Pakistani actress Madiha Imam, known for her grace and on-screen innocence, recently shared a rather unexpected and humorous story from her past while appearing on Tabish Hashmi’s talk show.
The actress revealed how her first solo international trip almost led to her arrest in Türkiye.
Madiha said it happened during her first-ever flight and work trip abroad. After completing a shoot in Türkiye, she decided to explore the local culture and enjoy a famous Turkish fruit plate from a street vendor.
“I had just finished my shoot and thought I should explore a bit. I heard about the famous Turkish fruit plates and went to try one,” she said. After eating, she paid the street hawker. “As soon as I handed him the money, he looked at me in a strange way. Turkish people are so good-looking that even when they’re making a weird face, they still look beautiful,” she joked. “I thought maybe he was happy that I gave him a good tip.”
However, the situation quickly took a serious turn. The vendor returned with a police officer, both of whom began yelling at her. Madiha, who described herself as young and scared at the time, was confused and frightened.
“I kept saying, ‘I just had a fruit plate!’” she recalled. It turned out that the currency she used to pay for the fruit was fake. “Can you believe it? The fake money came from Pakistan. I had no idea,” she said with a laugh.
While she shared that she was saved by a kind-hearted Turkish driver who paid for her as he noticed Madiha was no fraud and a “good, frightened little girl”.
In another lighter story shared during the same show, Madiha talked about an adorable moment from her early career. During a live show years ago, while discussing general needs during Karachi’s rainy season and donation drives, she casually mentioned that she needed a microwave, but her parents weren’t buying one.
Soon after, a ticker ran across the screen during the live show, reading: ‘We’ve transferred Rs. 20,000 to your account, please buy the microwave.’ She added, smiling, “Let me be clear, I never got that money. But it was so sweet. Fans like that are truly heartwarming.”
Madiha Imam started her career as a VJ and gradually moved into acting. She made her drama debut in Ishq Mein Teray in 2013, and her natural acting and girl-next-door charm quickly won her a dedicated fan following. With roles in hit serials like Ishq Jalebi, Dushman-e-Jaan, and Muqaddar, and performances that balance emotional depth with relatability, she continues to be one of Pakistan’s most beloved television stars.