Superstar Mahira Khan has responded to veteran actor Syed Mohammad Ahmed’s recent remarks about delayed payments in the entertainment industry, expressing concern for the technicians and crew members working behind the scenes.

 

In a statement shared to her Instagram story, Khan noted that if prominent actors face such challenges, the situation is likely worse for technicians and others with less visibility. “Imagine… if senior actors, popular actors... hit maker directors go through this – just imagine what technicians go through.”

 

Mohammad Ahmed, in a widely shared interview, criticised production houses for withholding payments from actors for extended periods. He stated that actors are often made to wait three to eight months for payment, and in some cases, are not paid at all. According to Ahmed, “The treatment actors receive when requesting payment is often demeaning, with some having to justify their personal financial needs.”

 

In the same interview, Hajra Yamin stated that contracts are typically one-sided, favoring production houses. “If a shoot is canceled due to an actor, they are penalized, but when producers cancel, it is generally accepted without issue,” she said.

 

Yamin added: “Technicians and junior crew members are affected even more than actors, with some being told to work without pay, receiving only food in return.”

 

Saheefa Jabbar Khattak said that she once proposed including healthcare and anti-harassment clauses in her contract to ensure production houses cover medical expenses in case of injury. However, she said her proposal was ignored. She further revealed, “I have to go for therapy for six months after completing each drama due to mental stress.”

 

Director Mehreen Jabbar noted that many in the industry choose to remain silent due to “fear of losing future work.”

 

Actors Ramsha Khan, Yasir Hussain, Nadia Afgan, Alizeh Shah, and Khushhal Khan have also publicly addressed these issues. Industry insiders report that production houses rarely face penalties for delayed payments, while actors and crew continue to work under uncertain financial and physical conditions.