Date of Birth
15 July 1976, Lahore, Pakistan Birth Name
Irtiza Rubab Height
5' 4" (1.63 m) Mini Biography
Meera was born on 15th July 1976 in Lahore. She started acting in school plays in high school and went on to model for various commercial products while still in high school. Meera went to Lahore's Kinniard College and continued to act in school plays, however at this point her modelling career really took off as she appeared in ads for Pepsi and Lux while still in her mid-teens. She continued to model for various agencies in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad and became one of the country's top supermodels. At this point, Meera was also approached by various directors in Lahore to sign on for roles in their movies. She signed with two directors including
Samina Peerzada who was making her
debut as a director in
Inteha (1999). Peerzada signed Meera on as the lead in her directorial
debut - and Meera was sensational. Inteha went on to become a bit hit and Meera was named the Best Actress of the year for her breakout performance. Since Inteha, Meera has worked in 14 projects, while at the same time, continuing with her modelling career. Despite having spent 4 years in the film industry, Meera prefers working in fewer films than her co-stars. This according to Meera is because she prefers modelling to acting and is therefore committed to appear in a limited number of film projects. She is still one of Pakistan's top models and continues to appear in Lux and Pepsi's ads - which helped launch her career. Meera plans to continue her modelling and acting career, before turning her attention to Interior design, which was her major in college. Meera signed on to appear in a new television serial produced and directed by
Javed Sheikh. This would be Meera's first appearance on a Prime Time TV Serial on PTV, although she has guest hosted the weekly Top 20 Countdown for PTV and Pesi on quite a few occasions.
Trivia
Regular host of the Top 20 Music Countdown on PTV.
Graduated from Kinniard College in Lahore.
Signed on as a teen model while still in high school.
Voted one of Pakistan's most beautiful stars of 2000.
Is an active model, making appearances across Pakistan on a regular basis.
Beat out
Reema and other established stars for her role as Sara in the blockbuster
Inteha (1999).
Is single, and lives with her parents in Lahore. [2001]
Owns a range of high performance vehicles in Lahore but rarely drives on her own. She says she doesn't trust herself behind the wheel.
Was the first Pakistani actress to work in a Co-Production with India - when she starred in Nazar (2005).
Is the second of six siblings. She has one sister and four brothers.
Her sister owns a hair salon in Pakistan, while her brothers are studying abroad.
Meera has now relocated to Mubmai, India to continue more work in Indian films. The move has obviously caused more disgruntlement in her native Pakistan, although she is not the first Pakistani actor to move to Mumbai for career purposes. [September 2005]
The first Pakistani actress to successfully cross-over into India's Bollywood film industry.
Pakistani superstar
Meera lodged an Official Complaint against
Faisal Saif in Punjab (Pakistan) chief minister's cell where she claimed that the Film Maker is behind the conspiracy to kill her.
Can be seen briefly in the remix music video for the song 'Woh Lamhe' for the movie
Zeher (2005).
Personal Quotes
On working with director Mahesh Bhatt: "I am so comfortable with Mahesh. I can hug him, kiss him on his cheeks and listen to him speak for endless hours. He decides whom I should meet, where to meet them. I trust him totally." (Movie Mag International June 2004)
"I will not do any kissing scenes and no exposure at all, nothing like Murder (2004). I come from Pakistan, I am a Muslim girl, I will not do anything indecent or vulgar. I don't want anyone to even approach me or talk to me if they want me to do any kissing scenes or exposure which is vulgar." (Movie Mag International June 2004)
"I am shooting every day, fans approach me for autographs, it becomes difficult for me to go unrecognized anywhere. My car windows are curtained. I have never gone to restaurants for dinner, because people stare at me, pass remarks, come to my table for autographs, so I prefer to spend time with my family and friends at home. I never go out to public places in Pakistan." (Movie Mag International June 2004)
When asked if she was sorry for being the first Pakistani actress to do a kissing scene, Meera responded: "Why should I feel sorry? I have not done anything wrong." (March, 2005)
"Pakistan is my country and India is the place where I am working. When I feel I will come to Pakistan or come back to India. I am the ambassador of peace. I feel India and Pakistan are like two sisters. If I desire I will go to any of the sisters whenever I want." (March, 2005)
"Every cinema-goer wants to see heroines at their best on the screen. It depends on the individual how they do it in from of the camera. There are many ways to look seductive without looking vulgar." (April 2004)
"I was very impressed with Madhuri's dancing in Devdas (2002), so I wanted Sarojji to compose the mujras for me. She is a taskmaster, but at the end of the day, the result shows." (August 2006)
"I love India and aim to completely concentrate on Bollywood now. Inshaallah if God forbids I want to get married in Bollywood and have children. I want my children to act in Bollywod." (August 2006)
On how her family was not supportive of her doing an Indian film: "No one was in support of me doing a film here. In fact, as you can see my father does not even leave me for a single minute and constantly follows me like a spy. But I guess that things will change once the film releases."
When asked if her family had a problem with her kissing scene: "No, they had a problem with me doing a Hindi film. They did not want me to come to India. I know they're still not happy. They keep stressing that I should return to Pakistan."
On her Bollywood
debut film
Nazar (2005): "I am very confident, as I have worked with great people. This film spreads the message of friendship, peace and unity between India and Pakistan. It is great to play the bridge between these two countries."
On how she was approached to star in her first Indian movie: "When we met
Mahesh Bhatt the film festival in Pakistan, he suggested that we do a film together. I loved his sincerity and his intention of doing a film, which could bring both the countries together. I immediately agreed."
Her thoughts on
Sana, the second Pakistani actress to star in an Indian movie: "That was precisely the reason why I did a film here (India). I had to go through the hard way and my path was full of thorns, but I am glad that it has opened all doors for others to come and do films out here. I just pray more and more like me come and do films in India."
On actresses eager to play the same role in different versions of the film Jhansi Ki Rani: I am not competing. Let the competition show on the big screen. Let the media, critics and audience decide. I am here to work and when people see me on stage, I want them to look at me as Jhansi Ki Rani and not Meera. (2009)
I think a glamorous life is short-lived. There is no character in glamorous roles. An actual star is the one who lives the character. (2009)
As an actress I have no inhibitions on screen. That doesn't mean I am willing to go to any lengths to prove my point. I know where to draw a line. I represent Pakistan in India and let me assure everyone I would never demean my culture. The 'kiss sequence' is part of the storyline and should not be seen in isolation. (May 2005)
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