Firstperson: Dum guttkoon, Jugni ji
By Uzma Mazhar
Steadily but surely creating a niche for herself, Meesha Shafi boasts of a multitude of talents.
A graduate from the NCA in Lahore, she is a popular artist with a flair for oil on canvas. The gifted gal has also dabbled in acting and modeling along with representing L’Oreal Paris in Pakistan as one of the spokespersons, as well as being the lead vocalist for the percussion-based fusion band, Overload.
On how she manages to multi-task, Meesha says, “Multi-tasking is not a problem. In fact, I would probably bore myself if I stuck to only one thing. What’s important is being surrounded by supportive friends and family who understand my often demanding schedule.”
Guessing my next question as to what she enjoys most given a choice, Meesha adds, “I may be a model, actress, artist and a singer but I enjoy all of the above. They are all different mediums of self-expression and I like having the luxury to go from one to the other whenever I please.”
Coming from a background with a family steeped in arts and culture, the pressure of being the daughter of veteran TV actress Saba Pervaiz may be a fact to reckon with, but according to Meesha it is no pressure whatsoever as she is very proud of her mother’s talent and success.
“Maybe if I was devoting more time to acting, which I’m not presently, people would start comparing and expecting from me the kind of life she (Saba) brings to her roles on screen. Then I might feel some pressure, however, at the moment, I’m focusing more on taking my career into other directions.”
When asked if being a part of the showbiz fraternity was an obvious choice because of her mom, she says, “If it’s in your blood, there’s no escaping it. I know I was born with the performing bug in me. If it was there from such an early age, it probably was because of my mom.”
Considered as one of Pakistan’s most edgy and exciting personalities with an exceptional ability to be glamorously versatile, Meesha’s current avatar spells that she is a rock star with the added feather in her cap of being the lead vocalist of Overload. “I wasn’t ‘Meesha the singer’ before I became the lead singer for Overload. I had never sung professionally before I joined the band. It is the loudest band in Pakistan, and it is heavily drenched in rock influences, the dhol brings in the element of fusion, but take that away from it, and it is a rock band. Hence the avatar ‘rock star’ I suppose. Although, for the record, I would like to go a long way before I can call myself a rock star. I guess there never have been any female rockers in Pakistan so the title was itching to be used. Lucky me!”
And yes, rock star Meesha has an equally rocking voice – a fact that came out into the open when she performed a groovy rendition of Alif Allah Chambay di Booty, a duet with Arif Lohar in a recent episode of Coke Studio-3.
With the accolades now coming her way how has it been to be a part of the soulful music show that inevitably brings out the best in a musician/singer? Meesha proudly states, “I really enjoyed it because everything revolves around the artiste/vocalist. That way, it was refreshing and different from being part of a band. Other than that, being under the same banner as such great, legendary singers was phenomenal. I’m very thrilled and curious to see the final result when its airing completes in August.”
In a short span of time, with a showbiz career going great guns, Meesha’s name recently got attached to L’Oreal. Representing an international brand has its perks. But on a practical note for her and the others with whom she shares the title of spokesperson, it came about because they were looking for dynamic, young women who have substance and talent, not just pretty faces that sell products. “I have done a lot of commercial modeling and being a L’Oréal Pakistan spokesperson actually acknowledges that you have not just the right look, but also the right attitude and most importantly, things to say,” she adds.
On a concluding note, answering the cliqued question about her future plans and work to look forward to in terms of music, modeling and acting pat came the reply, “I don’t believe in sharing my future plans as my mother always says ‘too many slips between the cup and the lip’.” Well said, Meesha.
