NYWIFT Blog

By Kate Dolan

Welcome to NYWIFT, Rudaba Zehra Nasir!

Rudaba is a Pakistani-American, conservatory-trained actress, writer, and singer as well as a humanitarian and life coach based in Manhattan. She is currently producing her solo show Halal-ish which is about her journey from Pakistan to America to find love.

On screen, she has starred in award-winning films The Foreign Patriot and The Train I’m On, and was a series regular in Kabhi Na Kabhi (Someday) on Hum TV. Her New York theater credits include sold-out, Off-Off Broadway shows such as Novecento (Paradise Factory Theater), Arsinoe IV (Chain Theatre), Talk of the Town (The Players), and Measure For Measure (Resident Acting Company). 

Rudaba spoke to us about how she uses art to cultivate connection, finding her voice as an actor,  and her humanitarian initiatives. 

Welcome to NYWIFT! Please introduce yourself briefly to our readers.

Hi! I’m Rudaba Zehra Nasir, a Pakistani American actress, singer, and writer based in Manhattan. My career spans over two decades of stage, screen, and humanitarian work. If I had to summarize why I do what I do in one word, it would be service.

In this spirit, I recently launched my coaching and consulting practice to support individuals navigating major life transitions and organizations looking to strengthen their talent. I also use tarot and oracle readings as tools for strengthening intuition and self-awareness.

I’m passionate about creating and contributing to meaningful projects in theater, film, and TV that amplify underrepresented voices—feminist, immigrant, POC, queer stories—with authentic representation and inclusive storytelling.

At the end of the day, I strive to tell stories that bridge cultures, expand empathy, and empower people. From speaking at the UN to presenting at Oxford University to performing on sold-out stages in Manhattan’s Theater District, my greatest joy is using art to connect people.

What inspired you to become an actress?

I was born and raised in a family of academics and artists in Lahore, Pakistan. My father wore many hats—sailor, banker, professor, and bass guitarist for a band called The Wanderers! My mother’s happiest hours were spent singing with her sisters and friends. So, from an early age, I was surrounded by music.

My parents also loved movies. We spent countless evenings watching old Hollywood films, Westerns, and British TV shows. I fell in love with acting, singing, and storytelling in those living room concerts and screenings. When I began acting in school plays and taking voice lessons, something clicked. On stage, I was no longer “too much” or “too little” — I fit in.

You have experience in both film and theater, working in contemporary and classical texts. Is there a particular medium that you find most enjoyable or rewarding?

Each medium feeds me differently. Theater is alive, immediate, a shared experience; it is a real-time energetic exchange with an audience. As a sober person, it’s how I get high 😉

Film and television capture intimacy, subtlety, and truths hidden behind the eyes, immortalizing fragile moments that can ripple far beyond opening or closing nights. I love both, but the stage is where I sharpen my craft, experiment with bold choices, and stretch my full range as an actress before bringing that precision to the screen.

Share about the process of producing your first solo show, Halalish. What are you finding challenging and exciting?

My solo show Halal-ish is my love letter to myself and every other woman or person who was taught to sacrifice their own desires, pleasures, and dreams in order to please others. It is a testament to our resilience, to choosing ourselves again and again, even after life knocks us down. Producing it has been thrilling and terrifying. Like my father, I wear many hats: performer, writer, fundraiser, producer, publicist. Luckily, I have a strong support system—a wonderful director, mentors, and friends who have gone above and beyond to help me.

The biggest challenge is vulnerability—baring my heart on stage. I don’t shy away from sex, pleasure, and taboo topics. Sometimes I worry that a random aunty from the mosque will see it and I’ll be forever branded “haram.” But Halal-ish is a revolution I cannot stop. The gift is freedom: owning my narrative and inviting others to laugh, cry, and heal with me.

Can you speak about your work as a humanitarian?

For nearly 20 years, I’ve worked globally on gender equality and inclusion, from major international organizations to grassroots initiatives in developing countries. My focus has been on helping women, LGBTQ+ folks, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized communities to secure jobs, access loans, start businesses, and raise their families with safety and dignity. 

I have worked with thousands of individuals, employers, and government officials in nearly 40 countries, which has expanded my horizon as a human being and an artist. This work grounds me in purpose and fuels my artistry with a deep commitment to equity, justice, and belonging. 

How does your art intersect with your role as a humanitarian?

For me, my art and humanitarian work are inseparable. Both are about amplifying silenced voices and creating spaces for truth, empathy, and community. Whether I’m playing Cleopatra on stage in Manhattan or leading a workshop for women leaders in Nairobi, I’m channeling the same mission: to spark courage, dialogue, visibility, and change. My art fuels my activism, and my activism deepens my art.

Are there any projects you would like to work on in the future?

I’m excited to expand Halal-ish beyond New York — regionally and internationally. I’ll perform Shakespeare for as long as I can breathe. And I dream of originating roles in new TV series, films, plays, and musicals that center nuanced immigrant, queer, POC, Muslim, and feminist perspectives while breaking stereotypes.

Be it a procedural like Law & Order, a dystopian sci-fi like The Last of Us, a fantasy like The Wheel of Time, a medical drama like Grey’s Anatomy, or a comedy like Abbott Elementary, I’m ready! I’d love to collaborate with storytellers like Mindy Kaling, Mira Nair, Lilly Singh, Fawzia Mirza, and Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy. I deeply admire the careers of Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Poorna Jagannathan, Sarita Choudhury, Indira Varma, and Jessica Chastain.

Long term, I want to build a creative hub that unites art, coaching, and advocacy — a space where artists across genres can thrive.

Follow Rudaba on Instagram at  @RudabaNasir and visit her website www.rudaba.com, Actors Access, and IMDb profiles.