Where's the fun in trolling: Actors defend Shahroz Sabzwari amid nepotism row

Model Natasha Hussain's comments sparked a debate on Shahroz's acting skills, following which, she apologised

Actor Shahroz Sabzwari is bearing the brunt of unethical questions asked during a rapid-fire round on a local TV show. A clip featuring model Natasha Hussain, who appeared as a guest on the show, has gone viral. In this, she is asked about an actor she believes is a product of nepotism, to which she names Shahroz, suggesting, “I don’t really consider him an actor. But his father is a great actor.”

The host then offers a disclaimer: “None of this is meant to hurt anyone. This is just for fun.” Adding to Natasha’s comments, she resumes the discussion, “So Natty, you’re saying that Shahroz got his father’s platform and if he was a common actor, he may not have been getting such big projects.” Natasha affirms, “Yes, perhaps not. Exactly.”

Fellow actors and fraternity members have since come out in Shahroz’s defence.

All hail Shahroz

In the comments section of a post shared on an online platform featuring the clip, actor Yashma Gill, Fazian Sheikh, Shan Baig, among others aired their disappointment. Yashma wrote, “Why ask such questions in the first place? And what a hypocritical statement to give ‘humara kisi ki dil azari ka maqsad nahe, this is just for fun.’ Where is the fun in trolling someone? No matter who the actor is and what background they come from, we all work beyond our physical abilities to try to do justice to our job and such remarks shouldn’t be invited through such questions in the first place.”

The Bebaak actor went on to reinstate what many have said about nepotism in the showbiz before. “And even if nepotism exists in this country, your contacts may give you an existing platform but making a name for yourself depends entirely on the actor and the amount of talent they have and hard work they’re willing to put in. Period.”

Faizan chimed in writing, “It is unfortunate to see that we would never miss a chance to bring our own people down. Shahroz Sabzwari is a hardworking actor who gives it his all, always! He's been acting since years and continuously entertaining audiences with his craft… I've experienced it hands on and it hurts me to see this...” He then challenged, “I want to ask Natasha ma’am how she would feel if her own daughter, who seems to be a very good prospect, is questioned for nepotism? Please, this is not done for fun and it is not funny either!”

Fashion designer Humayun Alamgir added, “Shahroz has been acting since 25 plus years... since childhood actually. What is she talking about?” while actor Shan Baig commented, “Shahroz has consistently pursued his acting career since high school, demonstrating substantial personal growth and maturity along the way. More power to you, my brother.”

Actor Laila Wasti also offered her two cents. She urged for quality content to replace segments and shows that pit actors against one another for viewership. “Can we please have better content instead of talking about people and berating our own industry?” she asked. “[An industry] that works hard to provide entertainment to viewers, even through tough days of Covid, keeping everyone sane in times of duress and uncertainty,” added Laila.

Natasha apologises

Following the backlash, Natasha took to her Instagram Stories to apologise for her comments, Taking back everything she said, Natasha wrote, “I heartily apologize for this statement of mine. I said it but I did not mean it! Shahroz Sabzwari is a very good actor; it just came out wrong! Pakistan is facing so much yet people have ample free time of their hands to sit back and blow everything out of proportion. bhai maaf kar duo (forgive me) and kindly focus on your own life!”

Natasha lamented how holding people’s words against them, which she termed an “art”, has become entertainment for everyone. Capping off her note, she wrote, “Sorry to the person concerned and sorry to the people who made it a matter of their concern!”

As for nepotism

In an earlier conversation with The Express Tribune, showbiz stakeholders had aired their thoughts on nepotism, and whether or not it prevents new talent from coming to the fore. Some actors, while maintaining anonymity, had called out channels and producers for favouring their own families or friends. “Javed Sheikh’s children are casted repeatedly, regardless of their average performance. Same goes for Shahroze Sabzwari,” one of them lamented.

CEO of MD Productions, Momina Duraid, told the publication, “We have a few alliances with individuals we trust. But the criteria for making such alliances have nothing to do with their background or whether or not they’ve worked with other channels.”

Veteran actor Javed Sheikh maintained, “I’ve made seven to eight films so far and if I had to favour Shehzad [Sheikh], I would’ve done it. Especially with Wajood. Instead, I gave Danish Taimoor the lead role. It’s the easiest thing in the world to do – point fingers.” The Wrong no. actor added, “Production houses are always on a lookout. When I came in, there was nobody from my family and many of my films also flopped, but I didn’t give up. Actors today give up too easily.”

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