Pakistani actress Memoona Qudoos has discussed the dark side of Pakistani entertainment industry, revealing that a director attempted to exploit her during her very first drama.
Speaking on a recent podcast, Memoona discussed the issue of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. She said she neither wishes to remember nor talk about her first drama, as her experience was deeply unpleasant.
She explained that harassment often occurs when a director or producer contacts an actress directly for a role. She said when a TV channel, talent agency, or production house initiates the contact, the chances of harassment are considerably lower. However, if a director personally approaches an actress, it can lead to serious problems.
She further said that when well-established directors make contact, it usually does not lead to issues, but those with a narrow mindset often misuse such opportunities.
Memoona said she had a troubling experience during the shoot of her debut drama and felt that the entire team was complicit in an attempt to entrap her. She alleged that the director, along with the rest of the crew, seemed to be working together with the same objective — to exploit her.
She revealed that the drama was produced for a channel named “Play TV,” and during the shoot, she faced inappropriate incidents, giving her the impression that the director was deliberately trying to trap her. However, she refrained from naming the drama or the director.
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Earlier, actress and model Mehar Bano also exposed the frequent harassment girls face in the showbiz industry.
Appearing on the comedy show “Hansna Mana Hai”, she said that both men and women frequently face harassment in the Pakistani showbiz industry, both in front of and behind the camera. She added that it is not uncommon for individuals to be told, “If you do this, you will get work.”
