Senior actor, model, and TV host Iffat Omar has revealed the real reason behind stepping away from the showbiz industry, saying that when one has to beg for their own payment, it is better to walk away from such an environment.
Speaking on the comedy talk show Mazaq Raat, Iffat Omar shared her candid views about Pakistan’s drama industry.
She said drama is a medium meant for the entire family, so it must include a strong moral or social message. She added that while both good and bad work exists in the industry, only about 40 percent of productions can be considered quality content.
Iffat Omar also admitted that she doesn’t watch Pakistani dramas – not even her own – because, as someone who has worked behind the camera, she can easily tell when an actor is angry or what’s really happening during a scene.
She further said that with mobile phones offering better and more engaging content, she now prefers watching other things instead.
Commenting on the issue of delayed or unpaid fees for actors, she said she’s unaware of the current situation since she hasn’t worked on any project in a while. However, she confessed that this was exactly why she left the industry – because constantly chasing one’s own payment was humiliating.
She also claimed that when actors refuse to work due to unpaid dues, they are often threatened by producers – something she considers deeply disrespectful.
Iffat Omar concluded by saying that actors deserve respect because they are the reason dramas sell. Since she couldn’t change the system from within, she decided to distance herself from it altogether.
