Alizeh Shah continues to call out mistreatment in the Pakistani TV industry

Express Tribune

23-07-2025

Actor Alizeh Shah took to Instagram this week to share a deeply personal and emotional account of her experiences in the Pakistani entertainment industry. Framing it as her final attempt to reclaim her narrative, the Ehd-e-Wafa star opened up about years of harassment, exploitation, media ridicule, and what she describes as a toxic, patriarchal culture that repeatedly tried to silence her.
'I'm going to expose every single person who did me wrong,' Shah declared in a series of video stories. 'I'm done with people trolling me, making fun of me, and making memes out of me. You guys have no idea how difficult an actor's life already is.'
Her testimony comes amid renewed online scrutiny following the resurfacing of a 2022 interview with senior actor Yasir Nawaz. Nawaz described Shah as difficult to work with and claimed he would never collaborate with her again. His comment reignited public criticism and triggered a wave of trolling that, according to Shah, significantly contributed to her retreat from the spotlight.
While Shah did not name Nawaz directly, the timing and tone of her stories clearly suggest that her comments are, at least in part, a response to the narrative that interviews like these helped fuel.
Revisiting the 2021 ramp fall: 'It wasn't an accident'
Among the most emotionally charged moments in Shah's video was her retelling of the now-infamous ramp fall at Bridal Couture Week in 2021. In a viral clip, Shah is seen stumbling while walking alongside playback singer Shazia Manzoor. At the time, she had dismissed the incident as an unfortunate mistake, even thanking Manzoor for her support.
Now, however, Shah claims the stumble was no accident. 'We had to go right. This lady pulled me and dragged me on the floor,' she said, replaying the clip to support her claim. She further alleged that Manzoor had inappropriately touched her throughout the walk and made calculated attempts to cause her fall.
What hurt even more, Shah said, was how the incident became a punchline in the industry. She called out host Juggan Kazim and influencer Jannat Mirza for publicly mocking her by recreating the moment.
Clips she shared showed both Kazim and Mirza laughing and reenacting the fall on camera. Shah said she chose to stay silent at the time to maintain professionalism, but now admits the betrayal and public ridicule deeply wounded her.
The 2023 incident: 'It took me years to heal from that lie'
Shah also addressed a separate incident that grabbed headlines in 2023 - when she was accused of assaulting a fellow actor and throwing a lit cigarette at her. Shah says the truth was distorted beyond recognition.
'She pushed me. I didn't fall. And then she slapped me. I was in shock,' Shah recalled. 'She started telling everyone that I threw a cigarette at her.' Shah says she asked the crew to replay the footage since cameras were rolling - but no such incident was captured.
In frustration, she admits she threw a sandal at the actor, but denied all other claims. She was discouraged from filing a police report, as it could delay or damage the production. The next day, she says, she woke up to headlines branding her violent and unprofessional.
To support her account, Shah has now shared an old interview of actor Sami Khan, in which he confirmed witnessing the slap during the shoot. 'I stayed quiet at that time because I was weak. It took so much time for me to heal from this lie and speak up,' Shah wrote.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9FlrXPCyPU
Youtube: SaharxSupremacy (via @alizehshah Instagram)
Shah accuses industry insiders of punishing her for setting boundaries
A major portion of Shah's video focused on the exploitative practices within the entertainment industry. She spoke of delayed payments, disrespect on sets, and being blacklisted for asserting boundaries. 'We get cheques after three months - that too, after begging people for our own money,' she said.
Her refusal to conform, she believes, led to deliberate exclusion. 'Pages were paid to troll me. Directors would call me into meetings just to comment on my image, saying they had 'heard things' about me,' she shared. Even something as simple as requesting a separate room due to her smoking habit was twisted to portray her as difficult.
'If asking for respect and timely payment makes me difficult, then maybe this industry needs to reflect on what professionalism really means,' she stated.
Shah also opened up about incidents where her physical boundaries were ignored. 'I don't allow anyone to touch me unless it's part of the scene. You need to ask me. I'm not your property,' she said.
She recounted an unsettling moment when a senior actor used a hairdryer to dry sweat and intentionally sprayed it on her face. 'I'm sorry you expected me to take your sweat like aab-e-zamzam raining on my face, but I'm not like that. Ew.'
For Shah, standing up for her autonomy, hygiene, and dignity made her a target - but she says she wouldn't change a thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9FlrXPCyPU
Youtube: SaharxSupremacy (via @alizehshah Instagram)
'Let Me Live': A final plea for empathy
Shah ended her story with a heartfelt appeal to both the public and her peers in the industry. 'An artist, whether junior or senior, deserves respect. Just because you're powerful doesn't mean you can ruin someone's career,' she said.
She also revealed ongoing personal struggles. 'My mom is sick. I already have enough to deal with. Just let me live.'
Since going public, Shah has received a wave of support from journalists, influencers, and fellow actors such as Urwa Hocane, praising her bravery for speaking out. Fans, too, have rallied behind her, thanking her for shedding light on issues rarely addressed publicly.
Instagram: UrwaHocane
Whether or not this is truly her final attempt to speak out, Alizeh Shah's voice is resonating. In reclaiming her story, she's sparked a wider conversation - one the industry can no longer afford to ignore.