www.frizzypicks.com
Editor’sNote
In a world that too often boxes artists into tidy labels, Aizzah Fatima refuses to fit. Actor. Comedian. Filmmaker. Cultural disruptor. She’s all of it at once, unapologetically and we are beyond proud to feature her as our Frizzy Picks digital cover star.
With Americanish, Aizzah didn't just create a film she carved out space for stories that rarely make it to center stage And then she brought those stories home, screening Americanish in Pakistan and sparking conversations across continents. Her work is sharp, funny, tender, and bold just like her.
In this exclusive interview, Aizzah opens up about the beauty and chaos of living between identities, the quiet power of bilingual poetry, and why being "nerdy and voiceless" is a stereotype she's ready to burn to the ground. You'll laugh, nod, and maybe tear up once or twice.
At Frizzy Picks, we celebrate the storytellers shaping tomorrow and Aizzah is doing it with heart, grit, and an undeniable sparkle. This one's for the hyphenated dreamers.
With love and frizz,
Syeda Ifra Abbas Editor-in-Chief
Editor in Chief
SyedaIfraAbbas
Managing Director
SayeedaAleeshahAbbas
Digital Head
SaraKhalid
Contributors
MahiraAzhar,BakhtiyaRaza
Lights, Camera, Culture: A Conversation in Scenes
FromchaionsettoGooglesmartsbehindthecamera thisisone voicethat’srewritingthenarrative,onelaugh-out-loudlineatatime
Scene-Stealer Edition
Bollywood drama or Hollywood Bollywood drama or Hollywood rom-com? rom-com?
Chai or Coffee on a Chai or Coffee on a film set? film set?
★ Chai on film set
★ Hollywood rom-com
★ Hollywood rom-com
NYC bagels or NYC bagels or Karachi bun kababs? Karachi bun kababs?
★ Karachi event ★ Karachi event hub hub
Classic desi shaadi Classic desi shaadi scene or modern scene or modern love montage? love montage?
★ Modern Love ★ Modern Love Montage Montage
Red carpet glam or Red carpet glam or indie film grunge? indie film grunge?
★ Indie film ★ Indie film brunch brunch
★ Chai on film set all the way all the way
Scriptwriting in Scriptwriting in pajamas or power pajamas or power dressing in dressing in meetings? meetings?
★ Scripting & ★ Scripting & PJs PJs
Laugh-out-loud Laugh-out-loud comedy or comedy or ssoul-touching oul-touching ddrama? rama?
★ Laugh ★ Laugh Out Loud Out Loud
⚡ Frizzy Picks - Rapid Round
Dream co-star from Pakistan?
Dream co-star from Pakistan?
★ Bushra Ansari ★ Bushra Ansari
One Pakistani city you’re dying to One Pakistani city you’re dying to shoot a film in? shoot a film in?
★ Karachi and Lahore —
★ Karachi and Lahore — both are a must for me. both are a must for me.
Most-used emoji in your DMs
Most-used emoji in your DMs right now? right now?
★ Definitely the purple
★ Definitely the purple heart emoji �� heart emoji ��
What’s your “I made it” moment with What’s your “I made it” moment with Americanish? Americanish?
★ When it got picked up for ★ When it got picked up for worldwide distribution — I thought, “Wow... worldwide distribution — I thought, “Wow... made it. Done!” made it. Done!”
Last movie that made you cry (happy or
Last movie that made you cry (happy or sad tears!)? sad tears!)?
★ Definitely Origin powerful, emotional,
★ Definitely Origin — powerful, emotional, and unforgettable. Everyone should watch it. and unforgettable. Everyone should watch it.
Between Two Worlds: The Personal Side
Storytelling, stereotypes, and the beauty of bilingual brains.
You’ve lived the hyphen Pakistani-American. You’ve lived the hyphen Pakistani-American. What’s the most beautiful and the most What’s the most beautiful and the most challenging part of balancing both worlds? challenging part of balancing both worlds?
★ The most beautiful part is getting to
★ The most beautiful part is getting to speak and understand multiple languages speak and understand multiple languages
Punjabi, English, and more I can read, write, Punjabi, English, and more I can read, write, and even appreciate poetry in them. The and even appreciate poetry in them. The challenge? Constantly switching between challenge? Constantly switching between those languages in my mind it can be those languages in my mind it can be mentally exhausting. mentally exhausting
How much of your own story is How much of your own story is woven into Americanish? Be honest woven into Americanish? Be honest any scenes that felt like déjà vu? any scenes that felt like déjà vu?
★ As a writer, your truth
★ As a writer, your truth always sneaks in. So yes always sneaks in So yes— Americanish is filled with pieces of Americanish is filled with pieces of my life, family, and experiences. my life, family, and experiences. Those moments feel real because Those moments feel real because they are. they are.
What’s a stereotype about South What’s a stereotype about South Asian women you’re dying to retire Asian women you’re dying to retire for good? for good?
★ That we’re voiceless, nerdy, or
★ That we’re voiceless, nerdy, or victims Let’s start showing us as victims Let’s start showing us as cool, sexy, funny because we are all cool, sexy, funny because we are all of that and more of that and more.
Three words to describe Jackson Heights, and Three words to describe Jackson Heights, and three for Karachi? three for Karachi?
★ Jackson Heights: Dirty, delicious-smelling, ★ Jackson Heights: Dirty, delicious-smelling, ccolorful. olorful.
★ Karachi: Fun, hot, exciting.
★ Karachi: Fun, hot, exciting.
Your go-to desi Your go-to desi comfort food when comfort food when you’re homesick you’re homesick aabroad? broad?
★ Daal ★ Daal Chawal.Anytime! Chawal.Anytime!
Tell us one unexpected Tell us one unexpected way your Google engineer way your Google engineer brain helps in filmmaking! brain helps in filmmaking!
★ Producing films is ★ Producing films is all about time, problem- all about time, problemsolving, and making things solving, and making things work on the fly—just like work on the fly just like releasing a product at releasing a product at Google. My engineering Google. My engineering background gave me the background gave me the blueprint for organized blueprint for organized cchaos haos
