I walked out from under my father's shadow and found my voice on stage - Action News
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SaskatchewanCreator Network

I walked out from under my father's shadow and found my voice on stage

Ayesha Mohsin grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, where her father was a celebrated television drama producer. Ayesha wanted to choose her path and pursue her love of theatre, which brought her to Canada.

Ayesha Mohsin says moving from Pakistan to Canada allowed her to follow her passion for theatre

Theatre artist Ayesha Mohsin tells the story of how her father, a famous Pakistani television producer, inspired her to choose her own path in life

1 year ago
Duration 5:48
Ayesha Mohsin grew up in Karachi, Pakistan. Her father, Syed Mohsin Ali, was a prolific and celebrated television drama producer in Pakistan. Ayesha could have followed in his footsteps, but instead, she wanted to choose her own path. It brought her to Canada, where she pursued her love of theatre. Mohsin shares her journey in this short documentary for CBC's Creator Network.

CBC Saskatchewan's Creator Network is a place where young digital storytellers from diverse backgrounds can produce original video content to air on CBC and tell stories through their own lens. Get in touch or pitch your own story here.

How do you find your own voice when you're in the shadow of a legend? I did it by moving to Canada.

It wasn't that I didn't appreciate my family or where I came from. My childhood was great. It was full of love, care and support. My parents encouraged me to see the world through my own lens.

My father, Syed Mohsin Ali, was one of the great South Asian television directors and producers. He created a number of popular television dramas over the years, including Taabeer, Kiran Kahani, Shahzori and Jinnah Se Quaid.

Ayesha Mohsin
Ayesha Mohsin was born in Pakistan but moved to Canada to complete a theatre degree at the University of Regina. (Fredau Hoekstra)

He also received the President's Pride of Performance award and the PTV Lifetime Achievement Award. He died in 2003.

When I lived in Pakistan, there were no university degrees for performing arts or theatre. This encouraged me to look internationally. I applied to the University of Regina, and was accepted to its theatre program through the media, arts and performance department.

I stood on stage for the very first time and saw my own shadow under the lights. That's when I knew this was my place in the world. This is where I would find my own voice.

After graduating, I started my own multilingual and multicultural theatre company called Lexeme. It specializes in telling stories from all cultures, in a variety of languages. I started out slowly and produced one play a year.

Ayesha Mohsin's parents, Syed Mohsin Ali and Razia Mohsin in an undated photo.
Ayesha Mohsin's parents, Syed Mohsin Ali and Razia Mohsin, in an undated photo. (Ayesha Mohsin)

A lot of my family and friends asked me why I went into theatre instead of television like my father. I tell them I chose theatre because it's a blank slate. It starts with nothing.

I came to Saskatchewan with no job, no connections and no money. I started working at a big box store to pay the bills, and started saving money to start my own theatre company. Thankfully, I had food and shelter because of my family, but no one knew who I was. I was not the daughter of a legend here, and that's exactly what I needed.

I never watched any Pakistani television dramas after my father passed away. I was afraid seeing them would cause sadness. But going through his work for this Creator Network documentary project helped me realize that my grief has been replaced by love.

Some images of characaters from the tv programs Syed Mohsin Ali produced in Pakistan.
Some images of characters from the tv programs Syed Mohsin Ali produced in Pakistan. (Ayesha Mohsin/PTV)

I am grateful to the Pakistani Television Corporation for allowing me to use my dad's work in my video, and especially grateful for my dear uncle, Muhammad Kamil, for helping in the process.

My father earned two master's degrees, one in political science and one in English literature. I asked him once why he chose two very different majors.

He told me that his father, my grandfather, wanted him to study political science and follow his footsteps by joining the civil service.

But my father wanted to direct television dramas. So even though he got a degree in political science like his father wanted, he eventually followed his own dreams.

Whenever I think of my father, I am reminded of his personal journey. He found his own voice, just like I am finding mine.

Some family photos of Ayesha Mohsin and her parents in Pakistan.
Some family photos of Ayesha Mohsin and her parents in Pakistan. (Ayesha Mohsin)