From boardrooms to the sets

interview

From spreadsheets to scripts, Tooba Anwar’s journey has been quite a transformation. Before becoming a familiar face on the TV screen, she spent eight years working quietly behind the scenes in Geo’s Corporate Affairs Department. Today, she is charming audiences with her acting.

Tooba started her career as a model and appeared in various commercials and fashion magazines before moving into television. She is known for her roles in dramas such as Baby Baji (2023), Baby Baji Ki Bahuwain (2024) and Mohabbat Satrangi (2024).

Recently seen in Geo Entertainment’s drama serial Mohra, Tooba’s performance as Anoushay has earned her plenty of praise - and for good reason. “It wasn’t an easy role. It was quite a dark character. There were some heavy scenes - divorce, suicide - things that weigh on you emotionally. Even after the camera stopped rolling, it took me a while to shake it off,” reflects Tooba. She pauses for a while and then continues, “But that’s what acting is, isn’t it? Getting lost in a role and then finding yourself again.”

In a candid interview with You! Tooba shares her journey with our readers. Read on…

Swapping office desks

for drama sets

Before she stepped in front of the camera, Tooba was associated with the Geo News family - just in a very different capacity.

“People don’t realise I worked at Geo for years, sitting in meetings and handling corporate affairs,” she says with a smile. “Now, they see me playing all sorts of characters - from emotional leads to complicated women - and they’re surprised. But I think both journeys taught me something valuable.”

When asked which life she prefers - the corporate world or acting - she pauses thoughtfully. “I’m really happy where I am now,” she elucidates. “I enjoyed my corporate life; it had its own charm and routine. But being on screen, telling stories, connecting with people - that gives me a sense of fulfilment nothing else can,” she adds.

When acting gets intense

Agha Ali plays Sikandar alongside Tooba in Mohra. Talking about her co-star, Tooba says that the dramatic scenes in Mohra are not as effortless as they appear.

“There was a scene where I had to slap Agha,” she recalls with a smile. “I actually did it without touching him. He was so respectful throughout the shoot. Every time we had a physically intense scene, he’d ask, ‘Are you alright?’ - and that’s exactly how it should be.”

“Good acting is when you don’t actually hit someone, yet the audience feels the impact. That’s the magic of it,” she expresses.

Dealing with trolls and the toll of social media

Tooba has had her fair share of attention online - not all of it positive. But she speaks about it with a sense of calm honesty.

“People think actors don’t get affected by online comments - we do,” she admits. “When you have thousands of followers, you see everything. Some comments are so cruel, no one would want to read such things about themselves. It does affect your mental health, no matter how strong you think you are.”

“When people say, ‘It doesn’t bother me,’ I find that hard to believe. Words have power. Just because we’re public figures doesn’t mean people can say anything they like,” she comments.

On responding to negativity

So, should celebrities ever respond to trolling? We asked. “That’s the tricky part,” she sighs. “If we say something back, we’re called rude or arrogant. People assume they can type whatever they want on social media and it won’t matter - but it does. It hurts and honestly, I believe it counts as a sin. Kindness costs nothing,” she laments.

Through it all, Tooba Anwar remains remarkably grounded - thoughtful, expressive and real. Whether she’s tackling intense roles or shrugging off online noise, she carries herself with quiet strength. “Acting lets me live many lives,” she smiles, “but staying true to myself in just one - that’s what really matters,” she concludes.

The writer is a lifestyle and entertainment journalist at Geo Digital. She can be reached at Kehkashan.fiza@geo.tv