. I also try to be healthy...
Are you satisfied with life?
In spurts only...
Memorable showbiz incident
When I shaved my head for Behti Naar...
Any funny incident you can think of during recording?
Actually there are too many to write in detail. So let’s just skip it...
Future plans are...
Be right next to the farangis when they colonise Mars...
Your favourite designers are.
Sonya Battla and Alexander McQueen...
You prefer western attire or eastern wear in your routine life?
I love shalwar kameez, unfortunately I don’t know how to put it together...
Who inspires you in fashion?.
I don’t have a style icon. I love clothes though and I know better than anyone else what works for me...
Are you the master of whatever you choose to wear?
No, I am not! This country does not allow it. ..
Are you a make-up person?
I only wear bronzer in my daily routine. After wearing layers of disgusting make-up for television it’s a wonder any of the girls can manage to look fresh and wrinkle-free...
Being a star do you get stalked by people, especially guys?
No! I don’t get stalked...
Our society still looks down upon models and actresses. Do people have preconceived notions about you when they meet you?
Oh men in this field are stars and women sluts! I don’t give or take crap from anyone...
Tell us about your coming together with your hubby. Uns.
He was my knight in shinning armour! Just when I had given up on MANKIND he came along...
Has being married affected your work and decisions in any way?
Let’s just say that showbiz is more receptive towards single women.
Is life better after marriage?
Life is strange. Just when you think you have it figured out, it winks and knees you where it hurts the most. Then there are unexpected small wonders that leave you smiling in your sleep...
Does your hubby help you in household work. How do you distribute household chores?
I am very finicky now in life. I like everything in my house to be in its exact place so yes, I delegate work. The beauty of living in Pakistan is that even your masi has someone coming in to clean her place.
If given a chance what steps would you take to revolutionise this industry?
Things have changed in the last two years; for better or worse I don’t know. What I do know is that art and creativity end where money begins. An actor gets three or four times the amount a script writer does and it shows in the content of our programming. A good show starts first with a very tight script than anything else. How many good writers have our industry produced in the last ten years and what did people like Noorul Hooda Shah and Anwar Maqsood do to encourage the younger lot? I have worked with the best people our industry has to offer and I wish that instead of artists having to hunt for quality work, there were agencies to promote and find work for them. But sadly, there is absolutely no one in Pakistan who would do that. Ego is very important in this line of work but not when its compromising quality and the end product. Egos are bigger than talent here.