Risqué subjects get banned easily: Ushna Shah to user comparing local dramas to international ones

Actor Ushna Shah recently engaged in a thought-provoking Twitter exchange with a user who criticised the Pakistani drama industry for its lack of creativity and outdated storylines compared to international dramas. In her response, the Parizaad actor shed light on the challenges faced by the industry, including budget constraints, production monopolies, and frequent bans and restrictions imposed by regulatory bodies.

The conversation began when a Twitter user wrote, "Watching international dramas really brings into perspective how limited the Pakistani drama industry is in terms of stories. There is literally no creativity."

They further lamented the prevalence of stereotypical characters such as scheming saas (mother-in-law), wailing bahu (daughter-in-law), and clueless men in local dramas.

"We are limited by budgets (you'd be shocked what we work with), a production monopoly and PEMRA," Shah explained. "Producers don't want to risk spending money outside the 'formula' that works, usually when they invest outside the box it doesn't pan out so well, we can thank the majority of the audience for that as well."

The Habs actor also pointed out the challenges faced when attempting to explore risqué subjects, citing the example of Sarmad Khoosat’s Zindagi Tamasha, which faced a ban shortly after its release due to its “controversial content.” She also highlighted that such incidents are proof that we need a more open and accepting environment that encourages diversity and experimentation in storytelling.

Nevertheless, Shah is optimistic about the

Users named Parizaad, Bakhtawar, Dila Na Umeed Toh Nahi and Masuri. A user even suggested story ideas for sitcoms.