The Pakistani drama industry despite going global and grand has failed to provide the same level of financial and mental security for the actors. There’s a collective outcry by actors on their mistreatment by the production houses.
In a recent interview by BBC Urdu, several esteemed actors candidly spoke about the persistent issue of delayed payments, exposing how this rare complaint has now become a constant systemic fault.
In the interview, veteran actor Syed Mohammed Ahmed lays bare the indignity many face: “Delays of six to eight months in payment have become the norm. You have to beg for your rightful earnings as if you’re asking for charity”
His peers share the same amount of frustration but some choose to stay quiet just because of fear of not getting work in the future.
Director Mehreen Jabbar calls the entire system “deeply flawed” and “unprofessional,” drawing a stark contrast to clearer, regulated payment structures in other markets like the U.S.
She urges actors to protect themselves through stronger contracts that include penalties for delayed remuneration. She doesn’t have much hopes for things changing anytime soon.
Saheefa Jabbar, admitted that to dodge the payment issues, she appears for 25 percent of the shoots after which she stops coming to the sets and resumes only until after she gets paid for the work she has done. She also admitted to taking at least a 6 months break between projects to mentally stabilize herself for another project.
Nadia Afgan, revealed in a podcast, that she remains vary of producers who do not make payments or generally delay them. She even has a ‘black book’ in which she keeps an account of such producers and warns the newcomers about it.
This issue is not just about the professionals getting disrespected but the impact it has on the livelihood of the actors.
Cases like that of Humeira Asghar, who had to support themselves alone and faced dire financial situations highlights the plight of actors in our society.
Behind the scenes of the dramas we all enjoy its not just the stars who suffer: the crew bears the brunt too!
Hajra Yamin confessed that crew members are often the ones facing maximum job instability and are among the worst affected on set. They are not given any food on the set and often have to choose between getting paid or getting food for their labour.
According to Mohammad Ahmad Saeed, actors playing suppprting roles often have to take care of their own costumes and even arrange their own transport and stay, regardless of the production’s scale.
Actors are calling out to reform the contracts they sign with the productions houses; to make them binding contracts, penaltize payment delays, and adoption of legal frameworks that protect labor rights, among other reforms.
According to them there’s a need to for collective associations for actors and the crew to protect their rights and keep their dignity
