Actor Erum Akhtar has called out the unprofessional behavior of younger actors in the industry in a recent interview. Akhtar detailed the setbacks faced by the team of the project ‘Sanwal Yaar Piya’, specifically pointing towards the female lead, Durefishan Saleem.
Akhtar stated that while the production quality was good, the lead actors exhibited “unprofessional attitudes”.
She revealed that her personal requirement for the project was only 40 days, yet the shoot was delayed for an entire year. “When you line up a show for four to five months and you have other stuff to do, it gets delayed for one year,” she said.
Akhtar criticized the habit of last-minute cancellations, claiming they occurred because the actor “wasn’t in the mood,” was going for Umrah, or because it was Ramzan. “You aren’t working for the first time,” Akhtar added, urging newcomers to think of the entire team.
Members of the production team and the director have defended Saleem.
Director Danish Nawaz described her as “extremely professional” and a “pleasure to work with,” noting that she was committed to the schedule shared before coming on board.
7th Sky Entertainment also issued a statement, claiming Saleem has consistently demonstrated dedication. They added that public commentary can feel “unfair” and urged the media fraternity to maintain mutual respect to avoid undermining the hard work of artists.
The situation has divided the public. Some social media users sided with the production house, stating that since the head of production cleared the air, the matter should be closed.
Others argued that an artist has the right to decide their own schedule on religious obligations like Ramzan or Umrah.
However, a significant portion of the audience supported Akhtar’s stance.
Critics pointed out that supporting actors do not receive the same paychecks as leads and rely on multiple projects to earn a living. One user noted that making a supporting actor wait a year for a 40-day job is “unfair” and “torture”.
