Sunita Marshall Talks Love, Identity on Podcast

In a candid and heartfelt conversation on the FWhy Podcast with Frieha Altaf, actor and former supermodel Sunita Marshall openly discussed her experiences with love, identity, and living authentically in Pakistan’s culturally divided society.

Sunita, who was born into a Christian family, often encounters confusion due to her name. She recalled with a laugh how a driver in Dubai once asked, “Madam, who are you?” after reading her full name—Sunita Marshall Ahmed. “Sunita is a Hindu name, Marshall is Christian, and now I’ve added Ahmed,” she explained, calling the driver’s question “a beautiful one.”

She met actor Hassan Ahmed in 2003, and after five years of quiet dating, chose to marry him despite religious and familial concerns. “Everyone around me said I had to marry within my community,” she shared. “But I live in Pakistan and I love my life here. I didn’t want to leave acting or modelling. I knew Hassan and his family—they loved me.”

When her family moved to the UK and her younger brother received an immigration letter to Canada, Sunita faced the possibility of living alone. In response, she and Hassan decided to accelerate their wedding plans. Once Hassan met her Uncle Kenny, the rest of her family agreed to support their union.

To avoid potential objections from extended relatives, they held a private Christian wedding. Sunita emphasized that while Hassan’s family never pressured her to convert, her own family had to manage expectations around their interfaith marriage. She described the wedding preparations as hectic and last-minute.

Even today, Sunita hears criticism. “People say, ‘You’re so beautiful—if only you were Muslim!’” she said with amusement, choosing not to take such comments to heart.

Now living in a joint family setup, she credited her husband and in-laws for supporting her career. “I never gave up my work or felt limited. Of course, you need to be mindful—it’s like, ‘When in Rome, live like Romans.’”

Sunita, who has two children with Hassan, also spoke about parenting. In a past interview with Nida Yasir, she said both parents and teachers shape a child’s thinking, and sometimes adults need to step back. “We shouldn’t interfere in everything. Positive reinforcement has a big impact on a child’s development,” she said.

Also Read: Sunita Marshall Talks About Her Kids And Dating, “Not At This Age”