Veteran actor Hina Dilpazeer offered a candid take on acting and the state of Pakistani television in an interview with Vasay Chaudhry.

She said acting required complete surrender of the ego. “True acting requires breaking one’s ego and completely shedding the self to step into another’s life,” she said, describing the profession as a “sea of fire” that newcomers must be prepared to dive into fully if they want to succeed.

She added that she gives her full effort to every role, regardless of genre, noting that a serious performance can bring “a flood of grief”, while a comic one can help audiences forget their sorrows.

Dilpazeer also recalled the most difficult performance of her career, which came just days after her father’s death, when she had to return to the set of a comedy.

“Maintaining the character and the illusion of happiness for the audience while grieving,” she said, “was the most difficult acting task she has ever faced.”

The actor also criticised current trends in Pakistani television, arguing that many dramas are being let down by weak writing.

“Many dramas today lack strong, well-written stories. That television’s reach makes it powerful enough to shape public sentiment, and that filling it with weak filler content wastes both time and money.”

She was equally critical of what she described as the industry’s “blind race” towards stardom, warning that chasing superstar status can become a “black hole” for a serious acting career, pulling actors away from the depth their work requires.