Lahore's stage actors demand pay rise during Eid season, send producers into frenzy

Producers are facing financial constraints as actresses charge up Rs2.5m per project

LAHORE: It looks like Lahore’s theatre industry has been bitten by the Eid bug.

In the weeks leading up to the upcoming Eidul Fitr holidays, most of the city’s most sought-after stage actresses – namely Nargis, Khusbhoo, Mahnoor, Nida Chaudhary, Zara Akbar, Megha, Shiba Rani, Sobia Khan, Raima Khan, Aafreen,  Huma Ali, Shanza Khan, Payal Chaudhary, Feroza and Sitara Baig –  have been demanding more money for their work, sending theatre producer’s into a frenzy.

Many of the producers have been trying to negotiate deals with former film actresses but even they have reportedly been refusing to settle for anything below Rs2.5 million. In fact, even Meera – who has never been paid more than Rs1 million for a project previously – has increased her demands.



What’s making things harder for the producers is the fact that many of the popular actresses have relocated and are performing in other cities such as Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala as they are getting better offers from there.

Eid is typically a busy time for theatre, with many plays being staged around Lahore. Theatre is – and has always been – one of the biggest sources of entertainment her and people from all over Pakistan throng to Lahore during Eid to watch it. Producers, therefore, spend large amounts of money on advertising and preparations at the halls, hoping to attract maximum footfall.

This time, however, the producers appear to be in a race to cast the best actress as soon as possible. In general, the bigger the actress, the more successful the play will be. Names like Nargis and Khusbhoo command a price of up to Rs10,000 per ticket or more. And around Eid time, the fare tends to soar seeing as how the actresses double their rates and the producers are left with little choice but to pander to their demands.

“This year, Khusbhoo – who is the probably the best actress – will be performing at the Alfalah Theatre while Nida and Sitara are with Mehfil Theatre. But there is a shortage of actresses in Lahore as many of them have taken up offers from other cities,” stage producer Faiz Rasool told The Express Tribune. “Mahnoor, for example, is in Gujranwala and Zara in Multan. What can anyone do? The actresses are the reasons of a play’s success. People come to see them only and producers have to comply with them.”



Fellow producer Ali Raza offered a different point of view. “The thing is, the producers are usually incurring losses otherwise. Eid is a great time for them because there is a lot of rush,” he explained. “A lot of theatres enthusiasts come to Lahore to watch the plays, even though many of the surrounding cities are also staging them. After all, Lahore is the hub of commercial theatre.”

Qaiser Javed, senior stage producer, agreed. “It’s true that many actresses are demanding greater remuneration but the casts for most plays has already been finalised by now. Like Nargis and Shiba Rani are doing Shalimar Theatre’s Teri Deed Meri Eid,” he said. “It’s expected that the most rush will be there but the ticket prices have also increased. Nargis is asking for Rs2.5 million for just one spell during Eid! Other actresses are also following suit. Naturally, the burden falls on us producers and we have no choice but to increase ticket prices.”

According to sources, Meera will also be returning to stage this Eid.

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