Stars Speak Out on Abuse of Power in Entertainment

Pakistani actor and model Zhalay Sarhadi has opened up about facing harassment and gender bias during her early years in the entertainment industry, shedding light on the widespread culture of silence that surrounds such issues.

Speaking during a recent podcast appearance, she recalled being told she would need to do what other women did—namely, offer sexual favours—to secure roles in television. She said she immediately rejected the suggestion and made it clear she was only in the field to support her education, adding that she had set strong personal boundaries from the start.

Zhalay explained that although such advances were not always direct or aggressive, they were frequent enough to require a tough response. She said she had stood up to inappropriate behaviour early on and had to assert herself to stay in control of her career.

Addressing societal beliefs around female independence, she dismissed the notion that a woman’s earnings lack spiritual blessing. Zhalay noted she had financed her own studies, wedding, and car—proving, in her view, that women’s income holds as much value as men’s.

She also shared how a director once rejected her for being “too tall”—a judgment she found baseless and sexist. She later confirmed the individual was still active in the industry.

Actress Mehar Bano also weighed in on the issue, noting that abuse of power affects both male and female actors. She said offers of work in return for personal favours remain alarmingly common.

Mehar added that while the industry appears glamorous on the outside, it often hides an environment full of manipulation and pressure. Despite its image, she said, the world of entertainment is not always welcoming for those unwilling to comply with hidden demands.