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Express Tribune

Hussaiyn behind the camera

At a recent promotional event for the upcoming horror film Deemak held in Lahore, actor Sonya Hussaiyn surprised fans and industry insiders alike by announcing a significant shift in her career trajectory. The celebrated star revealed that she is increasingly moving away from acting to focus on film production and, potentially, direction. "I've gotten into production now," Hussaiyn shared during a media interaction at the event. A video clip of her statement, posted on Tuesday, has since gone viral across social media platforms. "I'm in the directorial team of Shaan, which is a very emotional film," she added. Hussaiyn also disclosed that she's producing another film in the action genre. "I want to do a lot of production and create films that have substance," she said, indicating a desire not just to participate in storytelling but to shape it from the ground up. With this shift comes a noticeable change in how often fans can expect to see her on screen. "I'm probably going to be onscreen a lot less," Hussaiyn stated. However, audiences can still look forward to her lead role in Deemak, the horror-family drama directed by Rafay Rashdi. Speaking about the film, which is slated for release this Eidul Azha, Hussaiyn expressed enthusiasm for both the script and the cast. "Having our industry's biggest stars in the film, like Javed Sheikh, Bushra Ansari, Samina Peerzada, and Faysal Quraishi, encouraged me to sign this film," she said. "If they're in it, to me, it means that the story has substance." Hussaiyn also discussed the challenge of portraying a character under supernatural possession while maintaining a clear distinction from mental illness. "There's a difference between having a mental illness and being possessed that I had to get across to my audience," she explained. One particular scene left a lasting impression on everyone involved. "There is a scene in the film where I am having fits as a jinn possesses me," she recalled. "When I filmed that scene, there was pin-drop silence on set." The crew's reaction confirmed the scene's eerie impact. "I guess even everyone on set was slightly unsettled by it," she added. This turn toward more meaningful storytelling aligns with Hussaiyn's growing interest in production. Last November, she produced her first film, Babli/Babar, a bold project directed by Kamran Faiq and written by Qurbe Abbas.