many years ago when I was a little girl my mother always used to say to me Larry
my mother always used to say to me Larry
my mother always used to say to me Larry make sure you do something in life be an
make sure you do something in life be an
make sure you do something in life be an independent woman and do not rely on
independent woman and do not rely on
independent woman and do not rely on anyone those were the words I was
anyone those were the words I was
anyone those were the words I was literally brainwashed with and it was
literally brainwashed with and it was
literally brainwashed with and it was the B independent part that was stuck
the B independent part that was stuck
the B independent part that was stuck with me forever
with me forever
with me forever I was born in Lahore Pakistan but most
I was born in Lahore Pakistan but most
I was born in Lahore Pakistan but most of my childhood was also spent in my
of my childhood was also spent in my
of my childhood was also spent in my father’s hometown ISA Hill in the Mia
father’s hometown ISA Hill in the Mia
father’s hometown ISA Hill in the Mia Walley district and because of his
Walley district and because of his
Walley district and because of his background and traditions and how he was
background and traditions and how he was
background and traditions and how he was raised up
raised up
raised up he had very strict rules for me and I
he had very strict rules for me and I
he had very strict rules for me and I wasn’t allowed to socialize or go out as
wasn’t allowed to socialize or go out as
wasn’t allowed to socialize or go out as many of you know about my father he’s a
many of you know about my father he’s a
many of you know about my father he’s a very famous Pakistani pork singer music
very famous Pakistani pork singer music
very famous Pakistani pork singer music was forbidden in his town and at a very
was forbidden in his town and at a very
was forbidden in his town and at a very young age he left home to pursue his
young age he left home to pursue his
young age he left home to pursue his career he went to Fazle Baden in Lahore
career he went to Fazle Baden in Lahore
career he went to Fazle Baden in Lahore and he worked really really hard and
and he worked really really hard and
and he worked really really hard and today he holds the world record of most
today he holds the world record of most
today he holds the world record of most albums ever recorded by an artist and he
albums ever recorded by an artist and he
albums ever recorded by an artist and he also received a Lifetime Achievement
also received a Lifetime Achievement
also received a Lifetime Achievement Award by the British prime minister few
Award by the British prime minister few
Award by the British prime minister few years ago which was presented to him by
years ago which was presented to him by
years ago which was presented to him by David Miliband he’s a very humble and
David Miliband he’s a very humble and
David Miliband he’s a very humble and down-to-earth man and he wanted to spend
down-to-earth man and he wanted to spend
down-to-earth man and he wanted to spend most of his time in his village and he
most of his time in his village and he
most of his time in his village and he made his country proud he made his
made his country proud he made his
made his country proud he made his family proud he made everyone so proud
family proud he made everyone so proud
family proud he made everyone so proud and also my mother who’s a role model
and also my mother who’s a role model
and also my mother who’s a role model for me and a big part of my life she was
for me and a big part of my life she was
for me and a big part of my life she was also a professional actress back in the
also a professional actress back in the
also a professional actress back in the days he had to give up her career when
days he had to give up her career when
days he had to give up her career when she got married and when she had babies
she got married and when she had babies
she got married and when she had babies so therefore since my father wanted to
so therefore since my father wanted to
so therefore since my father wanted to spend most of his time in his village we
spend most of his time in his village we
spend most of his time in his village we it wasn’t easy for me and my mother to
it wasn’t easy for me and my mother to
it wasn’t easy for me and my mother to live in that in that environment because
live in that in that environment because
live in that in that environment because a lot of women don’t have the chance to
a lot of women don’t have the chance to
a lot of women don’t have the chance to have their say and at the age of 14 my
have their say and at the age of 14 my
have their say and at the age of 14 my abilities suggested and recommended to
abilities suggested and recommended to
abilities suggested and recommended to my father that I should get married and
my father that I should get married and
my father that I should get married and I should stay home and but fortunately
I should stay home and but fortunately
I should stay home and but fortunately with my mother’s support I escaped that
with my mother’s support I escaped that
with my mother’s support I escaped that because I wanted to do something in life
because I wanted to do something in life
because I wanted to do something in life and that is what my mother wanted for me
and that is what my mother wanted for me
and that is what my mother wanted for me to to do something in life and be
to to do something in life and be
to to do something in life and be something so when my father wouldn’t
something so when my father wouldn’t
something so when my father wouldn’t allow me to socialize or go out I would
allow me to socialize or go out I would
allow me to socialize or go out I would use that time to reflect on myself or
use that time to reflect on myself or
use that time to reflect on myself or read books or draw because I loved
read books or draw because I loved
read books or draw because I loved drawing a loved
drawing a loved
drawing a loved and I would be in my quiet corner just
and I would be in my quiet corner just
and I would be in my quiet corner just drawing and I wouldn’t speak much and
drawing and I wouldn’t speak much and
drawing and I wouldn’t speak much and people would call me mute because I
people would call me mute because I
people would call me mute because I wouldn’t say much and I would refrain
wouldn’t say much and I would refrain
wouldn’t say much and I would refrain from getting into arguments or any kind
from getting into arguments or any kind
from getting into arguments or any kind of conversation so I would mostly stay
of conversation so I would mostly stay
of conversation so I would mostly stay quiet so when I was when I was young we
quiet so when I was when I was young we
quiet so when I was when I was young we went to Japan and I and I discovered how
went to Japan and I and I discovered how
went to Japan and I and I discovered how simplicity was their way of life how
simplicity was their way of life how
simplicity was their way of life how people were incorporating that into
people were incorporating that into
people were incorporating that into their lives in everyday lives and I
their lives in everyday lives and I
their lives in everyday lives and I discovered minimalism and I wanted to I
discovered minimalism and I wanted to I
discovered minimalism and I wanted to I was so impressed that how they were
was so impressed that how they were
was so impressed that how they were practicing minimalism and I wanted to
practicing minimalism and I wanted to
practicing minimalism and I wanted to practice I want to start practicing
practice I want to start practicing
practice I want to start practicing minimalism and I started doing that I
minimalism and I started doing that I
minimalism and I started doing that I realized how less makes me more happy
realized how less makes me more happy
realized how less makes me more happy the more I have the more stressed I get
the more I have the more stressed I get
the more I have the more stressed I get the less I have the more I’m at peace
the less I have the more I’m at peace
the less I have the more I’m at peace and I try to stay more focused on the
and I try to stay more focused on the
and I try to stay more focused on the positives rather than the negatives and
positives rather than the negatives and
positives rather than the negatives and it really helped me to be more content
it really helped me to be more content
it really helped me to be more content in life so stay simple stay happy so
in life so stay simple stay happy so
in life so stay simple stay happy so when I was nine years old I washed the
when I was nine years old I washed the
when I was nine years old I washed the exhaust I story that was the first
exhaust I story that was the first
exhaust I story that was the first animation feature that really made me
animation feature that really made me
animation feature that really made me think how is it really done I was so
think how is it really done I was so
think how is it really done I was so fascinated by the characters animation
fascinated by the characters animation
fascinated by the characters animation and the story really intrigued me I
and the story really intrigued me I
and the story really intrigued me I really wanted to know how it’s really
really wanted to know how it’s really
really wanted to know how it’s really made I think it was that point when it
made I think it was that point when it
made I think it was that point when it got into me that I wanted to combine art
got into me that I wanted to combine art
got into me that I wanted to combine art and technology it’s a few years later
and technology it’s a few years later
and technology it’s a few years later when I was 14 years old my brother
when I was 14 years old my brother
when I was 14 years old my brother decided to move to UK to pursue his
decided to move to UK to pursue his
decided to move to UK to pursue his studies and that that is when as a whole
studies and that that is when as a whole
studies and that that is when as a whole family we decided to move to UK so I did
family we decided to move to UK so I did
family we decided to move to UK so I did my GCSEs my a-levels and then I took a
my GCSEs my a-levels and then I took a
my GCSEs my a-levels and then I took a gap here and that is when my brother
gap here and that is when my brother
gap here and that is when my brother suggested that why don’t you do VFX and
suggested that why don’t you do VFX and
suggested that why don’t you do VFX and I start looking for courses and I went
I start looking for courses and I went
I start looking for courses and I went for one so when I finished my course I
for one so when I finished my course I
for one so when I finished my course I went straight into the professional
went straight into the professional
went straight into the professional industry at the age of 19 and I was
industry at the age of 19 and I was
industry at the age of 19 and I was working for big Hollywood films and big
working for big Hollywood films and big
working for big Hollywood films and big projects so once I started working in
projects so once I started working in
projects so once I started working in the VFX industry I was the youngest and
the VFX industry I was the youngest and
the VFX industry I was the youngest and the only girl so it was really a big
the only girl so it was really a big
the only girl so it was really a big opportunity for me and I had also had
opportunity for me and I had also had
opportunity for me and I had also had the honor to meet the creators and
the honor to meet the creators and
the honor to meet the creators and directors of Pixar which was really a
directors of Pixar which was really a
directors of Pixar which was really a big highlight moment so really get I
big highlight moment so really get I
big highlight moment so really get I started making the most of every
started making the most of every
started making the most of every opportunity and get out of my comfort
opportunity and get out of my comfort
opportunity and get out of my comfort zone so that’s the message I would give
zone so that’s the message I would give
zone so that’s the message I would give to everyone really get out of you come
to everyone really get out of you come
to everyone really get out of you come zone and make the most of every
zone and make the most of every
zone and make the most of every opportunity you get and also don’t be
opportunity you get and also don’t be
opportunity you get and also don’t be afraid of changes because changes are
afraid of changes because changes are
afraid of changes because changes are good I I have a friend who recently went
good I I have a friend who recently went
good I I have a friend who recently went through a divorce and she asked me
through a divorce and she asked me
through a divorce and she asked me Laurie maybe you do you think I should
Laurie maybe you do you think I should
Laurie maybe you do you think I should go back and give it another chance and
go back and give it another chance and
go back and give it another chance and by the way she went through seven years
by the way she went through seven years
by the way she went through seven years of miserable life in that marriage and
of miserable life in that marriage and
of miserable life in that marriage and she would ask me for advice and I would
she would ask me for advice and I would
she would ask me for advice and I would tell her that you’ve tried everything
tell her that you’ve tried everything
tell her that you’ve tried everything for seven years and nothing worked so
for seven years and nothing worked so
for seven years and nothing worked so why not give it a try by walking away
why not give it a try by walking away
why not give it a try by walking away from this toxic relationship if you
from this toxic relationship if you
from this toxic relationship if you don’t make a change in her life nothing
don’t make a change in her life nothing
don’t make a change in her life nothing will change so she went for it she went
will change so she went for it she went
will change so she went for it she went for the divorce and she’s so happy
for the divorce and she’s so happy
for the divorce and she’s so happy independent and at peace now so really
independent and at peace now so really
independent and at peace now so really don’t be afraid of changes it’s it’s you
don’t be afraid of changes it’s it’s you
don’t be afraid of changes it’s it’s you should embrace them and take risks
should embrace them and take risks
should embrace them and take risks because only then you will move forward
because only then you will move forward
because only then you will move forward another thing I used to say a lot is
another thing I used to say a lot is
another thing I used to say a lot is that problem is not a problem until you
that problem is not a problem until you
that problem is not a problem until you think it’s a problem so one day I saw
think it’s a problem so one day I saw
think it’s a problem so one day I saw this coat online by Captain Jack Sparrow
this coat online by Captain Jack Sparrow
this coat online by Captain Jack Sparrow that problem is that the problem is your
that problem is that the problem is your
that problem is that the problem is your attitude about the problem so really
attitude about the problem so really
attitude about the problem so really it’s all about how you take things and
it’s all about how you take things and
it’s all about how you take things and how you look at things because sometimes
how you look at things because sometimes
how you look at things because sometimes bad things are the good things you have
bad things are the good things you have
bad things are the good things you have to be positive about the problems and
to be positive about the problems and
to be positive about the problems and adversity that your head hit by you know
adversity that your head hit by you know
adversity that your head hit by you know when I’m hit by an adversity I focus
when I’m hit by an adversity I focus
when I’m hit by an adversity I focus more on the positives rather than the
more on the positives rather than the
more on the positives rather than the negatives and I start getting the
negatives and I start getting the
negatives and I start getting the solutions so when I was working in the
solutions so when I was working in the
solutions so when I was working in the VFX industry one of the challenges I was
VFX industry one of the challenges I was
VFX industry one of the challenges I was facing was while working for films I
facing was while working for films I
facing was while working for films I required long hours I had to work long
required long hours I had to work long
required long hours I had to work long hours I to stay back and my father
hours I to stay back and my father
hours I to stay back and my father wasn’t really happy about that but with
wasn’t really happy about that but with
wasn’t really happy about that but with the support and help from of my mother
the support and help from of my mother
the support and help from of my mother and my brother I I continued but there
and my brother I I continued but there
and my brother I I continued but there were few jobs I rejected because I
were few jobs I rejected because I
were few jobs I rejected because I wanted to obey my father respect him and
wanted to obey my father respect him and
wanted to obey my father respect him and I give I gave a few jobs so and there
I give I gave a few jobs so and there
I give I gave a few jobs so and there was a time I wasn’t getting a lot of job
was a time I wasn’t getting a lot of job
was a time I wasn’t getting a lot of job calls companies weren’t preferring me
calls companies weren’t preferring me
calls companies weren’t preferring me they were not calling me a lord and it
they were not calling me a lord and it
they were not calling me a lord and it was a down time as well for me
was a down time as well for me
was a down time as well for me but then I kept going I did not stop and
but then I kept going I did not stop and
but then I kept going I did not stop and I realized that you have to keep trying
I realized that you have to keep trying
I realized that you have to keep trying trying you fail and then you try again
trying you fail and then you try again
trying you fail and then you try again and
and
and you have to keep moving forward even if
you have to keep moving forward even if
you have to keep moving forward even if you’re taking small steps steps just
you’re taking small steps steps just
you’re taking small steps steps just make sure you you keep moving forward
make sure you you keep moving forward
make sure you you keep moving forward and I did not give up and right after
and I did not give up and right after
and I did not give up and right after that I got calls from BBC and I also got
that I got calls from BBC and I also got
that I got calls from BBC and I also got called from the mill one of the best VFX
called from the mill one of the best VFX
called from the mill one of the best VFX company for commercials and TV and music
company for commercials and TV and music
company for commercials and TV and music videos and I got called from Pine Focus
videos and I got called from Pine Focus
videos and I got called from Pine Focus which were to work for The Chronicles of
which were to work for The Chronicles of
which were to work for The Chronicles of Narnia and gravity and few other big
Narnia and gravity and few other big
Narnia and gravity and few other big projects after working for a few years
projects after working for a few years
projects after working for a few years another best thing that has happened to
another best thing that has happened to
another best thing that has happened to me is my husband it took him four years
me is my husband it took him four years
me is my husband it took him four years to convince my family for the approval
to convince my family for the approval
to convince my family for the approval to get married to me he taught me how to
to get married to me he taught me how to
to get married to me he taught me how to speak up how to stand up for myself and
speak up how to stand up for myself and
speak up how to stand up for myself and he taught me playing chess he taught me
he taught me playing chess he taught me
he taught me playing chess he taught me cycling swimming all those things that I
cycling swimming all those things that I
cycling swimming all those things that I couldn’t do when I was young so after my
couldn’t do when I was young so after my
couldn’t do when I was young so after my marriage a lot of people used to tell me
marriage a lot of people used to tell me
marriage a lot of people used to tell me lorry I don’t have babies don’t have
lorry I don’t have babies don’t have
lorry I don’t have babies don’t have kids here you’re doing so well in your
kids here you’re doing so well in your
kids here you’re doing so well in your career don’t it will affect your career
career don’t it will affect your career
career don’t it will affect your career but of course we didn’t listen to that
but of course we didn’t listen to that
but of course we didn’t listen to that and today we have a beautiful son we’ve
and today we have a beautiful son we’ve
and today we have a beautiful son we’ve been blessed with a beautiful son he’s
been blessed with a beautiful son he’s
been blessed with a beautiful son he’s 20 months old best part of our life and
20 months old best part of our life and
20 months old best part of our life and I did not give up on my career I
I did not give up on my career I
I did not give up on my career I continued and today I work for one of
continued and today I work for one of
continued and today I work for one of the best VFX companies in the world
the best VFX companies in the world
the best VFX companies in the world double negative and I’m so happy and
double negative and I’m so happy and
double negative and I’m so happy and please have a look at their mind-blowing
please have a look at their mind-blowing
please have a look at their mind-blowing VFX work so really I would like to say
VFX work so really I would like to say
VFX work so really I would like to say that don’t let what people say get to
that don’t let what people say get to
that don’t let what people say get to your head stay positive and I normally
your head stay positive and I normally
your head stay positive and I normally just smile I respect what does it say I
just smile I respect what does it say I
just smile I respect what does it say I smile and I move on and I do my thing
smile and I move on and I do my thing
smile and I move on and I do my thing it’s not really their fault it’s your
it’s not really their fault it’s your
it’s not really their fault it’s your fault if you don’t if you believe in
fault if you don’t if you believe in
fault if you don’t if you believe in what they say and then don’t follow your
what they say and then don’t follow your
what they say and then don’t follow your dreams or don’t follow your passion
dreams or don’t follow your passion
dreams or don’t follow your passion because someone said it so really at the
because someone said it so really at the
because someone said it so really at the end it’s all about your mindset with the
end it’s all about your mindset with the
end it’s all about your mindset with the positive mindset sky is the limit
positive mindset sky is the limit
positive mindset sky is the limit success and failure depends on your
success and failure depends on your
success and failure depends on your mindset so make sure you work hard and
mindset so make sure you work hard and
mindset so make sure you work hard and you follow your passion and at the end I
you follow your passion and at the end I
you follow your passion and at the end I would like to share with you also as a
would like to share with you also as a
would like to share with you also as a woman that I have not only experienced
woman that I have not only experienced
woman that I have not only experienced challenges in my culture but also
challenges in my culture but also
challenges in my culture but also working in this male-dominated industry
working in this male-dominated industry
working in this male-dominated industry in the West for us women it’s a
in the West for us women it’s a
in the West for us women it’s a challenge we still face stereotypes and
challenge we still face stereotypes and
challenge we still face stereotypes and is really a minority in this industry
is really a minority in this industry
is really a minority in this industry and I know few cases where women have
and I know few cases where women have
and I know few cases where women have been told
been told
been told only because we thought you’re a woman
only because we thought you’re a woman
only because we thought you’re a woman we thought you’re not going to do well
we thought you’re not going to do well
we thought you’re not going to do well in this industry so we still face
in this industry so we still face
in this industry so we still face stereotypes we still face challenges
stereotypes we still face challenges
stereotypes we still face challenges even here in the West
even here in the West
even here in the West so really it’s all about your mindset
so really it’s all about your mindset
so really it’s all about your mindset just prove them wrong stay strong
just prove them wrong stay strong
just prove them wrong stay strong because at the end the strong ones
because at the end the strong ones
because at the end the strong ones survive and life is a beautiful struggle
survive and life is a beautiful struggle
survive and life is a beautiful struggle so make it a happy place for yourself
”
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