After her debut with the film, Hijrat, model turned actor Rabia Butt is all set to explore the world of acting further. The award-winning model has joined the cast of the much anticipated period play, Aangan which also stars Ahsan Khan, Ahad Raza Mir, Sajal Aly, Mawra Hocane and Sonya Hussyn among others.
“Following Hijrat, I got a lot of offers, both for film and television, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to invest 4-5 years of my life into a new medium, Rabia explained. “I am successful and making enough money through modeling, so obviously, the motivation to step into acting had to be bigger than that.”
While Rabia only has a cameo role in the play where she essays a role of a Hindu widow, she feels it’s significant enough to leave an impact.
“All the characters in the play are interconnected, except for mine,” Rabia said. “But it’s a strong character with a lot of layers that adds value to the play. In fact, it’s one I feel strongly about and can also relate with. Kusum is a Hindu widow who is rebelling against the norms of the society. During days when Hindu widows were made to chop their hair off, you see her with beautiful long hair.”
There are also two songs that have been picturised on her character.
Speaking of her co-stars, she added that she’s not new in the industry and had already known most of them. “The industry is the same, only the medium is different for me. Mawra Hocane and Hira Mani were both sweethearts. Ahsan Khan is not just a co-star, he’s also a good friend and an amazing human being. When I told him about the role that was offered, he encouraged me to take it and helped me throughout.”
She also talked about her director, who Rabia believes has been brilliant at what he does and respects him a lot. On the other hand, she also felt that giving credit to Babar Zaheer was due, who was responsible for recommending her.
Read More: There’s more to Aangan than just romance, says Ahsan Khan
Aangan by Khadija Mastoor is consider the most prominent books on Partition that highlights the silent sacrifices made by women during that period. The television version of the book is expected to hit the screens by August/September.
