'Women were filming me while I was praying'; Shaista Lodhi on the battle for privacy

Actor and host Shaista Lodhi recently shared her experience of people filming her while she was praying in Riaz Ul Jannah at Masjid-e-Nabwi in Madina.

She shared her experience during an appearance on AAN TV’s Bahar-e-Ramzan iftar show alongside host Faysal Quraishi. The two discussed the challenges celebrities face regarding privacy in public spaces.

Shaista recalled, “In Riaz Ul Jannah, women get limited time slots. During that time, they’re in a different state, unaware of themselves. I was praying on the side, and women were taking videos, asking, ‘What are you doing here?’”

Faysal humorously responded, “Didn’t you say you put up a biryani stall here?”

Shaista added, “I was praying namaz in hateem, and people were secretly taking videos. What will they do with my video? Some thought I used contacts to get there, but I was simply in line. I didn’t even know I’d be able to pray in hateem that day.”

Faysal explained that fans sometimes unintentionally say odd things in an attempt to start a conversation, adding, “This is why elders tell us to think before we speak.”

He also shared stories of his friends being awkwardly approached by strangers with bizarre questions during Umrah.

Earlier in the show, Shaista shared why she no longer hosts morning shows, explaining that the routine felt boring, and she wanted to try something new. She also shared how hosting morning shows affected her personal life.

“You end up with no social life. Your personal and emotional life suffers — you don’t know where things are going. You don’t even get time to reflect on yourself,” she said.

Shaista previously hosted Good Morning Pakistan on ARY Digital and Utho Jago Pakistan on Geo TV.