A public debate has erupted within the Pakistani entertainment industry regarding the prevailing work environment on television sets, after actress Zoya Nasir strongly countered a viral claim made by actor Mohsin Abbas Haider concerning substance use during productions. The discussion intensified after Nasir’s appearance on the talk show Rise and Shine, where she was asked to address Haider’s controversial remarks that had surfaced online just days prior.
The discourse began when a video clip of Haider from Vasay Chaudhry’s show Gup Shup circulated widely on social media, in which he recalled once posting a social media status demanding a strict ban on actors and directors who arrive on set intoxicated.
His original post reads: “A ban should be imposed on actresses, actors, and directors who come to the set high on charas [Drugs], alcohol, or any type of intoxication”.
He further alleged that he had personally worked opposite a co-star whose eyes were so visibly glazed from substance use that she could not maintain eye contact during their scenes, prompting intervention from the project’s production house.
When questioned about the allegations by the Rise and Shine host who noted as an industry outsider that Haider’s claims had caused considerable alarm. Nasir completely dismissed the notion that such behaviour is characteristic of the wider industry. “On our sets, prayers are offered regularly”, Nasir stated, citing her experiences on major productions like Deewangi, Zebaish, and Humsafar to emphasise a completely different professional environment.
Defending her peers, Nadia Khan who is also the co-host of the show noted that an actor might simply be on heavy medication or anti-allergy pills. To which Zoya Nasir added, “That’s the thing with acting. Actors have to come on sets even with a fever, because a CEO can manage on call when sick, but actors cannot act on calls”.
Nasir, who has never shared a screen with Haider, argued that throughout her extensive career, she has never witnessed actors under the influence of narcotics on duty. She explained that while performers frequently arrive on set facing severe physical illnesses, high fever, or intense personal stress, they consistently push through due to the immense professional pressure of television shoots. Nasir concluded that instead of illicit substances, the reality of the business involves actors prioritising their scenes despite tremendous personal adversity.
