In conversation with Hani Taha: Pakistan's First Voice at RADA
"Our entertainment business is the most powerful sector in the country, and I’m not sure how much they realize the kind of responsibility they have."
Hani Taha is a journalist turned actor and the first Pakistani to be accepted into the prestigious Master's program at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). VCast sat down with Hani to discuss her evolution from reporter to performer, her training as an actor, and her belief that Pakistan must share its stories to build a more nuanced and positive image.
After graduating from Syracuse University, Hani began her career with an internship at Esquire magazine in New York. She later worked for Al Jazeera in Washington D.C., where she became acutely aware of the problematic representation of Muslims, particularly Pakistanis, in the media.
“It was very clear to me that the world neither cares for us, nor is concerned about us. And one of the reasons is because we’re not telling our own stories. Other people have told our stories from a very particular lens.”
—Hani Taha, Journalist & Actor
Realizing that to create real change she had to move from journalism—where she felt she was “just preaching to the choir”—to entertainment, she left her established career behind. She began pursuing acting at the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), training under the legendary Zia Mohyeddin, who was himself trained at RADA. She credits her improved Urdu to the diction classes she took with him, though she could never find the courage to perform in front of him.
When he passed away, she was dealing with personal grief, having buried six people close to her. Professionally, she felt demoralized after only landing minor TV roles and a few ads. Encouraged by her husband, she applied to RADA in Zia sahab’s memory.
This journey culminated in her acceptance into RADA's graduate program, an achievement she had thought impossible, as it is “excruciatingly hard” to get into RADA; some of the most popular stars today have been rejected by it. Unbeknownst to her at the time, Hani became the first person from Pakistan to be admitted to RADA’s graduate program—an extraordinary triumph.
There, she honed her craft and discovered that her voice is “very political.” She felt profound isolation, especially during the genocide in Palestine, which her colleagues seemed not to care about. In response, and expressing deep gratitude for the platform RADA provided, she created a sold-out, one-woman show that defied stereotypes, presenting a Muslim woman in her full humanity—flawed, praying, dancing, cursing. This project was a testament to her core belief: “We are not some freak show.”
Today, Hani Taha’s mission is clear. She argues that Pakistan’s entertainment sector needs a “complete overhaul,” moving away from set formulas and stereotypes towards authentic storytelling. She advocates for writer’s rooms, opportunities based on merit, and investment in theater from corporations and individuals of means.
"I became an actor with this fundamental core purpose of changing the narrative of Muslims and Pakistanis globally — but to be able to do that, I need to become an actor of extreme merit.
—Hani Taha, Journalist & Actor
She aims to build a platform like those of Riz Ahmed or Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. She hopes to create a company full of regional actors and writers to develop authentic content for a global audience, finally taking ownership of their narrative.
What image of Pakistan does the entertainment sector currently present to the world? How would you change that image? Let us know in the comments.
This article was developed with the assistance of AI tools.
