SPOTLIGHT
GET UP, AISHA IS A WAKE-UP CALL ON THE PURSUIT OF PERFECTION
The new series Get Up, Aisha makes its world premiere on CBC Gem on April 10.
The new series Get Up, Aisha, touching on the complexities of mental health and the pursuit of perfection, makes its world premiere on CBC Gem on April 10.
The dramedy series follows the intricate life of Aisha Rehman, a high-functioning Type A Pakistani Canadian student as she deals with depression.
Viewers will be introduced to Aisha Rehman, a seemingly perfect student with a 4.0 GPA in honours Psychology, a loving mother, and a supportive boyfriend. However, beneath the façade of perfection lies a young woman grappling with a compulsive need for control. Her journey takes a dramatic turn when she receives a diagnosis of depression following a suicide attempt.
Ever the overachiever, Aisha is determined to tackle her thesis and her depression in one fell swoop. She adopts a checklist approach to curing the incurable, and hopefully also gets an A plus on her thesis. With the assistance of her friendly but overwhelmed psychiatrist, Alice (played by Ann Pornel, The Great Canadian Baking Show), Aisha embarks on a journey of self-discovery. From experimenting with exercise and outdoor meditation to exploring new culinary skills, Aisha leaves no stone unturned in her quest to fix herself.
“The pressure to be perfect is a universal sentiment everyone can relate to,” say the show creators, Rabiya Mansoor, Nisha Khan and Marushka Jessica Almeida. “As three South Asians, we know this pressure firsthand. We created Get Up, Aisha to start a conversation and showcase the highs and the lows of a high-functioning Pakistani-Canadian girl as she deals with depression. While the show deals with issues like mental health in South Asian communities, familial and societal pressures – it also showcases the joys of coming of age, friendships, and family bonds. We hope audiences take from this show that you don’t have to have it all figured out and that we’re all a work in progress.”
Starring Sana Asad (The Boys, Montreal Girls) as Aisha Rehman, along with an ensemble cast featuring Zarqa Nawaz (Zarqa, Little Mosque on the Prairie) as Fauzia, Husnain Sher (Zarqa) as Humza, and Marina Moreira (Homeschooled) as Janelle, Get Up, Aisha promises to captivate audiences with its poignant storytelling and relatable characters.
Show creators Rabiya Mansoor, Nisha Khan and Marushka Jessica Almeida.
Get Up, Aisha stars Sana Asad as Aisha Rehman.
Get Up, Aisha is co-created, written, executive produced by Rabiya Mansoor, Nisha Khan and Marushka Jessica Almeida, executive produced by Jonas Diamond of iThentic with Anubhav Singh as director and Allen Liu as cinematographer.
Join Aisha as she confronts her inner demons, challenges societal expectations, and discovers the true meaning of resilience. Watch all episodes of Get Up, Aisha beginning April 10 on CBC Gem.
More on Instagram at @getupaisha and TikTok at @getupaisha.