Hina Khan: I am looking forward to doing loads of work this year

After 17 years in the industry, Hina Khan is clear about what shapes an actor’s journey now — not past work, but the willingness to take risks. Having stepped away from television at the peak of her popularity and recently navigated a two-year break due to illness, she is looking at a fresh, more flexible phase of her career.Hina says, “It’s not about your body of work. It’s not about what kind of projects you’ve done as an actor. I think it is because of taking that risk,” she says.For her, the real shift began when she moved away from television — a space where she was firmly established. “When you move away from a certain platform or certain space where you are known, like in television, and then you step out, and you want to try new things… it becomes tougher. Especially, I think for girls from television, it is tougher because you know how it works there — the whole story and everything is from a woman’s perspective.” At the same time, she acknowledges a gradual change in the industry. “I’m happy about the fact that things are changing. People from television are doing mainstream OTT and are doing well for themselves. I feel those lines are blurring.”Her momentum was interrupted by a two-year sabbatical following a breast cancer diagnosis. The break came soon after her Punjabi film debut with Shinda Shinda No Papa. “I did a hit film Shinda Shinda No Papa, which was my Punjabi film debut. I could have done great work there, but unfortunately, I became unwell. So two years got consumed,” she shares. ‘I have this side which is inclined towards love stories’Now preparing to return, Hina is keen to explore a range of roles. “I am looking forward to doing loads of work this year. I want to play a spy, a negative character or an agent. I am drawn to a character with a dual personality. I have this side which is inclined towards love stories.”Her approach to work has also shifted. She adds, “I want to do something that finishes in 40–50 days. OTT, film or a finite show is perfect.”