My work is my worship: Saba asks journalists to not mix personal grudges with critique of her work

Actor shared she takes her work seriously and has a reputation of being respectful

Actor Saba Qamar recently called out journalists who accused her of arriving late at a press conference, asserting that she takes her work seriously and has a reputation of being respectful. The actor also went on to ask journalists to not take out their personal grudges against her in their critique of her work. 

The incident took place at a press conference for Sarmad Khoosat’s Kamli, in which Saba has a leading role. After a journalist asked her why she had arrived late, the actor angrily responded, “The entire industry knows about me. I am never late. I am never disrespectful. I never throw any tantrums. I never argue when it comes to food.” 

She then turned to Sarmad for confirmation, who was seated next to her. After the director agreed with Saba’s point, she continued, “You can call anyone and ask. But if you watch Ghabrana Nahi Hai, which has done business worth Rs10 crore (100million), [a journalist] didn’t understand anything about it.”

The actor added, “In a panel discussion, everyone was complimenting me, telling me I had done a great job and he was like, ‘No. She’s a one-tone character.’ Man, go look at my body of work. I have given my time, my life, my youth to my work. It is everything to me. My hard work and my worship.”

Asserting that journalists should not take offence over delays that may occur every now and then, she continued, “Do not do this to me next time, please. I have a humble request. I respect all of you a lot. But do not take out your personal grudges of when you came to set and I was busy and had a fever and couldn’t give you an interview. This is not a good look. It does not suit honourable people.” 

In a recent interview with The Express Tribune, Saba shared how she has grown a thick skin against negativity. "I don't carry personal attacks to the heart. I don't pay any heed to them anymore. Maybe it did matter right at the beginning of my career, but I have grown that thick skin almost 20 years down the line in the fraternity. I think people brought up in a certain way will always spew venom on others.”