Rafia Iqbal (Actress and Model) was recently interviewed by TheCelebrity.Online Magazine and here is the Q&A session we had with Rafia.

Rafia Iqbal As Cover Story Interview – March 2026 Magazine Edition

How do you introduce yourself?

Hi, I’m Rafia Iqbal, and I am a Pakistani-Canadian actress and model, currently residing in the GTA.

I grew up fantasizing about being on screen and performing for an audience, but it had always been just that, a fantasy. I came from a semi-conservative household of immigrant parents, and as many children of immigrant parents might concede, any form of art was just not considered to be a “real career.” So I stifled that passion, and although I was never much of an academic, I continued to go through the motions and did what I thought I was supposed to do.

During my college years I stumbled upon a theatre production purely by coincidence and ended up being cast in a supporting role. A couple of theatre productions later, I found myself at a crossroads: I could move to LA like some of my cast mates were doing at the time and dive headfirst into the Hollywood hustle, or I could finish college, focus on a career in the medical industry, settle down and start a family. The idea of doing the whole “struggling actor” thing was just not appealing to me at the time, so I chose to do the latter and eventually moved on, having completely forgotten any career aspirations I ever had in the film industry.

Fast forward a few years down the road, my daughter’s enthusiasm for singing, dancing, acting, and all things performing arts led me to sign her up with a talent agent, and I found myself on set with her for various different commercials and film/television projects.

Needless to say, this reignited that spark inside me, and before I knew it, I myself was auditioning for principal roles, booking my own projects, and eventually signing up with a talent agent. Through my daughter, I found my true passion once again, resigned from my full time job, and decided THIS is what I wanted to focus on and what truly made me happy. Some of my favorite and most memorable projects have been the ones where both my daughter and I have had the opportunity to share the screen together.

What hardships have you gone through in life?

Having moved to Canada at the age of 10, I had an extremely hard time fitting in during my middle school and high school years. Being new immigrants and struggling to make a living, my parents always tried their best to provide us with everything my siblings and I needed, but they were constantly under financial stress. We never grew up wearing brand name clothes, or playing any sports, or even going to other kids’ birthday parties because we just couldn’t afford to buy them presents. Even going to McDonald’s or Burger King was a treat and a whole event, after wrapping up an entire day of shopping at Goodwill, having taken three buses to get there with my mom and three siblings.

Kids were absolutely brutal. They would make extremely racist remarks about my background and where I came from, make fun of my accent, my weight, my looks. I was constantly bullied throughout middle school and most of my high school years.

When I look back at these struggles, however, I never do feel any negative emotions. In fact, a feeling of confidence, peace, and reassurance washes over me, knowing that those years of hardship are what molded me into the person I am today. If I hadn’t faced those struggles, I would never have strived to become someone that others could actually look up to rather than put down. It taught me some very valuable life lessons that made me proud of my Pakistani-Muslim identity, and who I am as a person today. And I can proudly and confidently pass these life lessons down to my daughter and instill these same values in her as well.

What do people usually not know about you?

People often assume I’m an extremely social and outgoing person who loves to go out, socialize with others, and have a good time. The reality is, my idea of a good time is snuggling up with my husband and daughter on the couch, eating good takeout, and watching a good movie or tv show. If you offer me an extravagant night on the town on any given weekend, 9 out of 10 times I’ll turn it down for a quiet evening at home in my sweatpants. 

What sets you apart from others?

I’m not sure if this is something that necessarily sets me apart from others or if it’s unique to me in any way, but I do know that it has been the key to my success in this industry so far: my unwavering faith in God, and my belief in that He is the best of planners. Everything I do, I begin with prayer and envision His light shining down on and through me to guide and pave the way. All I have achieved, I attribute to Him alone. I’m beyond grateful, and I am humbled and reminded of His mercy every single day of my life. Alhamdulillah.

What are your upcoming major events?

I have a few projects lined up to release in the near future, including a comedy series about Muslim artists navigating the film industry, as well as my first ever Hindi feature film and Bollywood debut. I also have a couple of other feature films currently in post production where I have the opportunity to showcase my fighting skills in an action-based role.

What expert advice would you like to give?

Of course my advice comes from a spiritual place, something many religions and people of different faiths and spirituality believe to be true in one form or another, different words pointing to the same fundamental teaching.

The Islamic saying goes: “What is meant for you will find you, even if it be beneath two mountains. What is not meant for you will not find you, even if it be between your two lips.”

So my advice is, yes go out there and chase your dreams, but don’t dwell on the opportunities that seemingly slipped away. If it was truly meant for you, then no force on this earth could stop you from attaining it. And if it didn’t quite work out, then there is certainly something better out there for you. You just need to be patient, continue to put in the work, and you’ll see it in hindsight.

If you go through every audition, every self tape, every callback with this mindset, you’ll never feel discouraged or demotivated. Not only is this mindset imperative for building sustainability and longevity in the constant hustle of this industry, but sometimes it’s the only thing that will keep you sane. Rejection is a very real part of this industry that we, as actors, face every single day, but keeping this mentality in the forefront of every effort you make to strive and succeed in this world will keep you moving forward with absolute joy, contentment, and filled with gratitude for all that you are fortunate enough to do.

Your social media handles and website links

• Instagram: @therafiaiqbal
• IMDB: https://pro.imdb.com/mobile/name/nm14066904/