Rising actor Zoha Tauqeer has opened up about losing her father at a young age, supporting her mother’s decision to remarry, and learning to face life with optimism and self-awareness.
In a recent interview, the Aapa Shameem, Chaalbaaz and Zabt actor reflected on grief, family relationships and her journey in the entertainment industry.
Zoha revealed that she was only four years old when her father died of lung cancer. Despite her young age, she said she still remembers the affection they shared and recalled how he would keep her close even when he was in pain.
After his death, Zoha said her mother became the family’s main source of strength and worked hard to ensure the children did not feel their father’s absence. However, everyday experiences, such as filling out school forms and becoming more protective of her siblings, continued to remind her of the loss.
Speaking about her mother’s remarriage, Zoha said she and her siblings supported the decision because they understood that their mother deserved happiness. She added that her mother had also asked for their consent before getting married again.
Reflecting on personal growth, Zoha said people need to learn from their experiences and accept change with a positive attitude. According to her, failing to recognise and correct mistakes can cause people to repeat the same patterns in life.
Speaking about relationships, Zoha said transparency, honesty, simplicity and humour mattered most to her. "For me, the green flags are transparency, honesty, simplicity, and humour. It should be like friendship. Love isn't give and take, it's about doing things naturally," she said.
Recalling her acting journey, Zoha said she landed her debut drama while she was still in college, fulfilling a dream she had spoken about since childhood. She admitted that adapting to the demanding pace of television was overwhelming at first but credited her co-stars with helping her settle into the industry.
Looking ahead, Zoha said she wanted to move beyond formulaic characters and pursue meaningful, story-driven roles. She named fellow actors Saba Qamar and Sajal Aly as her biggest inspirations.
On set, Zoha described herself as reserved, preferring to stay in her own space so as not to disrupt others' rhythm. She also admitted she avoids watching herself on screen, relying instead on her director's reactions to assess her performance. "I get very shy, I don't look at myself on camera. I trust the director's instructions and look at their expressions to know if I acted on point or what to improve next," she said.
Summing up her outlook on life, Zoha said she believes optimism begins with intention. "If you think well and assume good from life, then only good things will come your way," she concluded.
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