And also, you should realise one thing. You have star power. and one 5himg wajahat k sath sab kam krna chah rahy ,u did damn sudeline character like rabiya to launh nepo and khud gulzuman sy b kam character arf tha ,but if u feel u arenot in that space ,tu taking break is right instead of dhaba k acha ni tha ,like the pad ad with u being dancing

and back to back campaigns ,that arenot even hitting. but i never understood why u never chose bakhtawar ,yeh sabaq lelo k bakhtawar jese u being main centre and best ,usko mat choro tellimg you so you make best choices,vhoice hamary hath men hy ,but dont feel bad about it q k jis jagah apka rizq or rehna likha hai woh mil jata hy .so be your best ,make best decisions rational ,strateguc calculative integrity dignity ,self respect ,but Sajal, you've been in the industry for 15–16 years. You should be doing roles that are female-centric, where your character and its individual arc hold substantial importance.

Look at Yumna. saba ,even mahira ,giving her example ,compare kar k ni but take it as data ,skill certain things jo sahi ki. poray k poray i dont agree but certain points har kisi k achy ho or working tu adapt karo. be competent ,not competition. Almost every role she has done now has a character that is more important and has more substance than the male character, because she has built herself and her position in the industry like that. Saba Qamar does the same. Even Mahira, who I don't consider a great actress, follows that approach. You are that calibre of actress. Why are you still behaving like a newcomer who's so invested in shipping culture and love-story-based projects?

I mean, Hina Afridi isn't constantly posting about her shipping with Wahaj and all. That's how you build your individual identity in the industry. You have literally spent 15–16 years establishing yourself as one of the best South Asian actresses. But you still promote your shipping like a newcomer who needs that nibba-nibbi attention.

Look at actors who have a long-term vision, like Hina Afridi. They maintain their class, dignity and individual identity. They can have partners, be friendly and appreciate their co-stars, but they don't compromise their individuality.

And also realise that even one word from you can create a narrative. You don't need to look desperate to ship yourself with another person. When you constantly post stories, it doesn't necessarily come across as simply appreciating another actor. You can appreciate actors by liking their posts. That's how you actually build connections with fans. Of course, see what edits and captions people are making about your work, and you can also comment neutrally. Fans will feel connected through that interaction.

But putting something on your story gives the impression that you are also invested in promoting that shipping narrative. You've already done your work. Aapne woh kaam kar diya. Positive PR karwao, appreciate the work, and then move on to your next project. You don't need to keep posting stories.

You are at a calibre where you should be choosing woman-centric roles. So, agar Lahore ka character ya script aisa nahi tha, jahan female character equally strong ya male character se bhi stronger ho, and where her own POV, dialogues and solo arc are substantial, then you shouldn't do it. If the character is dependent on the male lead's narrative, then it's better to step back.

The choices you consistently make and firmly stand by determine your value. Otherwise, you can do five, six or seven projects together because you feel like you're missing out on something, but that doesn't necessarily add value to your career.

Popularity and the narrative you establish around yourself require strategic and calculated decisions. Even if you don't work for two or three years, trust me, you won't miss out on anything that is genuinely meant for you. Your individuality and the kind of work you want to be known for matter more than constantly staying visible.

Yes, I wanted you and Bilal to work together because I love that combination. But if the script wasn't offering you a substantial character, then stepping back was the right decision.

If you consistently make choices like this, producers and writers will eventually understand that she has her own standards. She will only do roles where her character has importance, where there is a strong solo arc, and where the script itself has substance. Then they will start approaching you with scripts that align with those standards.

But if you keep choosing projects like Zanjeerein, where you're practically reduced to a maid, a shipping tool or a way to launch nepotism, then you're investing your emotions, physical energy and mental space into something that isn't serving your career.

Time is so precious. You could have gone to the gym, travelled solo, socialised, developed new skills and experienced life. But you're giving that time to a project. So it should be fruitful.

Aapko apni worth aur potential compromise nahi karna chahiye. If you firmly establish your standards and stick to your choices, producers will also start offering you scripts accordingly.

And this applies to campaigns and your personal branding as well.

Look at Bilal. Usko campaigns offer hote hain, but he doesn't do every campaign. He knows his strengths and understands what he brings to the table.

Privately, apni expressions, glamour skills and influencer skills par kaam karo. You need to develop those skills as well. But har campaign karna zaroori nahi hai. Us project ke hisaab se agar tumhein lagta hai ke you're a good fit, then do it.

Otherwise, if you're not suited to that particular campaign, let it go. For example, if the rawness or the particular aesthetic doesn't suit you, then don't force yourself into it. Campaign aapke saamne se guzar kar chala jata hai, and you can actually lose your perceived value by doing something you're not good at. People start associating you with that weakness.

So do what you're actually good at. And if you're not good at something but want to explore it, work on that skill first. Then do it when you're ready.

I loved Areeqa Haq's statement that she always gets offered acting projects, but she knew she wanted to make her debut with a project where she was actually skillful. That's how you leave a mark.

Because when you do your debut project really well, people establish a positive narrative around you. But if your first project is bad, then sometimes, no matter how many good projects you do afterwards, people will keep bringing up that initial impression. Usne pehle bura kiya tha. That's why your choices and timing matter.

Another thing is maintaining connections and relationships in the industry.

Look at SEVENTEEN Mingyu. He's so friendly with his members, and they always say that they want to stick together. But when their contracts started approaching renewal, he was very clear about his worth. He communicated to the company that he brings so much to the table, so of course he expects better contract renewal terms and compensation.

And he didn't communicate it in a cocky way. He stated it factually and confidently.

Since he was also warm and connected with the members, they understood that side of him as well. The seventeen members have always expressed that, of course, they can try their best to stay together, but they cannot compromise their individual benefits, solo opportunities and careers.

If things align with their individual careers and benefits, they'll always try to stay together. But if staying together requires compromising their worth, potential or job opportunities, then they also have to make decisions for themselves.

They try to stay together for as long as they can. If they have fights or problems, they communicate, understand each other emotionally and work through things.

That's what I'm saying. You can be warm, connected, affectionate and emotionally available while still having your own individuality, boundaries and standards.

I've learned a lot from SEVENTEEN Mingyu, Iqra, Ananya Panday and even astrology-related discussions.

Look at Ananya Panday and the way she socialises. She's warm, appreciative and supportive. She's involved in her friends' activities, her cousins' gatherings and different social circles. She participates in things and maintains connections. But at the same time, she's detached, has her own individuality, boundaries, wit and comebacks.

You can be involved with people without making them the centre of your life.

And Durefishan also maintains connections. You were so friendly with Musaddiq Malik, but you're gradually losing those connections. Be connected with people like him, Nadeem Baig and Saifi Hassan.

Look at Saifi Hassan. He was a little upset with you when you didn't pick up his call. But you can also see how attached he was to you and how much he enjoyed that connection.

When he was talking to Maliha Rehman, he was boasting about how he becomes friends with everyone, but he specifically took your name. He said, "Let's call kar leti hain."

And you could see the amusement and that adorable affection in his expressions when he was talking about you.

These are the kinds of connections you should maintain. Be friendly with Vasay Chaudhry, Nadeem Baig and other people in the industry. Seek their advice sometimes. Be a little adorable, a little playful, and allow yourself to be that little girl around people who genuinely care about you.

For example, you can say something like, "I don't know kya hota hai. No matter how much I try to do good, people still find something to say. It's never enough. Sometimes I get hurt by what people say."

You don't have to narrate every detail or make every conversation about how someone wronged you. Of course, you can express that you're hurt, but do it without sounding desperate or constantly explaining, "Mere saath usne yeh kar diya, mere saath woh kar diya."

Just maintain that adorable, warm energy. Don't leak your energy everywhere.

And this brings me to emotional healing and detachment.

For emotional healing, you should talk to Allah. The more you repeatedly discuss your problems, the more you can reinforce those thought patterns and emotional associations. You can become increasingly attached to the situation, the trauma and even the person you're trying to move on from.

So use your problems as fuel to grow and heal.

You can only do that when you start processing your emotions rather than constantly revisiting the same narrative. Talk to Allah. Cry to Allah. Release your emotions through dua. Read Surah Fatiha, make dua, do Istighfar, recite Ya Jabbaru, Surah Waqiah, Surah Rahman and Surah Mulk. Surah Mulk for protection from the punishment of the grave.

And constantly work on yourself. Ask yourself, what is this situation trying to teach me? What pattern am I supposed to recognise? What can I learn about myself from this experience?

Sometimes a person comes into your life to teach you how much you judge yourself, how much you seek validation or how much you compromise your own boundaries.

So understand the lesson and move forward.

No one is permanent. Live life like a traveller. Be emotionally connected but don't become so attached that you lose yourself in people or situations.

When someone is genuinely meant for you, things will feel easier and lighter. If someone keeps disappointing you, not just once or twice, but consistently, then recognise that pattern. It's a sign that you need to reconsider that connection and release what isn't right for you.

Don't put anything on a pedestal. Be it a job, a situation, a relationship or a person. Nothing should become so important that you forget yourself, your growth and your relationship with Allah.

You'll live life more fully when you learn to enjoy things without becoming dependent on them.

And one last thing: stay away from music if you know how it affects your emotional state.

Music literally mera dimaag kharab kar deta hai. I realised how emotionally over-involved I used to become because of music, poetry and all those things. They would make me overthink, romanticise situations and become unnecessarily emotional.

I don't want to go back to that pattern. I want to stay grounded, rational, emotionally regulated and connected to Allah.

That's why I prefer reading, learning, growing, socialising and actually experiencing life rather than getting lost in music, poetry and imaginary emotional narratives.

Ultimately, the whole point is to build an individual identity, maintain your dignity, understand your worth, make calculated decisions, nurture genuine relationships and never compromise your potential just because you feel like you're missing out on something.

Be warm, but have boundaries. Be appreciative, but don't seek validation. Be ambitious, but don't compromise your standards. Be emotionally connected, but don't lose yourself.

And most importantly, keep your relationship with Allah at the centre of everything.