My todays guest is Maya Ali
I have met her 3, 4 times
But whenever I met her I really liked her
But there are several things I don't know
So we'll know today, lets meet Maya Ali
Maya thank you so much
I am so happy for you
Congratulations, Teefa in Trouble
debut, your first film
Are you scared?
Yes a lot, as all the films that are releasing, I ask for their feedback
and I am also watching them
There must be our mistakes and some
mistakes they make
So I feel that Teefa In Trouble
when it will come, what will be the feedback
Some will lie that you did a great job
and some will say it was okay
Are you scared of the reaction?
Are you scared in every project?
No I am not scared in my dramas
Now I feel that I am confident
but not in films
Even if someone's film is coming, like I saw Hareem's Parchi
so I was watching and thinking
that I will come on the big screen like this
what will people do, will they clap
or will they leave during the interval
I really wish you luck
I hope this film works for you and Ali Zafar
Why have you put on this mehndi?
It's because there were lots of weddings and now people are commenting
that Maya is only visible in weddings
she is only attending weddings now
Who said this to you? A lot of people are saying this to me
How many weddings did you attend in this season?
Till now...From December end to two days ago I attended 4 weddings
As all my friends dates were together
and I was not free for the entire year
So they kept the dates accordingly
and now the weddings are over
Now no more
I'll ask this later that do you plan to marry anytime soon
No not at all
So let's rewind
Where were you born?
I was born in Lahore
How many siblings?
Two, one me and one a younger brother
Oh really, you don't have a lot of
There were not may girls and boys in your family
When I see pictures of other actresses like Sajjal and her sister or Aiman and Minal
Urwa and Mawra
So I think that I wish, I also had a sister
with whom I could click pictures
So just two siblings
so who became like the other one
Did you become like your brother or your brother became like you
No nothing like this
he is younger than me but we fight a lot
even today when we sit together
I feel he is wrong, he says I am wrong
We argue a lot and then
what I feel bad is that
I scold him a lot
How many years younger he is?
Five years
So you bullied him a lot
Yes
Elder sisters do that
I feel angry when someone else scolds him
Why is someone scolding him, he is my brother
No body should scold him
I love you Iffi
How was the environment of your house?
When you were growing up? Very strict
Father used to be like a hitler
he never allowed me
to go out
My father's side was very conservative and mother's side was
normal like we all are
So Baba said that she will study and then
after studying we will marry her off
So I did my masters and after that
I wanted to do a job
I didn't want to marry right after studying
How was your childhood? Were you naughty?
Yes a lot, even now I am very naughty
I am controlling myself while sitting here
So what types of things you used to do
Really strange things
I used to get naughty anywhere
In childhood I used to run away after pressing the door bell of someone's house
And doing dumb calls
A lot, this was my favorite thing
At night doing this thing
Before the cells arrived
the phone that you used to dial
then when someone picked up you ran away
and then mom and dad asked who called today
I used to say I have no idea who made this call
Even now when there is no light, I place a tape on the bell
and when light comes It start ringing
so I really enjoyed this
So were you scolded, were you beaten up?
A lot of times
No never from baba but mom slapped me several times
I still remember
when I was young
My mom used to call my father by his name
Tanveer
So I was sitting with them when I said Tanveer
and a slap came straight to my face
and I couldn't understand that what was wrong
that why did my mom slap me
on my face
so I was told that you have to call your father Baba and not by his name
So how did you get this name Maya
I was called Maya from the very start
before coming into the industry
How ?
My name is Maryam
but like some families or some parents
that if their child is ill, they'll change the name
so my mom said to change the name and my dad said no
as his mother had kept my name
SO then my nick name became Maya
Half people called Maya and half said Maryam to me
So some of my friends
They knew Maya
So they suggested that the show you are doing, do it with the name Maya
It was not a big thing for me
because I was known by both names
I never knew, that slowly Maya will
come till here
So as a child what did you dream of?
I still dream
I dream till now
I like dreaming
I have my own fantasy world
where there are no fights
Were there dolls in there?
Yes, they are till now
What types of toys were there?
I had my dolls with whom I talked
I shared my feelings with them
because I had no sister
Did you have pets?
Yes I had a cat
I have always had cats
But with age
my other had health issues so that is why
the cats reduced
But I feel that I can share my feelings with dolls or in front of a mirror
So who is in the mirror, Is it Maya?
or is it Maryam?
Both are the same, the heart is the same
Or is it someone else?
No
I feel that I
What I can talk with myself I can't talk with anyone else
What my heart says
If I have to take some decisions
so I do ask others as well
that what should I do
but what I want to do
I do it at night
I think and then do it
Have you read books?
No I was not interested
And what about comics?
Yes I was interested in them
Did you play? A Lot
What was your favourite game?
Basketball
It was my favorite, volleyball was my favorite
Outdoors? Yes
I used to be a tom boy
I used to roll up the sleeves
and roam in the college and school
and talk
and hair all messed up
And what about Cycling?
A lot
Even now I am thinking of buying a cycle and
where I live I should do cycling there and helmet
because without it it wont be possible
I want to do these things, because I feel
That after coming here I am losing my way
I used to go liberty with Mom
I used to eat gol gappas with her
Are you scared of any thing?
To lose your loved ones
My dad passed away last year
and after that
there has been a drastic change in my life
I am scared
If people go far from me
even when I leave my house
I feel like I wont be able to see them
I will be able to hear them or not
So that fear is inside my
I want to take it out
Which is not coming out
I feel after my dad
I am empty inside
Did your dad know about your film?
Yes he knew
When the first time you worked in Television
what did he say
He was very angry
He didn't talk to me
How did you get the permission?
It is a very interesting story
When I did a show from PTV for the first time
So I did not tell him that I am hosting a program
How did PTV find you?
I was doing an internship at a channel
so there a guest from PTV came
so he said me that are you interested in hosting?
I said no I am not
You were in Kinnaird?
No in Queen Mary
So he said do you want to host
I said no I wont get the permission, but I wanted to do it from inside
You did Mass Communication?
Yes I did masters in it
How come you did that subject?
Because In my family studying is important
you have to study as without it you can't do anything
so when I graduated in journalism
I had interest in it
so after that I had an option of Masters
and I wanted to pursue in Mass Communications
so I said I will prefer this
as I like it
and I really enjoyed it
I did a lot of things
I did reporting, I interviewed people
I wrote very interesting articles
so when I did everything I felt
there is something
I am being stopped
I talked to dad that I want to
work ahead or do a job
so he strictly said no
so it was
That you should listen to your kids that what they want to do
that what is in their heart
but I wanted to do something
when my mother was married
she was told
that you will leave the job
after marriage
and she always tell me that
it was my mistake I made
So what was she doing?
She had done something in medicine
She was a doctor?
Not really she was into
interning that thing
She didn't complete it?
No
because she was getting married
So that thing was inside me that
no I don't want to grow up and say that
I had gotten a chance but I
did not avail it
I wanted to do it
And I wanted to prove that this industry is not what you are thinking of
It depends on you, depends on person to person
that how is he
There is positivity and negativity in every field
in bank, schools
in other places as well
then why do you point put to this place
so I had to prove that
The you got an offer, then?
I said that I want to do it and I will not tell dad about it
That dad will not watch PTV
So he played PTV on Eid as it was a recorded show
and I hear someone saying come here
and he asked me who is this?
I said I don't know
He said no, this will not work, either you stay or this work will stay
so I had to do it
It was inside me since childhood
that whenever I wanted to do something he used to say
no you cannot do this
only study
So after that I started hosting because my  mom was with me
Looking at the mirror and talking worked for you
So mom said that I was
and now its my daughter
so I am with you
so do whatever you want to do
but never break our trust
and this thing I kept in my mind
and I started working
Then I got a call for acting one day
that there are auditions going on
so you come
So he wad still accepting it
then I thought that I wont be selected
So Haissam had come
he told me to do some things
and speak some dialogues
and next day I got a call that
you are selected
for Durre Shahwar
Yes
So I was like how am I going to talk
I was only talking about hosting
but I did that as well
then
the last day, I was with Sanam when Haissam
asked me
that will you be a drama heroine
I asked what is that, he said like what you are doing now
So I had to go out of Lahore for it
In Murree
Yes exactly
I met you the first time on Aunn Zara's sets
Oh Yes
I remeber
You had come to meet Haissam
and then I met you
so after that
dada did not talk to me for 3 years
then my Aun Zara, Cinderalah
other dramas
and when somebody asked him that your daughter is Cinderala, So he said Hmmm
So that thing really broke me
that somebody is hugging me
that you did really well
and you are looking really nice
but the one you need
the love you need
the approval
I didn't get it from there so I used to break
but I used to stand that
no one day he will appreciate me
One day he will tell me that he is so proud of me
and I tried for that one day
and one day I was nominated for the awards
for Man Mayal?
No that was Diyar e Dil
So my father said that day
the day I didn't win an award
So he said that
dont worry you will get an award for the next drama
and that was Mann Mayal
He said that? Yes
It was so much for me
that he said it
and when I won this award
How did he come?
I was going into my room and his room was
ahead of mine
It was after the awards had passed
He said while passing
Don't worry, if you didn't get this
you will get on the next one
First I didn't understand that is he watching my drama Man Mayal
and he knows that I didn't win earlier
I so wanted to hug him at that time
but that space had crept between us
when I came to Lahore my dad told me that I want to see you at home at 11
he had told this to my mom
So I had to come earlier
I had to take my friends to my home
I was so scared that if dad
scolded me, so me and my brother used to sit quitely
So I used to think that if others saw me what they'll think
What did he do?
He was a businessman
He was a strong person from start
I wont call him stubborn
Whatever he did was right, he was over protective about his kids
He couldn't really make me understand
neither could I
Do you feel that when parents
stop you from doing something
maybe they are testing you that
whatever he or she is wanting to do
how much passionate he is about that
I feel that way
He always saw me
He never stopped me
He never even openly approved of it
so I also kept doing it
that see my this drama
and I have done this and that
So after a certain time
he told me that next year you will win
I understood
That the test that my father gave me
I was successful in it
I might have done something
But the pain inside me
is that when I got an award for that
he was not with me at that time
I was sitting, Ali was with me
and he was saying that you will get this award
I said no I wont
And when my name was announced
and I was going to the stage, so he was in my mind at that time
That last time I didn't get it
But this time
You know it's amazing
That when parents are not there
They are always with you
I had to say so many things to him
and i couldn't do it
The gap was finishing
and last time when he was with me
regarding the film that when
will it release
what is your character
So I was going to Turkey for a shoot
and I was very happy
I was very relaxed that day
that you talked to me
I said what I wanted to
He knew that you are dong a film? Yes
So when I went there
I reached there
I had to call him and tell that
I have reached
I couldn't contact him
and after 3 or 4 hours my
brother called me and told me
that he is no more
Suddenly he just left you all
I miss him
I miss him
But you are daddy's daughter
and he is watching over you
The most beautiful thing is
that he was there
quietly, supporting you
loving you
and he had such an amazing faith in you
Yes
Because if he didn't have that faith
then he wouldn't have said that next year you will win
Never would have asked you about the film
He would have never asked
But yes I feel that
whatever I learnt
The strength I have
it is because of my dad
He was also very strong
Was he strong headed
I was always worried
My mom used to worry but he said no problem
What will happen?
Nothing will happen
Don't worry
And after him
I have started to do that thing, that nothing will happen
Nothing will happen, let it be
Let the tension come, let the problems come
You are the elder now
Yes
Elder of the family
I feel a lot of pressure on my shoulders
There is a lot of responsibility now
I feel that I have grown up in a year
I have started taking decisions that my father used to take
That how do we do this and that
How will things work so people feel
that Maya is always laughing
she has no tension
She has aglamorous life, is always traveling
but we know that
what is there in our heart and mind
There is so much in our heart and mind
Did mom think of go back to studying again?
No I don't think now
Now she is there for me and my brother
she offers namaz
Her time speands in that, she enjoys it
When she watches me on TV she always appreciates me
Show it again
She enjoys those moments
I see her and get happy
do you have any regret in life
No thank God, No
If there would have been then I wouldn't have been happy
I feel no, whatever Allah has given me
I feel he has given me enough
Any memory or any thing from your childhood that
Your dad said and you kept it with you
Took care...Your first memory
Or a gift
Baba gave me lots of pens
So all the pens he gave them to me
I have all of them
I still have those
And I still remember
That there is one thing that is not with me
There was a broach that he brought for me
I misplaced it in travelling
But I have those pens
Do you remember your first day at school?
I remember the first day of Play group
But I don't remember the first day of school
I also am amazed that
how come I remember the first day of play group ad not of school
Did you cry in play group?
Yes a lot
and dad had gone to drop me
and I was wearing a yellow frock
and I still remember that day
and I cried but then I became quite
So I saw my father from behind the wall and I started crying again after watching him
that he is here I want to go with him
Then he went away
I don't remember the first day of school
But I remember that
Mom said you didn't cry
Who was your first friend?
It was in my school I think
in the 3rd, 4th friend
No, they are all lost
where did they go
But my friend who became in class 9
she is still with me
Ayesha and after that
in college life Laiba
the one who married recently
we three are good friends
Not a lot of friends? No
You can't make friends now, that time and age has passed
That factor of trusting
When we were young we did it
we trusted everybody
now we have experienced so many things that
Where is Maya standing now?
I think right here on the land
Somewhere close
not watching people from the skies
She is with the people and watching them
I am scared if I say anything to people that
that I have everything, what do you have
My name is my brand, that is not the case
I can't say like this
If Allah has given his to me
he can take it from me as well
So that fear is inside me and my mom
always says this to me that
whatever Allah has given to me
Don't think the success will remain forever
What are your plans?
What will you do with your success
and the money you make
I love going to restaurants
I really want to have a restaurant
I will make a restaurant
How will it be?
I think the same thing
When I go to different restaurants I think about how will their interiors be
So Peeru's is in my mind
Definitely it is, I always look at it
So the new year theme you have, I will do it similarly as well
Wahat do you collect?
I want to make a house
so It is going on
So it will be a small paradise for me
What type of interior will be there?
Not a lot
But I should feel that it is mine
I like grayish and white color
So I want it to be like that
I don't like a lot of colors
I don't like congested things
So i's like a nice, beautiful
minimalist
Yes exactly, less things
And a lot of space
I wish that my mom
in the morning, in winters
She sits in the lawn
I feel that her lawn should be very pretty
Where she will sit
and recall her memories
What makes you happy?
My mom
When I see her in the morning, I feel good
When I go home at night
I go into her room and watch her
To see her if she is sleeping
To talk to her
Do you like shopping?
I used to, but not now
There is no craze, like after dad
My priorities
my things have changes
Now shopping doesn't matter for me
and small things do matter to me
Like if someone talks about something that is in my heart, I like it
When someone talks about my work, I really like it
Do you write?
Yes, I have started
Do you have a diary? Yes I have started it
Not too long, but I have been doing it since two months
And people will come to know from this show
and my people don't ask me that where is the diary
I wont tell anybody
Is it a lock and key diary?
No I have placed it in a safe place
And if you forget where you have placed it, then?
No I don't think so
I can't forget it
So what is your possession?
I wanted to make a house
It was my dream
I felt I wanted to make it
But now when I am going towards it
It is inside my head all the time
even I discuss this with Ali
That when will I make a house
I really want to make a house
Where are you making it?
I am making it in Lahore
So there...I was discussing with Ali
that the one who designed your house
tell me about it
I am really interested in collecting things
It is because of my mother, she was really interested in it
So it transferred in me from there
Is there a security blanket?
For the house or like that?
No for yourself, like it's there
there is a doll
Oh yes in my room there is a huge teddy bear
It is huge, I brought it from Dubai
So I got so attached to it that
my mom said it is enough
I say no let it be there
And when you go to shooting, what do you take with yourself?
Nothing
Normal things, like makeup pouches
all those things
my hand free is always with me
I like listening to songs
What type of music you listen to?
It depends on the situation
If I cry then there is sad music
To come into the mood
These things Haissam taught me
to be in the mood
So when you leave a good place
So it's easier then
If mood is good listen to happy songs
Have you danced in happiness?
Till now, I lock the room and start
Even when I am in lots of stress, then as well
I go on a long drive
listen to loud music
and then come back
What do you eat?
I am not a food lover at all
Then you don't cook food? I do
I know how to cook biryani
I know how to cook desi food
I know how to cook Karahi
I made Nihari recently
I make things, In ramadan
I make iftari
What do you eat? Nothing
Literally nothing
I think because of diet
I get fat due to air as well
I get fat
I have to eat very carefully
I eat healthy food
I don't know how does biryani taste
After one year I eat cake
and I will not eat cake for 10 years then
Have you ever thought
in a small bite there is the same taste as the entire food
I prefer it remains forgotten
I understand this
My daughter says that in my dream I have thought
that I am sitting inside biryani
I understand her feelings
I can't leave my mom's biryani
but we have to do it
This is hardwork
I think one bite is also enough
I tell mom to stop me
Don't give food to me
My mom used to say it as well, but I don't have a sweet tooth
so I don't eat a lot of sweet things
Not at all
You all are shocked
No no one
There is a wish inside everybody's mind
What do you crave for?
I want to eat ice cream
After every other day at night I want to eat ice cream
and then when I reach there I feel
no the trainer will
make me do a hardcore exercise so  I really think that there is no need to eat it
Do you train or yoga?
I train
You are living a disciplined life?
It is good, I am thankful
When do you wake up?
Ask when do you sleep
It depends, when there are off days
you sleep late at night and then
wake up late
I have to leave for gym at 2
as my trainer is there
So I wake up at max 11 or 12 pm
I have to spend time with mom
Then I go to gym
Do you do gardening?
No I don't, mom says so
Do you decorate
I want flowers
in my home, I like watching them
are you romantic?
Yes
What do you like?
Rain, Winds
Trees, I relate to everything
The setting and rising of sun
Watching the moon and the stars
Listening to good music and good weather
Beautiful places
I am very romantic
What type of people do you like?
Sensitive
I like such people
Because I feel they
can sense my feelings
they can understand me
I don't like stubborn people
Because I feel it makes
a person insensitive
It can finish the other person as well
When you are not understanding another person and are just listening to yourself
you can't walk with that person
Did you fall in love?
Yes
And where did it go?
In the air?
Yes, the wind blew and
I understand there is compromise in every relationship
like mother, daughter or father, daughter, any relationship
but if someone expects you to change, why is it so, why will you change for some other person
Did someone change theirselves for you? No
No one will change
and who ever will come in your life
and will want to change you, he is not yours?
He is not yours, the way you are
the other person has to accept you that way
that is good
What is love?
I feel love is a beautiful relationship
and its not that
Five finger are not equal so one person cannot
make your perception change about others as well
I like the feeling of love for friends as well
The one I have with my friends
So I feel it is a pretty thing, it is a positive thing
There will be someone, somewhere
who will understand me
There has been no one yet? No
You know this is an amazing thing
that the person who is made for you
he comes in front of you
I feel scared as well. Why?
I feel this because
I don't know I feel that
There should be no fakeness
I have seen people breaking
I have seen them getting hurt
So I have started thinking a lot like this
That this should happen or not
I know everything is not perfect
But there is something
A minute thing
Have you ever hated anyone? No never
I can't
Have you gotten angry? A lot
Anger comes and goes away
I break things
Your own favorite things?
No never
Han I have broken many phones
I have hit phoneson the wall
Now I am trying to stop
This is part of life, it will work like this
It comes and then goes away
Do you ask for forgiveness first? Yes
I have no problem in it
But there is this thing that
if you will ask for apology, you will be wrong
so I say no
If I made a mistake, a person always makes mistakes
and do you forgive?
I can't hate
I can't do this as well
I do it at once
I think I feel
This is my negative point as well, people take advantage of it
she will get fine now
She will get fine soon
and I like flowers a lot so
to make me happy they send me flowers
And if you have to make someone happy then?
Then I buy flowers
for my self as nobody gives it to me
I like flowers a lot
There is a wish that I find a person
who fills my life with flowers
Diamond ring does not matter to you? No
Flowers matter
Because the one who will give flowers his heart
will be really good
I have to see that
You can make anyone happy with diamonds
What is life?
It's beautiful
it's difficult as well
It is not easy
Not a straight pathway, there are stones in the way
it will bounce and break as well
how you are driving
it depends on you
you don't lose hope
Never lose hope
If a person gives up
He finishes there
I have been hurt several times but
I have to be pick myself up again
That Allah put me in here and he will take me out
And it has happened
And it happens that you lose out on something
you say how did it go from my hand
So I feel that
what happens happens for the good
You never think this way
that if a person goes, life will finish
You have a more better thing waiting for you
What is success?
What is now, people come and talk
You are Maya
A mother comes and says that my daughter
would have been like you
That is success for me
If a father comes and appreciates me and says
we are proud of you, that is success
And failure?
I feel I haven't seen failures
I don't think so
Because I have never thought really high
I want in which I am happy
I want a little bit
I am happy in it
If I will think about certain things and that will not happen
then I will feel that my life is finished
so I am happy in what I get
And if I don't get it I say no problem
I will get better than that
I never thought that I will sit here
I never thought I will become a lux girl
and what more
I will do this and that
I love Mahira and it was an honor when I shared screen with her
so I didn't think that as well
I never thought I would be nominated with her
What I got is enough
And death?
It will happen
I am scared but it will come
I often think that whatever
I have thought
I will do it thats why
I don't hurt anyone,  I get scared
that what if someone will say anything
Maybe I might have done several wrong things
but what I am doing myself
that will help me
What do you remember the most about dad?
Everything
Like I told you, my room
was ahead of his
so I had to pass by
and now I can't do it
I can't see there
We have shifted from that house
His slippers
are there
If you get a chance
to meet him
in front of him, what will you say?
A lot of things
I will say that you left really early
I will hug him, will hold his hands
will tell him there were lots of things
I had to do so many things that
you had to see
There is no specific thing
that it was such, no
I daily say this
that come in my dream so I say something to you
But dreams are not under your control
they come and go
I really miss him
a lot
What do you want to do for him?
After him I came to know that
he had gotten several girls married
he had been helping people
and we were not aware
Although we were family
No one knew this
So what he has left behind
I want to continue it
May Allah give you success
Your film Teefa In Trouble becomes a big hit
and your father see you from the paradise
and smile
And I hope you get to do all the things that he wanted
You are making him very proud
I know that because you are so lovely
