Areej Chaudhary is a familiar face on television and has already played a wide range of challenging characters in various dramas. As a beauty pageant winner and participant who took to modelling and then acting in television and films, Areej still has a long way to go before she can sit back and reflect on her accom­plish­ments. At the moment, however, she’s in top form and taking on all the challenges that life, and her career choices, throw her way.

Tell us about your journey as a beauty queen — first as winner of Miss Pakistan World 2020 and your virtual participation in Miss World 2020, then Miss Eco International, and Miss Global International in 2022?

I became Miss Pakistan World in 2020 as the first ever girl directly chosen from Pakistan. It was a wonderful journey with different experiences at the time of the coronavirus pandemic. I competed internationally, helped portray a soft image of Pakistan and received training through online sessions for the walk. In the process, I also did charity work for children and terminally-ill patients. I also became an animal rights activist and an ambassador for the JFK Animal Rescue Shelter.

Beauty pageants are not just about beauty anymore. They are about both inner and outer beauty. The 60 percent charity work that you have done in your country of origin is required to win the pageant. For me, it was a great experience because I had always wanted to be a beauty queen and longed to create a platform where I could become a voice for the voiceless. The Miss Pakistan organisation and the President of Miss Pakistan World, Sonia Ahmed, trained me extremely well to represent Pakistan internationally.

Areej Chaudhary has a lot going for her. Can this psychologist, who always dreamed of becoming a beauty queen and fashion model, succeed in showbiz?

Meeting people from different countries and learning about various cultures is something truly unique and lovely. The pageant contestants are all like sisters, belonging to different cultures and religions, living under the same roof. I feel proud to be able to represent Pakistan and break stereotypes. I also think that people in Pakistan now have a better understanding of such pageants.

I was also approached by Miss Universe 2023, but I was suffering from dengue at the time and was replaced by Erica Robin. I feel proud that she did so well. My life totally changed after becoming Miss Pakistan World 2020. It’s a huge responsibility to carry the crown and sash while representing one’s country.

You are a psychologist by profession, yet beauty pageants, modelling and acting is what you have made a career in. Do you still practise psychology?

I studied psychology to help me better understand different personalities. But ever since I was young, I’ve always wanted to be an actress, model and a beauty queen. So, for me, nothing is impossible. You just have to keep on going. While I was studying, I got offers to act in dramas and so I started working as an actress.

I don’t aim to practice psychology professionally as I am more passionate about acting, modelling and being a beauty queen with a definite sense of purpose in life. I believe in pursuing a profession that you are passionate about and one that you know you can do well in, so that’s what I’m doing right now.

What about your participation in future beauty pageants?

I hope to participate in Miss Universe 2024 and Miss Universal 2024.

Who are your all time favourite fashion designers. Who would you love to work with?

I would love to work internationally in fashion. In Pakistan, there are some really good designers, such as Zainab Chottani, Hussain Rehar and Ali Xeeshan. They are simply amazing and I would like to work with them some day.

I was also approached by Miss Universe 2023, but I was suffering from dengue at the time and was replaced by Erica Robin. I feel proud that she did so well. My life totally changed after becoming Miss Pakistan World 2020. It’s a huge responsibility to carry the crown and sash while representing one’s country. ”

Tell us about your first foray into television. Which character of yours is closest to your heart?

My first project was from LTN Family Channel in Lahore in 2021, in which I appeared in the title character of Maahi — a positive role. My first acting assignment in Karachi was for Hum TV’s Sitam, in which I played the negative character of Ramsha, which became quite popular with the audience.

In Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi’s 7th Sky Entertainment’s drama serial Inteqaam, which was aired on Geo TV, I played Bubbly, a negative character, again. Later, I was approached for ARY Digital’s Woh Pagal Si (Sajjo) and Munn Aangan.

Sajjo remains my favourite character so far because, before and during the shoot, I adopted that character’s look and body language completely. Sajjo was a very difficult character to play because she had both negative and positive personality traits. She was the kind of girl who was nice at heart but, at the same time, would do anything for love.

Who are your favourite actors to watch on screen and who would you love to work with? What are your future plans?

From Pakistan, it’s Sajal Aly, Saba Qamar, Feroze Khan and Humayun Saeed.

I would love to work with Feroze Khan and Humayun Saeed, and my future plans include working for international projects.

What do you think of the current trends in TV dramas and films? Is there any room for improvement?

Our drama industry is very strong, but I think we still need to improve the content. I know we will have better films in the future. We are already learning and have made history with The Legend Of Maula Jatt, which shows we are certainly on the right path.

Tell us about your roles in the films Dhai Chaal and Aar Paar?

Dhai Chaal is my favourite project because my character in it is quite different. I play the role of an investigative officer. I’ve always wanted to play challenging characters and I was shortlisted for Dhai Chaal because I have training in handling firearms. Aar Paar is a movie in which I play a con-girl. I happen to like action-oriented films. I believe actors should be able to inhabit characters that are psychologically different from themselves.

Is your family supportive of your showbiz career?

My family is very supportive Without their support I wouldn’t be where and what I am today. They have been with me the whole way, especially my mother and elder brother.

My brothers are my role models because I’ve learned so much from them. Hassan Chaudhary is the youngest and a famous cosmeotologist, while Hussain Chaudhary is the CEO of four translation companies.

Are you also into music, given that you have appeared in the music videos of Mann Mera (Fahad Ishfaq), Ishq (Saieen Zahoor) and Show You Some Love (Kabir Singh)?

I do love music and I’m really looking for some good music content for me to do music videos. What else is on the cards? Love, romance, marriage?

Nothing on these three so far.

Published in Dawn, ICON, November 26th, 2023