Alizeh Shah Slams Mistreatment in TV Industry

Actor Alizeh Shah took to Instagram this week to deliver a deeply personal and emotional account of her experiences in the Pakistani entertainment industry. Framing it as her final attempt to reclaim her story, the Ehd-e-Wafa star described years of harassment, exploitation, media ridicule, and 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.”

Shah’s testimony followed renewed online scrutiny sparked by the resurfacing of a 2022 interview in which senior actor Yasir Nawaz called her “difficult to work with” and vowed never to collaborate with her again. His remarks reignited public criticism and triggered a fresh wave of trolling—an onslaught Shah said pushed her into retreat.

Although Shah didn’t name Nawaz, her tone and timing suggested she was responding directly to that narrative.

Revisiting the 2021 Ramp Fall: “It Wasn’t an Accident”

In one of the most emotional parts of her story, Shah revisited her now-infamous 2021 ramp fall at Bridal Couture Week. In a viral clip, she stumbled while walking alongside playback singer Shazia Manzoor. At the time, she downplayed it as a mistake and thanked Manzoor for her support.

Now, Shah claims the incident was deliberate. “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 also accused Manzoor of inappropriately touching her and attempting to sabotage her walk.

What hurt more, Shah said, was how the industry mocked her afterward. She called out host Juggan Kazim and influencer Jannat Mirza for publicly recreating and laughing at the moment.

Shah shared clips of both Kazim and Mirza mocking her on camera. She said she stayed silent at the time to maintain professionalism, but now admits the betrayal and ridicule deeply wounded her.

The 2023 Incident: “It Took Me Years to Heal from That Lie”

Shah also addressed a 2023 controversy in which the media accused her of assaulting a fellow actor and throwing a lit cigarette at her. Shah said the truth was distorted.

“She pushed me. I didn’t fall. Then she slapped me. I was in shock,” Shah recalled. “She told everyone I threw a cigarette at her.”

Shah said she asked the crew to check the footage, but no such incident was captured. Frustrated, she admitted throwing a sandal at the actor but denied all other claims. Producers discouraged her from filing a police report to avoid production delays.

The next day, headlines branded her violent and unprofessional. To support her version, Shah shared an old interview in which actor Sami Khan confirmed seeing the slap during filming.

“I stayed quiet because I was weak. It took so long to heal from that lie and speak up,” she wrote.

Shah Accuses Industry of Punishing Her for Setting Boundaries

In her video, Shah detailed how the industry penalized her for asserting basic rights. She spoke about delayed payments, disrespect on set, and blacklisting for setting boundaries.

“We get cheques after three months—after begging for our own money,” she said.

Shah believes her refusal to conform led to intentional exclusion. “Pages were paid to troll me. Directors called me into meetings just to comment on my image, saying they had ‘heard things,’” she said. Even simple requests, like asking for a separate room due to her smoking habit, were weaponized against her.

“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 revealed that colleagues often ignored her physical boundaries. “I don’t allow anyone to touch me unless it’s part of the scene. You need to ask. I’m not your property,” she said.

She recalled a disturbing incident when a senior actor dried his sweat with a hairdryer and intentionally sprayed it on her face. “I’m sorry you expected me to treat your sweat like aab-e-zamzam, but I’m not like that. Ew.”

Despite the backlash, Shah said she doesn’t regret standing up for her dignity, hygiene, and autonomy.

“Let Me Live”: A Final Plea for Empathy

Shah ended her story with a heartfelt appeal to the public and her peers. “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 opened up about her personal life. “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 fans, journalists, influencers, and fellow actors like Urwa Hocane, who praised her bravery.

Whether or not this is truly her final statement, Alizeh Shah’s voice has sparked a conversation the industry can no longer ignore.

Also Read: Alizeh Shah’s Take On Qurbani On Eid Ul Adha