More than just a nice guy | The Express Tribune

During an appearance on a local morning show, Mehwish Hayat shared her thoughts on a subject that, like it or not, seems to come up anytime a woman over the age of 25 sits down for a public chat. This time, however, Mehwish didn't brush it off or laugh it away. Instead, she admitted that while marriage hadn't been a priority for her, she's finally started giving it a thought.

"I do get a lot of proposals," she said bluntly. "A few years ago, I was very closed off to the idea, but now I've started thinking about it more. Now, I think that there's no harm that if you find someone nice, you start talking to them and explore it. But before this, I just wanted to focus on work."

The criteria

Of course, Mehwish isn't willing to settle for just anyone. She has a clear checklist, which is refreshingly practical. She explained, "Even in childhood, I was very mentally mature, so the person I marry has to be intelligent. He should also be kind-hearted. How does he navigate his professional and family life? All these elements are important because in marriage it's not just two people, it's two families coming together."

The Punjab Nahi Jaungi actor knows that marriage isn't just about romance; it's also about compatibility and family dynamics. Her requirements go beyond just a "nice guy" - she's looking for someone who understands balance and brings kindness to the table.

Then there's the matter of her career. She doesn't shy away from the fact that her work matters, and she's not interested in giving it up. "I think for me especially, I'm an actor, so I want to continue working," she stated matter-of-factly. "So, he has to be an understanding person when it comes to this line of work. And someone who supports me." This is where Mehwish draws a line. She's not prepared to compromise her career for marriage, and she's made it clear that any potential partner will need to be on board with that.

But let's be real: she's also looking for a man who can hold his own financially. As she put it, "He should also be financially stable because it could happen that if I'm making money, it could become an inferiority complex thing. He should be able to spoil me."

In fact, her focus on independence and practicality has been a theme throughout her career. She recalled how her journey started, and it's clear she's been self-sufficient from a young age. Her first paycheck came from a biscuit commercial, and she was proud enough to hand it over to her mother. "It became very popular and ran for years. That was my first paycheck - I don't remember how much it was, but I was happy with however much I had gotten," she said, with a hint of nostalgia for those early days.

Starting young

Growing up in close proximity to showbiz, thanks to her mother's acting career, she had a front-row seat to the work that goes into the profession. Her childhood memories paint a vivid picture of afternoons spent on set, soaking in the chaos and creativity.

"My mother was an actor, so I grew up around it. I used to get dropped off at the TV station on the way back from school while she was shooting. I used to love the creativity on sets, people acting, multiple dramas being shot in one place. I used to feel inspired." She furthered on to reveal, "I was then offered a role as a child actor, and I asked my mother if we could do it. They made me read a few lines, I picked them up really quickly and got the role. The appreciation I got from my seniors and director made me believe I could actually do this."

It's no surprise, then, that marriage wasn't on her radar. For Mehwish, her life had a different trajectory, one driven by her own aspirations. "I started out studying engineering but then moved to arts since that was the field I wanted to work in any way. Then after a few years, I started taking work seriously. My mind never drifted towards marriage. I always wanted to become something," she said. "There were so many roles and stories that I wanted to be a part of. My family never forced me. It's very important that you're supported by people at home. I'm the happiest when I'm working, and they realise that."

That independence has been essential to her growth, and it's shaped how she sees relationships. It also means she won't easily fall for empty promises, as she learned the hard way in her career. "Once I was told a character was a certain way and when we went for the poster shoot, we found out that the character had been changed completely. I told them I had agreed to the first version and then quit the project. I learned that everything needs to be written down in agreement beforehand. It turned out for the best since that project didn't do very well anyway." This experience solidified her belief in transparency - something she's likely to expect in any relationship too.