“Mere khaane ko nazar laga di hai sub ne,” Mehwish Hayat told Instep in the week that has passed. Not that you can ever tell, but Mehwish likes food like fish like water. We really couldn’t come up with another allegory without sounding weird. Also, to really paint a picture, Mehwish was enjoying a delicious looking lunch as she made this declaration.

The Chalawa and Punjab Nahi Jaungi actor finds herself returning to the process of filmmaking anew, after a long, long break. That, though, isn’t the only thing that changed for her during the last couple of years.

“I stopped eating so much during Covid (lockdowns and isolation),” she said. “I don’t eat with the same enthusiasm anymore.”

Her London Nahi Jaunga costar, Gohar Rasheed adds another layer to this, as they speak about the upcoming film. “I’m not really a food person,” says Gohar, “but agar Mehwish kha rahi ho tu, obviously one joins in.”

Just as contagious as her affection for food is, so are the stories of Mehwish’s adventures with food. “You aren’t here for lunch,” director Nadeem Baig quips. “Yahan ki packing bohat achi hai,” Humayun Saeed ribs her too.

Rolling her eyes and sighing in frustration Mehwish explains that the cast had visited Fahad Mustafa’s famous game-show the day before, which had a lovely, catered high tea laid out. Since she didn’t have time to eat then, she got some food to go.

Nadeem Baig reminds her of another instance when she wanted to stop and eat some bun kebabs between her vanity van and the set. When he told
her she could eat later, she responded: “haan magar thandey hojayen ge! Mazaa nahi aye ga!”

We love a person who loves food! And on that note we will also divulge that Mehwish Hayat also spoke about other serious aspects of her career, and the art of storytelling in general. (Please see page 36)