Aamina Sheikh felt trapped in Maat

TV actor Sheikh talks about playing a submissive older sister in a Pakistani show; adds that she wants to work in Bollywood

Television actor Aamina Sheikh, who plays a giving elder sister to a demanding younger sibling in an ongoing Pakistani TV show, says she initially "felt trapped" while playing the role.

Sabah-Qamar-as-Saman-and-Amina-Sheikh-as-Aiman-in-TV-series-Maat

"I felt trapped inside my body like a container, and [I] wanted to burst out. I mean, how much of a doormat can one be? I felt like strangulating my character," says the 32-year-old, who plays Aiman in the show, and is constantly seen making sacrifices for her selfish younger sister, Saman.

Aamina, however, admits that while initially she found the role unrealistic, her perception changed after the show went on air. "I got numerous mails from viewers saying, ‘Pata hai Aamina, yeh humare ghar mein bhi hua hai’ (you know Aamina, this has happened in our household as well). That’s when I realised [that] this was a great way to send a message across to siblings, and I’m happy that now the message is also reaching across the border," she says.

While she plays the sufferer on the small screen, in real life, Aamina has a loving sister, who is 16 years younger to her. "My sister is like a bachha (kid) to me. She is in the 11th standard and is very loving," she says.

Aamina, who was in India some time ago for the screening of her film, Josh (2013), at a film festival, aspires to work in Bollywood someday.

"I loved Queen, and Highway just blew me away. I have auditioned for Bollywood films, but somehow things haven’t materialised yet. I hope to work with Mani Ratnam, Farhan Akhtar, Imtiaz Ali, Sanjay Leela Bhansali… such a range of visionaries you have," she adds.