Touching base with Sana Javed

Ever since Anjum Shahzad’s Khaani went on air, it has been consistently topping the ratings chart, with Sana Javed in the titular role alongside Feroze Khan. Sana, who essays the role of Khaani in the play, made her debut with drama serial Pyare Afzal in 2013. She ventured into cinema as well in 2017 film, Mehrunisa V Lub U.

The actor has been around for the past four years and claims that the success of any project is based on teamwork and that is why Khaani has been generating great reviews and has successfully managed to keep the audiences hooked to it week after week. “I think the characters, the content, how it has been written and how the actors have executed it are key factors that make a play successful,” Sana said in an exclusive interview with Instep. “Moreover the vision of the director and actor also counts. I remember before shooting I used to sit with the director and give my input on how a particular scene could be made better. I also firmly believe that hard work and, to some extent, luck play an important part in the success of any project.”

With a few more episodes to go, when asked what’s more in store for the audience as far as Khaani is concerned, Sana shared, “I have been coming across comments that Khaani is being dragged even after Khaani gets married to Arham and Mir Hadi is arrested but the thing is, Mir Hadi’s obsession with Khaani is still there and hence the play hasn’t reached its climax as yet.”

She added, “What the audience needs to understand is that at the end of the day it is a play and of course it has to be dramatized to a certain extent. I really don’t think it’s being dragged because the story is being built up through these situational scenes that will ultimately lead to the climax. And we are sure that the ending will not disappoint you.”

Be it the character of Lubna in Pyare Afzal, Mahnoor in Zara Yaad Kar or Mohini in Goya, Sana Javed is very selective about the roles she essays. Regarding the selection of her roles, the actor said, “I always go for roles that are empowered in some way or the other. The fact is that television has a vast viewership and through this medium we can create awareness and show that women are strong and independent. Through the characters I essay, I want to set an example for our women that living in suppression is not the way to go and that it is time to stand up for our rights and speak up against any kind of injustice.”

According to Sana, even in Khaani she portrays a strong character; she is not afraid of Mir Hadi, who kills her twin brother in broad daylight, or his influential family. And with the support of her husband Arham, Khaani is able to get justice.

Moving on, talking about her upcoming projects, Sana revealed that she is considering three to four scripts. “There is this project that is also about women empowerment and the plot revolves around age-old customs but nothing has been finalized so far.”

Regarding Mehreen Jabbar’s upcoming telefilm Dino ki Dulhaniya, which is a light-hearted romantic project, and Anjum Shahzad’s rom-com Romeo Weds Heer, Sana shared that the projects will most probably go on air sometime after Eid, once Khaani concludes as she is sharing the screen with Feroze Khan in both.

On when her fans will see her on the big screen once again, Sana revealed, “After doing Mehrunisa V Lub U I have realized that there are a lot of things that I need to consider before signing up on a new film. I’m just waiting for the right script and the right team to work with.”

As far as her future plans are concerned, Sana Javed plans to venture into production and maybe direction in the coming years.