Veteran Pakistani actress Meera has opened up about the struggles behind her decades-long career in a candid podcast interview with host Haroon Rashid, saying that she deserves greater recognition for her work and dedication to the industry.
When Rashid asked whether she felt she had received the respect she deserved, Meera was direct. “I want respect. I deserve a lot of love. I want to make better films. I want more respect. I want a lot,” she said.
She spoke at length about the sacrifices that drove her to keep working through the years. “Mother, father, grandfather, grandmother, siblings, brother, my house, my family, everything, yes,” she said, when asked whether her career was built around supporting her family.
Meera also pushed back on the suggestion that she courted attention or controversy to stay relevant.
“No Haroon, I kept working. I worked in India. I worked in Pakistan. I never focused on the things that happened here and there. I never thought about them. I never had that much time. So all these projects went to hell. A lot of pain, a lot of controversies, I don’t know. But I want my identity to be because of my work,” she said.
She added that she often feels undermined by hosts and audiences, and made clear that she does not want to be defined by the controversies that have followed her over the years.
The interview was received warmly, with fans and industry peers expressing admiration for Meera and sharing excitement about her upcoming projects.
With a career spanning over two decades, Meera remains one of Pakistan’s most recognised names in entertainment.
She is set to appear in the psychological thriller Psycho this Eidul Azha, starring alongside Shaan Shahid. The film recently launched its teaser at the O2 Arena in London, a first for Pakistani cinema.
