Alizeh Shah calls out 'Parchi Culture', and slams fake professionalism in showbiz

Actress Alizeh Shah has spoken out against unethical practices in the entertainment industry via her Instagram Stories.

Best known for her breakout role in Ehd-e-Wafa, Alizeh has frequently made headlines, whether for her fashion choices or candid opinions. Recently, she wiped all her Instagram posts and announced a break from the platform.

She has since returned to Instagram, and without naming anyone, she criticised the “parchi culture”, a system where individuals land roles through connections rather than talent. She wrote: “parchi srf Pakistan takh hi chalti hai inki...”

Alizeh also shed light on what she called fake professionalism: “Oh, the perks of being 'professional' in this industry... dinners without projects and of course, the sacred closed-door rituals. Say no, and suddenly you're battameez, difficult, and 'not serious about your career.'”

She made it clear that she was proud of her journey and refused to compromise her dignity: “Thank God I missed the memo on selling self-respect as part of the PR package.”

“If that's the price of being a celebrity, I'm more than happy staying just human.”

Alizeh criticised how those who refused to participate in these “ugly games” were often labelled as unprofessional or ill-mannered. Her bold statements reignited public debate around merit, ethics, and fairness in Pakistan’s entertainment industry. While many fans praised her honesty, others questioned her motives and the timing of her remarks.

Earlier, Alizeh Shah had revealed that constant trolling and criticism had severely affected both her emotional and physical well-being. She said the pressure became so overwhelming that she felt the need to distance herself from social media and from the people around her.

In a detailed Instagram Story, she shared: “The trolling, the constant criticism, the negativity it didn’t just hurt me emotionally. It’s now affecting my physical health. It reached a point where I had no choice but to isolate myself completely not just from social media, but from everyone around me. I feel broken, exhausted, and overwhelmed in ways I can't even explain.”

Following this emotional breakdown, the actress unfollowed everyone on Instagram and deleted all her posts, leaving behind only two highlights: one about Gaza and the other clarifying that she was not on Snapchat.

She further wrote, “Even after updating my bio and clearly saying I’m alive, some people still chose to spread rumors. News channels contacted my parents, asking if I’m dead. Imagine what that does to a family, to a mother’s heart. Please, understand how much this has hurt me and the people I love.”

Alizeh also expressed doubt about her future in the public eye, “Right now, I genuinely don't know when or if I'll ever return to Instagram or TV dramas. The pressure became too much. The weight of it has made me physically sick.”

She ended her message with a request, “All I ask is for some space... Please stop contacting my family. Please stop making up stories. Please just let me breathe.”

Over the years, Alizeh has often been targeted online for her personal choices—whether it was smoking in her car, cutting her hair short, setting boundaries at work, or wearing a tank top.

More recently, she was involved in a public disagreement with actor Zarnish Khan. In an interview on Voice Over Man, Zarnish remarked that Alizeh would win a competition for being "rude".

Although Zarnish later apologised, Alizeh responded by posting a screenshot of their chat and replied: “It won’t fix the damage you did. I do not forgive you.” 

Alizeh also claimed that her mother had contacted Zarnish to ask about the remarks, and that Zarnish had promised to explain everything in a video. However, according to Alizeh, Zarnish later blocked her mother’s number.