Unveiling the real Kashaf--Sanam Saeed

SANAM SAEED AKA KASHAF MURTAZA OF POPULAR PAKISTANI SHOW ZINDAGI GULZAR HAI SAYS THAT ENTERTAINMENT IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN INDIA AND HER COUNTRY

British- Pakistani actor Sanam Saeed's act as the strong headed, fiercely independent and spirited Kashaf Murtaza on Zindagi Gulzar Hai fetched her rave reviews across the border. Thanks to the show being telecast in India on the channel Zindagi, she has become a household name here too.

Though not many identify her as Sanam now, they still call her Kashaf. Sanam is overjoyed with the response.

" It has been overwhelming. It feels great that the Indian audience has loved the show and could relate to it. This is the first drama that Zindagi launched with and it has broken the ice between India and Pakistan. I'm excited to see how the audience will react to other dramas now," Sanam says.

Because Sanam is known to be very choosy about her work, one wonders what made her say yes to the show. " The script of the show is so compelling that I couldn't help but accept it.The beauty of the story lies in its script and the flow of the dialogues. For me the challenge was getting familiar with the vocabulary because I am not very well versed with the colloquial language and this is something I am still working on," Sanam adds.

Talking about her much adored co- actor Fawad Khan, who plays the role of the rich spoilt brat Zaroon Junaid in the show, Sanam is all smiles. The audience couldn't get enough of their amazing chemistry. " Fawad has been extremely supportive which considerably helped smooth the shooting process. The fact that he is so popular among the girls in India also helps," Sanam says.

Fawad is all set to make his big Bollywood debut opposite Sonam Kapoor in Khoobsurat. Does she also have any B- Town plans?

" I would love to act in Bollywood if the role offered suits my sensibilities. I think actors like Nandita Das, Tabu and Vidya Balan are great and I highly appreciate their work. However, I choose to be selective about the roles I pick and would only be keen to do roles that have a strong character. I would want to work on a project that delivers a social message," Sanam says.

She also feels that entertainment is the only way to bridge the gap between India and Pakistan.

" Entertainment is a strong medium and holds the power to change perceptions.It is a bridge that will connect the two nations. I hope we witness a changing perception towards Pakistan as shows on Zindagi familiarise the Indian audience with life in Pakistan. We were the same nation not too long ago and we share cultural influences in the form of cuisine, music and arts," Sanam says.

Sanam will soon be seen in another show Mera Naseeb on Zindagi.