KARACHI: Actor Anayah Shahid has praised fellow actor Sajal Ali for supporting and guiding her during her debut drama Zanjeerain, revealing that she had always wanted to begin her acting career with a negative role.
In an interview, Anayah said she was particularly excited to join the project after learning that Sajal Ali was part of the cast. She described Sajal as an “elder sister” who helped her understand how things worked on set and encouraged her to approach her whenever she faced difficulties.
Anayah said she preferred negative characters because they offered greater opportunities for an actor to demonstrate their range. As a newcomer, she therefore wanted to make her debut with a challenging negative role rather than a conventional positive character.
She recalled insisting on auditioning for the role of Shireen in Zanjeerain, despite initial concerns over scheduling conflicts with another project. After convincing the team, she received confirmation two days later that she had been selected.
The role brought significant attention, but also criticism from viewers who became emotionally invested in the character. Anayah said she received harsh messages from people who blamed her personally for Shireen’s actions.
She eventually addressed the issue on Instagram, reminding viewers that Shireen was a fictional character created for the script and that criticism of the character should not be directed at the actor.
Anayah also recalled instances where fans approached her and called her “Shireen”. While she appreciated the recognition, she said she was especially pleased when someone identified her by her real name.
The actor revealed that her career began on social media, where she used to portray different characters. Although her family initially opposed her decision to pursue acting, she said they have gradually become more accepting of her career choice.
At present, Zanjeerain remains Anayah Shahid’s only released project, although she has indicated that she is working on upcoming projects.
