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Actor Hira Tareen spoke about her opinions on the Pakistani media industry, personal style, and how growing up in a creative Karachi household shaped her path in a conversation with Ali Safina on his Peek Freans Heartbeats podcast.

Tareen, who also happens to be married to the host, joked about how people often confuse her with the clothing brand Sana Safinaz because of her husband’s last name. She quipped that her husband makes her out to be a scary person, joking that everyone thinks she’s always angry. “Why are wives made out to be such monsters?” she asked.

The Pakistani drama industry

Speaking about the Pakistani drama industry — which, while gradually evolving, continues to face criticism for problematic tropes — Safina asked how she views this content that they’re both been a part of and whether she sees it as a green flag or a red one.

“I think it’s a green flag,” she said, “But it can get greener.” She said she can’t generalise the entire industry, but it has the potential to improve.

Pakistani dramas have increasingly come under fire for romanticising abuse and toxic heroes. A recent example is of Mann Mast Malang where actor Danish Taimoor, starring as Kabir, ties up the heroine to keep her from leaving. The drama has drawn intense criticism, especially in the face of rising cases of violence against women.

However, at the same time, the industry is also producing dramas such as Tan Man Neel o Neel, which addressed societal intolerance and extremism.

Finding your personal style

Safina pointed out how Tareen is always on top of her game when it comes to social media trends, to which the Ishq Murshid actor replied that she does what she personally likes. “More than trends, what really attracts me is the timelessness of a particular style,” she added.

On the topic of personal style, Safina asked, “What are the key things to acquire for yourself to have that individual style?” Tareen, reflecting on her journey, described herself as an “in-between” kind of person who enjoys experimenting. “I feel things can get stagnant if you stick to the same look your whole life,” she said. “I used to be someone who only wore solids, but now I’m enjoying prints.”

She added that this mindset extends beyond fashion. “One can keep exploring, discovering, rediscovering, reinventing themselves,” she said, adding that it’s also important not to get too stuck in a comfort zone. “When you feel good in something, that’s when you look the best.”

Reflecting on her roots, Tareen credited Karachi with shaping the core of who she is. “A big part of my personality, my essence, comes from Karachi,” she said, adding that she grew up in a very vibrant family.

Though she described herself as a shy child, Tareen recalled always being a keen observer. “I was always watching what was happening around me. In our family, we had artists, doctors, and even top-notch singers. There was so much talent, but no one was really taking it seriously, including me,” she said. The actor admitted that while she wasn’t expressive as a child, she absorbed a lot from her surroundings. People would tell her that she was talented, but she thought they were just trying to build up her morale.

The conversation then took a playful turn toward “superpowers” when Safina asked, “What do you think is your superpower? And if you feel you don’t have one, what superpower do you wish you had?” Tareen responded, saying, “The art of negotiation. I feel like if I had that streak in me, especially when it comes to money matters and finances, I would’ve been a shark.”