Reham Khan is a well-known and highly successful journalist and film producer of British Pakistani descent.
Starting her career in 2006 hosting shows on Legal TV, Reham began presenting for Sunshine Radio Hereford and Worcester in 2007. In 2008, she joined BBC as broadcast journalist.
In 2013, Khan came to Pakistan and joined Pakistani news channel News One. She later joined Aaj TV. In 2014, following a brief stint at PTV, she joined Dawn News presenting the current affairs show In Focus.
Following a brief hiatus in early 2015, she resumed her work with a new show on Dawn. The Reham Khan Show, a programme celebrating Pakistani heroes, debuted in May 2015. In December 2015, she started a new talk show by the name of Tabdeeli on Neo TV. Tabdeeli is also a political slogan of Imran Khan, her former husband. Reham left Neo TV in June 2016.
Reham has also produced a Pakistani film Janaan, the romantic comedy set in Swat which premiered on the occasion of Eid ul Adha on 13 September 2016.
Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness, had the wonderful opportunity to have a heart-to-heart conversation with the well-known journalist Ms. Reham Khan in a candid interview below.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You started your career in 2006 hosting shows on Legal TV and in 2007, began presenting for Sunshine Radio Hereford and Worcester. In 2008, you joined BBC as a broadcast journalist, from where your journey as one of the most sought-after journalists began. Walk us through your incredible journey as a journalist?
Ms. Reham Khan:
I landed my position as producer and presenter on Legal TV in May 2006 via an email questionnaire which led to an interview. They thought I was a lawyer because of my answers. At the time, I was taking classes in the morning in broadcast media journalism. I would drive for two hours from my college to Birmingham for my show on Legal TV. I asked employers to pay me a full salary if I managed to increase their viewing figures in a month, which I did.
I commuted for 11 months and then, when I moved to the West Midlands in 2007, I needed an extra job to pay the mortgage. I looked up local radio stations in the Yellow Pages, and calls to these got me an interview with Sunshine Radio. They liked my voice and could hear a smile in it.
In 2008 I was offered the position of Broadcast Journalist/Weather Presenter with the BBC. After the first lunchtime broadcast, the editor called me up and announced that he was impressed, and wanted to move me to the evening shift. I was later promoted to a senior broadcast journalist position. I was one of very few anchors retained by the BBC after the proposed cuts.
After over four and a half years I resigned from the BBC. I had to move to Pakistan to look after my ailing mother. In Pakistan, I was thrown into the pre-election political coverage, and traveled the length and breadth of the country, interviewing candidates in dangerous constituencies. My progress in Pakistan was rapid too. I initially started at the 11pm slot with NewsOne but was then headhunted by Business Recorder, AAJ TV. From a few months on the 7pm slot, I was moved to the 8pm slot and established myself. After a year, I resigned to devote more time to my Human Rights activism.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
The Reham Khan Show, a programme celebrating Pakistani heroes, debuted in May 2015, which was a truly inspirational show for one and all. Share your experience as a host, also share a moment from the show that truly inspired you?
Ms. Reham Khan:
After a political link, I moved to a non-political show. The idea was to show the other side of celebrities and also unsung heroes. The shows were memorable as we showcased women rights activists like Gulalei Ismail, and the female mountaineer Samina Baig. I was most inspired by the very humble and shy singer-turned-education activist Shehzad Roy. I count him as one of the few intelligent people I have come across in life. We all knew he was a talented, good-looking celebrity but when he opened up about his philosophy of life and his passion for improving the education system on my show, I became a fan. We saw him for what he really was: a hero. He and I remain very good buddies and I think he is one of the few visionary change-makers we have in the country.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You became a producer with the Pakistani film “Janaan”, the romantic comedy set in Swat which premiered on the occasion of Eid ul Adha on 13 September 2016. Tell us more about your introduction to production world and what inspired you for the same?
Ms. Reham Khan:
I have always believed that cinema is the most powerful medium in shaping our ideology and behaviour. In Pakistan, it has been a neglected area for years. I believed that it was time for us to tell our own stories. I am of Swati origin, which is a region that has been the subject of a lot of negative news in recent times. I wanted a positive story that represented the sensibilities of Swatis. The valley has long been appreciated for its beauty, and as a seat of learning. Janaan was a labour of love.
I put in hour upon hour of work on that film, combing the commissioned script for any kind of misogynistic or intolerant message. Viewers may have noticed that all four of the leading ladies were actually the protagonists. The film also reflects some of my missions in life, such as the eradicating of child abuse. Sexual abuse is highlighted sensitively in the film, and the conflict is resolved by the whole community, not by the male lead. I felt it prudent to subvert common filmmaking ideas and tropes to create something unique and innovative in the story. In fact, I always try to make each of my projects special, so Janaan was never going to be a typical, forgettable film. It was also important to highlight the Pushtu language, and bring it into mainstream cinema.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have three kids. Being a journalist can be taxing, how do you maintain a work-personal balance?
Ms. Reham Khan:
To be honest, I have no work-life balance. My life is my work. My kids have always have been involved with my work. They contribute, criticise, and manage; we have a very collaborative approach! We do everything together. It’s always been like that. When they were younger, it was cooking and laundry, and now it is the same but…more. Even now, my kids prefer to go out with me, whether it’s to the cinema or for a holiday. For me, parenting has never been a chore, but rather a privilege. I gave them all my time in their childhood, and now, as adults, they give me so much time. The older two are workaholics like me. For us, work ethic is not for material gain, but comes from an ability to enjoy what we do.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Good Health is of utmost importance to meet the pressure at work. How do you go out maintaining a healthy diet?
Ms. Reham Khan:
If I had not enjoyed good health, I would not have had the energy to accomplish that I have. My ability to work non-stop without getting exhausted always surprises youngsters who come to work with me. If you join my team, you are expected to keep up. I can work 19-20 hours a day, and need as little as 4 hours of sleep. A typical day is at least 16-17 hours of work.
To have a LDL of 90 at 44 is pretty decent I think, and it’s the result of a very clean diet and lifestyle. I don’t smoke, drink alcohol, or do drugs. I have a naturally high protein diet, and eat a lot of white meat, particularly turkey. I also love fish and seafood such as salmon sashimi.
But I have never deprived myself of anything, so will eat cakes and chocolates too. I tend to bake myself a lot, and use organic ingredients. A lot of readymade baked stuff has unhealthy oils like palm oil etc.
I am lucky to have a very high metabolism. But I must stress that I do not agree with very strict diets that advocate starving or eliminating entire food groups. Girls should realize that we all have different types of bodies, and that is our beauty. Why try to fit into one body image promoted by magazines? Your diet should also change according to your age and lifestyle. Mine certainly has. For example, if I have a long day ahead and know that there will be unhealthy or greasy food offered, I will have three boiled eggs for breakfast. I start the day with a glass of warm water with a lemon squeezed in it. I love the taste of coffee and drink a lot during the day.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How do you go about incorporating it into your routine to lead a fit & healthy lifestyle?
Ms. Reham Khan:
I am not the sort who will hit the gym. I do not have the time nor the inclination. I will do stretches and core strengthening exercises once or twice a week on a yoga mat rolled out in the study, and also do arm exercises with light weights.
My work involves a lot of walking and I am a naturally active person. My house has lots of flights of stairs, which I make use of. Friends often complain, but it’s normal to see me running up and down the stairs all day long. I am usually in jogging shoes, (even indoors) which is a good tip for staying fit: just keep them on. Even before pedometers were all the rage, I was doing more than 10,000 steps a day. I enjoy swimming. Mums can stay active with the kids through everything from the local park to ice skating. My kids are much older now but I still race them to the slides. That inherent activeness and energy is what I believe keeps people in good health.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Though social media has boosted millions of opportunities for most, we cannot deny the impact of cyberbullying prevailing online. What would you like to say about that? Provide 5 suggestions to today’s girls and women to handle such cases?
Ms. Reham Khan:
This is certainly a huge issue. Me and my girls have been victims of targeted attacks by organised, paid social media lobbies for three years now. I tried reporting this initially, but the laws are poor and hard to implement. Sadly, all we could do was develop thick skins.
I would advise all young girls to not get obsessed with social media. Use should be limited in order to lead a healthy lifestyle, but if you must use it then don’t read comments. Post what you want to and stop obsessing over what people are saying. Cyberbullies are even bigger cowards than bullies at school or in the workplace. As with all bullies, the best thing is to ignore them. Do not be affected by their hate. Don’t let anyone wipe your smile off. Keep smiling and soldier on. Their comments do not, and should not matter.
In the meantime, I think we need to develop a strong voice against cyberbullying. Women need to unite to address the issue and demand better laws. We should always report it and get friends and family to report the offending accounts too. Taking screenshots and building evidence is also a good idea. If you know who it could be, then sharing that information with authorities can sometimes be helpful. I found that to be the case in Britain.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Being a successful journalist, what would be your smart tips, any 5 for an aspiring female journalist who wishes to join this industry?
Ms. Reham Khan:
First of all, learn to use the phone to build contacts. If you are afraid to pick up the phone, or have an awkward phone manner, you will struggle.
Secondly, know the subject inside out. You should know your questions but more importantly, you should know their answers. Be prepared.
Thirdly, never accept a job if you feel uncomfortable. If you sense sleaze, run a mile. Never accept it. You will go far because of your ability, not because of your feminine charms.
Fourthly, develop a confident persona so people treat you as an equal. It can often be your mindset that limits you.
And finally, never ever give up. If you fail at something, just learn to do it differently next time. If you don’t get something, ask for feedback. There is a better job waiting for you, but you have to be ready for it. It is never too late to achieve your dreams.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Women Fitness works relentlessly with a goal to reach out to women all over the world providing them with best in health, fitness, nutrition, beauty & fashion. What do you wish to say about the website (Womenfitness.net) and message for our readers?
Ms. Reham Khan:
It is incredibly important to stay physically and mentally fit to survive in this world. Look after yourself first, and only then can you be a good mother, a good worker, and a good partner. Happy people are healthier people. It is no good hitting the gym to attain the perfect body if you have low self-esteem issues.
You can’t look beautiful if you can’t smile, and you can’t smile if you are stressed. Learn to be happy with who you are and everything will be easier to cope with. Women must support each other so we can build our numbers in the workplace, and in the Houses of Parliament, so our voice is stronger. Forums like Women Fitness play a very important role in achieving that goal. My best wishes to the entire team and the readers for a super fit and glorious future ahead. Together, we will make it happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness