Pakistani actress Zara Noor Abbas has opened up about the physical insecurities she experienced while filming her action-packed story Gear Up for Sheroes, revealing how director Saqib Khan helped her overcome her hesitation about her body and embrace a character who did not fit conventional screen stereotypes.
A viral clip from Zara’s latest interview has been making the rounds online, in which the actress candidly reflected on her experience of filming the project and the concerns she initially had about her appearance.
Zara revealed that she was around 12 kilograms heavier at the time of filming than she is now, something that made her feel self-conscious about her body and hesitant about certain costumes.
“When I shot for that film, I was 12 kilos heavier than what I am right now. I did feel that there was a certain inhibition about my body. I was really reluctant about what to wear,” Zara recalled.
The actress said she would repeatedly express her concerns to director Saqib Khan, telling him that certain outfits would not look good on her body.
“I was like, ‘No, Saqib, you don’t understand. This is not going to look good on my body,’” she recounted.
However, Saqib encouraged her to look at herself differently and assured her that her appearance was exactly what he wanted for the role.
“He was like, ‘No, you don’t understand. You look at your body in a very negative way. From where I am seeing it, I think you are fit for the role, and I want someone who looks like this and who has a build like this,’” Zara shared.
The actress went on to challenge the idea that women need to fit a particular body type to portray powerful characters on screen.
“Not everybody can be a size zero and look a certain size. No, women have different bodies and we are telling different stories from different ethnicities,” she said.
Zara’s comments shed light on the importance of representation in entertainment, particularly when it comes to portraying women in physically demanding and action-oriented roles.
Her Sheroes story, titled “Gear Up,” is written by Hashim Nadeem and directed by Saqib Khan. The project places Zara in a high-stakes action setting, with her character involved in intense police operations, car chases and bomb-disposal sequences.
Rather than relying solely on a conventional action-hero physique, the character allows Zara to portray strength, courage and determination through a body type that reflects the diversity of real women.
The actress’ candid revelation has also resonated with the broader conversation around body image in the entertainment industry, highlighting how performers can sometimes internalise unrealistic standards before stepping in front of the camera.
With Gear Up, Zara Noor Abbas appears to be taking on a character that not only tests her abilities as an actor but also challenges familiar ideas about what an action heroine should look like.