Veteran Pakistani actress and filmmaker Sangeeta has spoken candidly about her decision to part ways with actress Naeema Butt, revealing that creative differences and what she described as "unnecessary tantrums" ultimately led her to remove the rising star from one of her projects.
The veteran director made the remarks during a conversation with journalist Ambreen Fatima from the set of her upcoming film Mukho. Speaking openly about the incident, Sangeeta said the decision was not made lightly but became unavoidable after disagreements over the production.
According to Sangeeta, Naeema Butt had originally been cast for the project, and the collaboration initially appeared to be moving in the right direction. However, things changed when, she claimed, the actress began offering suggestions regarding the casting of the film's male leads.
Recalling the events, Sangeeta said she was not comfortable with an actor trying to influence casting decisions, insisting that such responsibilities belong to the director. She explained that after refusing the suggestions, she chose to end the collaboration in a respectful manner. The veteran filmmaker said she apologised to Naeema Butt and requested the return of the advance payment, which, according to her, the actress returned without any dispute.
Sangeeta also reflected on the experience by comparing it with the professional standards she believes were followed during her own acting career. She remarked that despite spending nearly five decades in Pakistan's entertainment industry, she had never witnessed actors attempting to interfere in directorial decisions in the way she experienced this time.
The celebrated filmmaker said that Naeema Butt is still relatively new to the industry, despite her growing popularity on television. She acknowledged that the actress has been doing well in dramas and had been offered what she considered to be a strong role. However, Sangeeta maintained that she preferred to withdraw the opportunity rather than continue working under circumstances she felt were affecting the production process.
She further added that professionalism has always been her priority, saying that actors from her generation focused on performing their roles rather than bringing attitude or unnecessary demands onto the set. For her, maintaining discipline and respecting the director's vision remain essential parts of filmmaking.
