Life & Style

Saba Qamar to skip Lux Style Awards in protest

Actor believes award show should have recognised her before she went to Bollywood

Amber Liaqat April 14, 2017

PHOTO:FILE

LAHORE: Things tend to get more complicated for the Lux Style Awards (LSAs) with every passing year. If it is not the credibility of the show that is being questioned, then it is its script that becomes a point of debate.

Nowadays, people remember the LSAs more for the controversies it generated than the zenith and glory it proomises. But like it or not, they are still talking about it. This time around, it’s Pakistan’s very own diva-turned-incredible-Bollywood-starlet Saba Qamar, who is talking about our most celebrated award show but she is not speaking in its favour.

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“Although I am nominated for three different plays, I will not be attending the LSAs as a protest,” Qamar told The Express Tribune in a telephonic conversation. “They never bothered to honour me during the past 12 years and now that I have the Bollywood stamp, everyone is acknowledging me all of a sudden.”

Qamar recently into the limelight when the trailer of her Bollywood debut Hindi Medium got released last week. In the trailer, she delivers a noteworthy performance, holding her own opposite a seasoned actor like Irrfan Khan. In fact, in some parts, Qamar manages to outdo him in terms of performance.

Ever since then, much of the Pakistani entertainment industry has been raving about the Digest Writer star’s acting skills. Some would argue that it’s natural for her performance in Hindi Medium to be applauded for she has made a name for herself in the world’s biggest film industry. To Qamar, however, it feels like hypocrisy, particularly on part of all the brands and award shows that are approaching her now.

“I have been working in the Pakistani entertainment industry since 2004 and no brand or award show has ever approached me in all this time. Now that I have come back from India, every brand and every award show is running after me. It’s almost as if they just noticed my presence,” she stated.

PHOTO:FILE

We cannot comment on the nature of offers and endorsements deals that are being made to Qamar post Hindi Medium but one thing is for sure: as a society, and an audience, Pakistanis do tend to wait until local artists have returned from Bollywood to take them more seriously. Whether it is our fascination with Indian films or the fact that we underestimate our homegrown talent, we hope things change for the better for both Qamar and the LSAs.

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The 16^th Lux Style Awards will take on April 19 and artists have been nominated in 28 different categories.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.

COMMENTS (17)

ghulam murtaza dahar | 6 years ago | Reply She was not noticed before due to quality of Lollywood films.

fawad malik | 7 years ago | Reply @lolz. No I didn't. I will say it openly. If this woman wants to proisitute herself to a bunch of hindus let her and good riddance. You build a strong united country by getting rid of traitors. in the facebook comments someone put it eloquently: Pakistan is being besieged by india and what message is she sending snubbing LSE? Her ego is less important than the Pakistani film industry as a whole .

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

naseer shaikh | 7 years ago | Reply Saba Qamar as best actor pakistan

OSD | 7 years ago | Reply Making a mountain out of a molehill really.

Lolz | 7 years ago | Reply @fawad malik: It seems you missed the whole article completely.

JKhan | 7 years ago | Reply This woman is another Veena Malik who brought disgrace to us.

fawad malik | 7 years ago | Reply Please stay in India. I don't want to insult you. You have talent and your a lovely gracious woman. What saddens you prefer India , fine stay there . We need patriotic artists good luck in your career madam.

Lolz | 7 years ago | Reply Dear Saba, your point is valid. But in the modern world of commercialism success is not determined by talent, but by the box office figures. Best seller or box office hit is determined by the earnings. So bigger markets naturally dominate the industry. Relax and enjoy your fortunes. All the best.

Sara | 7 years ago | Reply All the more reason to vote for her , I say ! I just went and voted . Haven't seen the dramas but gave my vote to mein sitara. Hope she wins . She's a great actress

Parvez | 7 years ago | Reply The film industry around the world is a harsh industry....... much as I like Saba Qamar she should do " the diva " bit , once she actually becomes one.

Sh | 7 years ago | Reply @ABC: She is actually one of the few actresses in Pakistan who is talented and not overrated. Her portfolio is very diverse and she has not made a career out of solely crying and screaming in dramas. I've seen her work well in almost all genres and that shows her capabilities as an actress.

vinsin | 7 years ago | Reply Her working in Indian cinema and LUX recognizing her after that - both are wrong. Protest is also wrong, she should accept the award and suggest improvement during her speech.

ABC | 7 years ago | Reply She is overrated and knows that she wouldn't win an award on the bases of performance, so why not create a drama to get some cheap publicity.

Oscars | 7 years ago | Reply 100% agree with Saba Qamar.Lux Style Awards are only for overrated Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan.

syed ahmed | 7 years ago | Reply It's simply IferiorityComplex on part of Pakistan film industry. Still accept the award Ms.Qamar.

Sexton | 7 years ago | Reply Amber is very attractive, but also appears to be extremely intelligent.

Xian | 7 years ago | Reply Now that I have come back from India, every brand and every award show is running after me. As a society, and an audience, Pakistanis do tend to wait until local artists have returned from Bollywood to take them more seriously. Soft power of Bollywood in Pakistan.

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