Pakistani actress Yashma Gill has spoken with rare honesty about a chapter of her life she rarely discusses in public — the years when she stopped believing in God altogether — and the unexpected way she found her way back to Islam. Speaking to veteran actress and host Samina Peerzada on her talk show Rewind With Samina Peerzada, Gill described the spiritual crisis of her university years in Australia, the friend who challenged her to try faith again, and the lesson she now lives by: “Never inherit your religion, learn it.” Viewers can watch the full interview on YouTube.
Gill, whose candid interview has struck a chord with viewers, spared no details in sharing a journey that took her from questioning everything to a contentment she says she had never known before.
The university years in Australia: the faith that slipped away
Gill revealed that during her time at university in Australia, she was well known as “the Pakistani girl who would debate a lot on religion”. She was going through a difficult phase of her life, and slowly began to believe that if a higher authority existed, her good deeds should have been met with reward rather than hurt.
She confessed that she was unable to make sense of religion despite all her questions, because, as she put it, she was blinded by darkness — according to MangoBaaz’s report on the interview. She compared faith — imaan — to a phone charger: if your iman is not regularly topped up with “iman boosters”, you eventually lose it.
The friend, the Ramadan challenge, and the way back
The turning point came through her friend Warda, whom Gill said she deeply respected. As a last attempt to pull her back, Warda asked Gill to fast every day of the whole month of Ramadan, offer all her prayers, and ask Allah for help with a pure heart.
Gill took up the challenge largely to prove her friend wrong — but she gave it her full hundred per cent. She said she barely noticed when namaz became such an important part of her life that missing it left her feeling incomplete and anxious. And as her prayers returned, other things began to change: she was offered a job, her strained relationship with her parents mended, and she finally found a long-lost sense of mental peace.
“Never inherit your religion, learn it”
Gill told Peerzada that she does not regret the atheist phase of her life. In fact, she believes it was essential to becoming who she is today. “Never inherit your religion, learn it,” she said, explaining that the journey had given her a far deeper understanding of Islam than she might otherwise have gained.
Today, she says, she is very content with her life — and grateful for the knowledge her difficult years brought her.
Don’t judge: “deeds depend on intent”
Gill also used the interview to send a message to viewers: do not judge her for what she went through, and do not criticise anyone for their beliefs. Judging a person on the basis of what they wear or what they do, she said, is shallow — because deeds depend on intent.
She recalled an incident on a drama set, when a woman criticised her for offering her prayer while wearing makeup. Gill’s reply has since been widely quoted: it is better to appear in an exam and get low marks than not to appear at all and fail.
The actress is one of the most talked-about Pakistani television actresses of her generation, and her close friendship with Hania Aamir often makes headlines. Her raw, honest account of faith, doubt and return has now added one of the most-discussed celebrity interviews of the season to her name.
Related Posts
ShowbizAli Zafar Unveils Bostan Khan: His Dark Gangster Role in ‘Gangs of Khorasan’
ShowbizAlan Walker Lands in Lahore, Teases Collaboration With ‘Alfaaz’ Singers Hamza Malik and Zain Zohaib
ShowbizSaif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Reunite on Koffee With Karan After 16 Years — and Relive the Night of the Attack
ShowbizMr Patlu Gets Protective Bail in Sialkot Stampede Case
ShowbizHanging by a Wire: Pakistan’s Historic First-Ever Documentary Oscar Entry
ShowbizSaif Ali Khan Says He Wants to Forgive the Man Who Tried to Kill Him — “Two Knives Is Two Knives”Most Popular
How-ToPTA Tax Calculator 2026: Check Mobile Tax on Any Phone408 views
Pakistan NewsPIA Boeing 787 Lease Deal: What It Means for the Airline384 views
SportsUEFA Champions League 2026-27: Format, Teams and Schedule377 views
Canada JobsTech Jobs in Canada: Roles, Salaries, and Skills Needed365 views
SportsBallon d’Or 2026: London Ceremony, Nominees and All-Time Records Ahead of 70th Anniversary339 views
ShowbizWomen’s Fashion in Pakistan 2026: Trends, Brands and Style Guide339 views
