Namra Shahid credits Saqib Sumeer for Noor Bhari’s success
Pakistani actress Namra Shahid has finally revealed how her long-cherished dream of working with acclaimed director Kashif Nisar became a reality through ‘Ek Aur Pakeezah’, where she won hearts with her memorable portrayal of Noor Bhari and has credited fellow actor Saqib Sumeer for helping her bring this beloved character.
During a recent appearance on ‘Something Haute’ hosted by Aamna Isani, the actress candidly spoke about the challenging yet rewarding journey that led her to the much-talked-about role.
When asked about receiving a call for a Kashif Nisar project, Namra admitted that working with the celebrated director had always been one of her biggest professional aspirations.
“Maybe I can't speak for every actor, but I always wanted to work with Kashif Nisar,” she shared. “However, the process wasn't as straightforward as people might think. It wasn't a direct call from him. It was a long journey.”
Namra recalled that she was first contacted by a member of Kashif Nisar's team regarding her availability. Despite scheduling conflicts, she was determined not to miss the opportunity.
“I clearly remember telling them that my dates weren't available, but I would somehow make them available. I was so desperate to work with him that I requested them to cast me somehow,” she revealed with a laugh.
The challenge intensified when she was informed that the character would have to be performed entirely in Saraiki rather than merely adopting a Saraiki accent.
“I asked them whether it would just be the accent or the actual language. When they told me, it would be proper Saraiki, I honestly panicked,” she admitted.
Fortunately, actor Saqib Sumeer stepped in to help. Namra revealed that she immediately reached out to her close friend, expressing doubts about her ability to perform in a language she was unfamiliar with.
According to the actress, Saqib encouraged her not to shy away from challenges and urged her to embrace the opportunity instead of rejecting it out of fear.
For nearly a month, Saqib coached her extensively through voice notes, correcting her pronunciation, accent, and delivery. Namra shared that preparing a single Saraiki audition scene took her three days of relentless practice.
“I would send him voice notes, and he would respond in Saraiki, pointing out every mistake. We worked tirelessly on it,” she said.
After finally recording the audition, Namra submitted it to the production team. Soon after, she received three forwarded messages that instantly changed everything.
“The messages simply said, ‘Very good,’ ‘Lock her,’ and a thumbs-up emoji,” she recalled.
The actress admitted that she and Saqib continued refining the language and character for an entire month, with her phone frequently freezing because of the countless voice notes exchanged during the process.
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Reflecting on the overwhelming appreciation Noor Bhari received from viewers, Namra credited much of the character's success to Saqib Sumeer's unwavering support.
“Whenever people praise Noor Bhari, 100 percent of the credit goes to Saqib Sumeer,” she said. “The amount of help he gave me for this character is something very few people would have done.”
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Her heartfelt revelations have resonated with fans, who continue to admire the dedication and hard work behind one of the most memorable performances in Ek Aur Pakeezah.
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