Who knew that Rabab Hashim, a girl whose career started with hosting kid’s shows at just 10 years of age, would eventually end up playing challenging roles in TV dramas. Talking to MAG on how she discovered her passion for acting, the quick-witted and equally alluring starlet says that, “I started hosting at the age of 10 for a kids’ show on Geo TV. I was quite shy back then. Since that very first show there was no turning back. I kept doing one thing after the other all through my school and college years.” Today, Rabab is one of the top-notch artists of our entertainment industry. She is known for her leading roles in Piya Mann Bhaye, Anaya Tumhari Hui, Ishqaaway, Mannat, Marzi, Aik Thi Misaal, Kam Zarf, Meray Mohsin and Qarar. These days she is seen alongside Noor Hassan in drama serial Sil-e-Mohabbat.

Over the years, Rabab is seen stepping into the shoes of a gazillion women, embracing their lives and playing them out immaculately on-screen. Looking at that, anyone would wonder what drives the starlet to pick such characters. Talking about her filtration process, she says, “When I am offered a project or I consider a script, the first question I ask myself is, ‘Am I going to enjoy this? Will this be worth my while? Will it be exciting?’ Of course, you don’t always get to make decisions like that. But every once in a while you get to do something exciting.”

Playing the damsel in distress and the girl that needs saving is typically one of the many characters most Pakistani actresses carry on the screen. Despite having to play the television’s good girl from time to time, Rabab discloses that it’s the roles of strong women that she really likes. “As an actor, the kind of roles that I enjoy personally are the strong ones.

When you get to play a strong woman, there is so much versatility to your performance,” she discloses.

But there’s so much more to her behind the lens. Describing herself, she says, “I am a very complexed person to understand, I am an introvert too. There are quite a few things that people don’t know about me. I am big on reading. I am a bookworm; I really love to read. That’s what I do on my days off; just curl up in bed with a good book and disappear for a couple of hours. I like trying different adventure sports like skydiving, bungee jumping. I am also a huge foodie. If I am travelling or even in Pakistan, I love to try different cuisines.”

• Coordination: Umer Mushtaq
• Hair & Makeup: Ikram Gohar
• Wardrobe & Styling: On-Fleek
• Photography: Yasser Sadiq
• PR: Alchemist