Mahira Khan says TV channels profit while junior artists struggle

In a recent appearance on Eid day one show with Vasey Chaudhry, Mahira Khan revisited a longstanding concern in Pakistan’s film industry: the absence of a structured salary system. Mahira’s Aag Lagey Basti Main co-star, Fahad Mustafa, was also present while she spoke on the imbalance distribution and pay gap surrounding new actors who were working to just “survive”, while senior actors managed to get away with work and revenue quite easily. When asked about a resurfaced post of hers advocating for artist royalties, Mahira responded by saying, “I think world over there is a certain amount that goes to artists as royalties. I’m not saying we should exactly follow Hollywood, but it is a system that ensures artists don’t go hungry”. Mahira acknowledged that the Pakistan entertainment industry should have a formal system that at least offers a baseline for protection. “Yes, there are many artists who are homeless and get bankrupt, but that’s mainly because they were unable to save”, she said. She also notes that broadcasters and TV channels benefit from revenue streams more than the actors who appear on their shows. “I feel if channels earn so much money and from multiple revenue streams, some of which even we are not aware of, artists like us still survive”, she said, pointing to Mustafa. She argued that junior artists and supporting artists, or even technicians and crew members, do not get the same advantage. Although organisations like the Actors Collective Trust (ACT) and the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) aim to support actors, they have done little to effectively address these concerns. Veteran actor Naila Jaffery also brought this issue into the spotlight during her battle with cancer, when she was forced to bear her medical expenses herself. Mahira’s comments on this issue just show that widespread discussion on this topic is still needed in order to make a change. The star, whose movie just premiered this Eidul-fitr acknowledges that although she benefits from her success as one of the bigger stars in Pakistan, she also hopes that every other person in the industry gets the same level of appreciation.