You’ve likely seen Neelum Muneer in numerous drama serials, TV commercials and films. This Eid ul Fitr, you’ll be able to see her as the titular character in the romantic thriller Chakkar.

One of the things that we love about talking to Neelum Muneer is she’s always willing to have fun and talk about anything. So, when we found out we’d get an extended interview to talk about playing a dual role in this romance-mystery with a lot of twists and turns, we tried to make the most of the opportunity by asking about a wide variety of subjects.

The top-notch actor weighs in on the story of her new film, its themes and so much more. Excerpts follow:

Congratulations on being casted for Chakkar. How does it feel to be a part of yet another Yasir Nawaz film?

Thank you very much. And yes, I’m feeling amazing and excited. When I worked with Yasir Nawaz in Wrong No. 2 it was a super hit and now Chakkar is our project together, we hope the audience loves it.

You have been a part of some great TV serials and movies in the past, can you tell us what stood out for you on this project?

I always pick characters and scripts that feel challenging to me and I felt like this role would be very different for my audience. All the work that I’ve done I’ve got a lot of love and praise for it and I feel like that’s because I’ve been very selective towards my projects, whether it’s a TV show drama or a movie. As far is Chakkar is concerned, the thing that fascinated me the most about this character was that it was a dual role. One of the characters is a very simple girl and the other is a diva, she is an actress so she has tantrums, an attitude, she is aggressive. I really liked the dialogues and the situations and it was a murder mystery so I just couldn’t say no to it.

You have a dual role in Chakkar, how did you prepare for such an experience? Can you talk a little bit about what you brought to the role?

As the characters are entirely different so are their body languages, situations, songs etc., so being an actor I got to live two lives and as both the characters are quite different, I had to do a lot of prep for them but altogether, it was a fun and unique experience.

The movie rightfully so has a mysterious tone, and so aside from entertaining viewers, what do you want people to take away from the movie?

The movie is very different and if I’m not wrong, it’s the first murder mystery in Pakistani cinema. Whether the girl is murdered or not or if it’s a trap, the movie will definitely keep the audience enthralled and on the edge of their seats. I just want the audience to enjoy the movie.

How are you approaching thriller as opposed to the comedy and dramatic roles you’ve mostly done in the past?

I picked a romantic thriller because of the uniqueness it held. There are some fighting sequences and mostly there are just male characters involved in a fight scene and for the first time I worked with a fight master. All this was an entirely different experience for me.

Looking back at your career, is there any character or film you would have done differently?

No, nothing. I’m satisfied with everything and I’m just looking forward to what I will be doing in the future.

Have the roles you’ve gravitated towards changed since you first started acting?

I’ve always worked on characters that are different. I can’t do stagnant characters. I always want to do characters that have a story behind them. And just like my character is the one being murdered in Chakkar, I’m working on a drama that’ll be out soon where the roles will reverse and I’ll be the murderer. So, point is, I always want to know what’s different in the character and that’s how I pick a script.

Has your experience of being in the acting world been vastly different to what you expected?

Yes, absolutely. With time everything got different but what kept growing was the audiences love and I never expected for it to be like that and I’m just grateful for all the love.

Aside from acting, what’s on your mind these days? Could you provide us with some more insight into your other endeavours you are passionate about?

I think not many people know but I do a lot of social work and I plan on expanding that even more this year.

Lastly, what has been your relationship with social media like?

I really like social media and I feel like with the right usage, it’s a great thing. Provided that it is kept positive and is not used for spreading hate and negativity.

• Coordination: Umer Mushtaq
• Styling: Aun Muhammad
• Hair & Makeup: Angie’s Salon
• Designer: Ayesha Ibrahim
• Photography: Usama Amin
• Jewellery: Inherit
• PR: Tehmina Khaled Take II