The reality of the entertainment industry isn’t as glamorous as it seems. Actors Ramsha Khan and Khushhal Khan have revealed why making a living in the industry is tougher than it looks.
The duo has highlighted a major problem in the entertainment industry: delayed or nonpayment to actors and crew members.
In a chat with Haroon Rashid of BBC Asian Network during a promotional interview for their high-budget action drama Duniyapur, the actors laid out the financial struggles faced by artists and technicians who often wait long periods to get paid.
The conversation started with Rashid pointing out the unique look of Duniyapur, a fictional story about action, revenge, and love, was set in a very realistic world.
When asked about the financial aspects of working on such a large production, both Ramsha and Khushhal said they were grateful for the opportunity and for being paid on time—a rare occurrence in entertainment. Khushhal stressed the importance of timely payments, saying, “It’s disrespectful not to pay on time because we are there on time.”
The actors explained that late payments have become so normal in the industry that artists often have to compromise on their self-respect and financial stability.
Rashid pointed out that treating payments as an afterthought makes working in showbiz seem more like a hobby than a real job: “We’re giving 110% every single day. The least we expect is to be paid on time.”
For Ramsha, it’s not just about money, but survival. “I have to pay my bills,” she said. She shared that she refuses to show up on set if her dues are not cleared. “You either clear my cheque, or I’m not coming on set,” she stated.
One striking point in their discussion was the lack of unity among actors on this issue. “If Khushhal and I try to take a stand, three other actors will let it go. There’s no unity,” Ramsha said. Khushhal hoped that a collective effort to demand respect and timely payments would soon take root in the industry. “There are also people looking for others to come together and do this. So, I feel like that may happen soon. It’s not right to not show up on set, but when they push you so much, you should take a stand and not show up,” he explained.
The duo urged the industry to adopt more professional practices. “When you’re starting out, you get more respect because you haven’t proven yourself yet. But once you do, then they’re like, ‘Okay, take this script,’” they said.
Ever since this interview went viral, veteran actress Nadia Afgan stepped in to reveal that delayed payments and limited royalties have forced her to stop working with certain production houses known for withholding checks from actors.
“Ye baat…I have literally stopped working with everyone except for two production houses only because every production delays payment. That we have to repeatedly ask for our money. That we don’t get royalties. And the channels are making tons of money from YouTube and are not willing to pay us our dues.”
Saheefa Jabbar Khattak appeared as a guest on After Hours with Ushna Shah. The Rafta Rafta actress opened up about the financial realities of working in Pakistani dramas.
“Making a living through acting alone isn’t easy,” Saheefa said, while opening up about the struggles of running a household. “In our dramas, we don’t make enough money to keep our kitchens running. It can’t run unless I’m doing four projects a year and also working on social media… making appearances and hustling a lot,” she added.