Shaan Shahid denies asking Kashif Zameer if foreign actors should be preferred over local celebs

Engin Altan Düzyatan’s Pakistani host Kashif Zameer has landed himself hot waters after alleging renowned Pakistani actor Shaan Shahid questioned him about local brands’ priorities. 

Taking to Instagram four days ago, Kashif shared a photo with Shaan, alleging that he asked him whether foreign stars should be preferred for ambassadorships over local artistes. 

"Raat Pakistani ke superstar actor Shaan bhai ne ek sawaal pucha ke 'apne mulk ke stars ko chor ke dusri countries ke stars ko apna brand ambassador banana theek hai?' (The other night superstar Shaan Shahid asked me if it's okay to abandon your own country's artistes and employ foreign stars as ambassadors)."

He then asked his followers, "Mera kya jawaab hona chahiye tha? (What should have been my answer?)”

In response, Shaan quickly denied the allegations, commenting, "Bhai ap ghalat keh rahay hain, menay apse aise koi sawaal nahi pucha. Apne pic ki request ki thi, jo Shafqat Cheema sahab ki waja se menay ijazat de di thi. (Brother that’s not correct. I didn’t ask you any such thing. You requested to take a picture with me and I agreed to it because of Shafqat Cheema sahab.”

Earlier, Kashif had claimed that the Diriliş: Ertuğrul star would be visiting Pakistan soon. “Get ready for the Engin Kashif friendship blast,” said Kashif in another Instagram post.

Although the actor has denied raising any such queries in front of the TikToker, he had expressed his reservations about the airing of the Turkish period drama on Pakistan’s national television, PTV, earlier. The Waar actor took to social media and shared his thoughts on how the emphasis should be on producing and broadcasting local content instead of international re-runs. "Try to find our own history and its heroes,” he wrote.

Months later, a picture was shared by a Pakistani brand’s CEO, announcing they had hired some Diriliş: Ertuğrul actors as brand ambassadors. In response to the tweet, Shaan claimed that for the brands, business is everything. “Nothing’s wrong at all with the brand strategy. It’s just a question of values. Amid Covid-19, not only the Pakistani artists but every profession got hit badly. Now was the time to support your own, that’s all.”

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