Author: News Desk

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.

 Did you know that one of Pakistan’s top hosts earned more in a month than many of us do in a year? Comedian and singer Babbu Rana, who has worked with Aftab Iqbal for more than nine years, recently appeared as a guest on Ahmed Ali Butt’st podcast, where he divulged surprising details about Aftab’s impressive earnings

The host asked, “How much does Aftab Iqbal earn in a month?”

 Babbu Rana replied, “I cannot confirm an exact figure, but he used to earn significantly in Pakistan.  Dubai is very expensive, and staying there gave him a clear understanding of its cost of living. Earlier in Pakistan, hosting a show on Express, he could fetch 1.5 to two crores.”

The conversation shifted to Aftab Iqbal’s return to Pakistan.

“Insha’Allah, there’s some good news. A slightly cool breeze has arrived. It will take one or two months for Pakistan,” Babbu said.

He also shed light on Aftab Iqbal’s unique working style, which has contributed to his success: “If someone wants to learn, like they genuinely want to learn, then that person can do a lot. Later, even the teacher (Aftab Iqbal) will agree that yes, this person is dedicated. But if someone says, ‘I already know everything, I’m established, I’m a big name, I don’t need to learn,’ then their work style will not fit in. For example, if Aftab Sahib casts a big star, he will tell them, ‘Brother, sit down and watch my show for three months. Only then will you understand my style of working.”

Earlier, Sohail Ahmed appeared as a guest on Ahmed Ali Butt’s podcast, where he openly discussed the controversies involving Aftab Iqbal and other comedians he collaborated with. 

Sohail Ahmed said, “I think of Aftab Iqbal as a younger brother, and I would like to advise him to be humble.” He went on to say that Aftab needs to understand that one person alone does not run a show. “You need to respect your whole team.”

Addressing some of the claims Aftab Iqbal has made, he added, “I was a star way before joining Hasb e Haal, but I still respect the team I work with and always put in my 100%. Therefore, Aftab needs to understand that you cannot be disrespectful and a know-it-all if you want to be respected in return.”

Actor Kashif Mahmood has made a lasting impact with amazing performances in several Pakistani productions. There, however, is one drama in particular, that “changed everything” for him.

Appearing as a guest on Mazaq Raat, the Jeevan Negar actor has shared the inspiring story behind one of his most iconic dramas and the efforts he put in to make it a success.

“The person who didn’t even have money to buy a liter of petrol for his motorbike, planned to make a drama that would cost 22 lac rupees. How would he do it? He must have been a warrior… not an ordinary man,” he said while talking about Ashiyana, his hit drama serial from 1997.

When asked how Kashif managed to fund the project he said he mortgaged his house and his mother’s jewelry.

“I raised funds for it in every way possible. I mortgaged my house and my mother’s jewelry. I did so much for it… and by the grace of Allah, He preserved my honour. I still remember borrowing one lac rupees for the [drama’s] pilot,” the Mehroom actor said.

He also shared the struggles of pitching Ashiyana to a major channel.

“When I went to sell that drama, there was a big man sitting there. I told him about the drama, what it had, its cast, everything. He kept saying ‘so what?’ to everything. Frustrated, I handed him a cassette with the pilot and said, ‘If it’s worth it, play it; otherwise, throw it away’,” he said.

The breakthrough came when industry veteran Badar Khalil finally watched the pilot episode, Kashif added.

“After watching it, she called me and said, ‘Kashif, where are you? What a masterpiece you’ve created!’ After that, we discussed some 15-16 points before signing the contract. I signed a contract for 4.5 lakh rupees per episode”

However, the struggle wasn’t over, the Heer Da Hero actor said and added, “They wanted four episodes, but I had already borrowed money to make the first one. How was I supposed to make three more? Somehow, we managed to produce them. The drama was a massive hit.”

Despite the drama’s success, the channel shut down and Kashif did not receive the payment he was owed.

“When it aired, the channel it was on shut down. Though the channel reopened, I never got the payment I was owed. Eventually, I marketed it myself and aired it on PTV. I managed to pay off all my debts and with the money left, I started my own business,” he concluded.