Before stepping into acting, Zainab Qayoom had established herself as a successful model, reaching the pinnacle of her career in 2004 with a Model of the Year nomination at the Lux Style Awards. 

She recently reunited with her longtime friend from the fashion industry, Asim Tiwana, on his show Star & Style, where she reflected on her career shift and how she found her true calling as an actor.

Zainab Qayoom shared that after retiring from modeling, she hosted several TV shows but eventually grew tired of the repetitive format.

“At some point, I got tired of looking into a camera and saying, ‘Welcome, I am your host ZQ,’” she said with a laugh. She admitted that transitioning to acting was challenging at first and that her early performances were far from perfect.

“I just wasn’t a very good actor back then,” she recalled candidly. She noted that her voice didn’t suit traditional lead roles, which led her to embrace playing the mothers of prominent actors.

Reflecting on her craft, Qayoom said the real challenge lies in conveying the meaning and emotion behind the lines, rather than memorizing scripts word for word.

She emphasized that the choice of director and production house greatly impacts the quality of a project.

Looking ahead, Qayoom is focusing on her writing, working on a book she has long envisioned. Fellow actor Affan Waheed praised her writing, calling it “so well written,” highlighting her multifaceted talent.

Throughout her journey, Qayoom expressed gratitude for being able to earn a living doing something she truly loves, underscoring her dedication, resilience, and passion for storytelling.