Shehnaz Sheikh made Rs800 per episode for ‘Ankahi,’ says actors paid for their meals, transport

Veteran actor underlined how television industry pays significantly better today

Renowned Pakistani veteran actor Shehnaz Sheikh, once a leading star of classic television serials like Ankahi and Tanhaiyaan, sat down for an exclusive interview with BBC News Urdu, offering candid insights into her illustrious career and the evolving landscape of the entertainment industry.

Reflecting on her early days in the industry, Shehnaz reminisced about the modest earnings she garnered from her breakthrough roles. The actor, now 61, recalled her stint in the 1982 hit drama Ankahi and revealed, "I remember when I did Ankahi, I would make Rs800 per episode. Meals and clothes would be all our own, even transport." However, with the success of Tanhaiyaan three years later, her earnings saw a modest increase, reaching Rs1000 per episode, a sum considered top-tier for A-grade actors at the time.

Return to television

Discussing her return to the small screen with a new spin on Ankahi, Shehnaz disclosed, "Actually, I did not want to do this initially but Asim Tiwana is a very nice boy and he loves us a lot. He kept insisting that I do this project, do something." As per the actor, Ankahi with Shehnaz Sheikh became a way of reconnecting with her showbiz friends, especially given the fleeting nature of life in her old age.

She went on to highlight the evolution of production standards, particularly in the realms of hair, makeup, and overall production values. “Things change,” Shehnaz reflected. “There are both good and bad developments underway. Everyone says our actors today are paid a lot. Not all of them, but most of them. Whether they deserve that money or not is a separate conversation.”

Hair and makeup, now a demanding fixture in television and film shoots, were a simple affair during 1980s Pakistani television. Even then, the Balila actor cared little about conforming to beauty standards and maintained her simple elegant look that made her a darling for Ankahi fans. “To me, the role was more important than myself and how I looked,” she remarked.

Sponsors and regressive heroines

Few can contest that this classic era of Pakistani television paved the way for its continued popularity to this day. However, many will mourn the loss of more grounded explorations of life and the human condition that permeated these stories. 

“Back then, our producers would decide the actors, the writer, what play it is, all the people who would be involved. Now, all these decisions are made by multinational companies that sponsor content,” Shehnaz attributed partial blame to the ones calling the shots in showbiz. “The marketing executives for detergents, tea or toothpaste, view content from a very different lens. They consider what they need to sell their product.”

The progressive heroine that dominated the media landscape through writers such as Haseena Moin might be no more but the veteran actor essaying those roles insisted that this transition was not imposed. Shehnaz expressed that regressive characters “crying and hitting each other” taking centre stage is in line with the public’s demand. “Why are they watching these plays when you have a choice unlike us back in the day? As a nation, we enjoy crying. I think there’s a lot of catharsis when we sit and cry which is good.” 

“So this is in demand, you know, stories with a mean mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law plotting revenge, which I think is every daughter-in-law’s wish,” she furthered on.

The interview also approached her decision to decline an offer to reprise her role in Tanhaiyaan Naye Silsalay in 2012. Shehnaz explained, “For one, Haseena didn’t write it. Number two, I don’t believe that when you have something that’s done so amazingly, you should attempt to make a lesser rendition. Unless you have chosen directors of the same calibre, you have a comparable writer and everything. Then you could somehow do justice.”

Social media limelight

Aside from the marked differences in pay and production in showbiz, Shehnaz put her two cents on the biggest change between ‘then and now’: the omnipresent social media. She candidly admitted, “I am so relieved that we didn’t have all of this in our time. No mobile phones and all. You cannot imagine the kind of lives we have led. We were so carefree, we never had to think someone could be recording us. If someone had a camera the whole room would know.”

That said, the actor is not immune to the charms of this modern technology despite recognising the pitfalls internet has ushered in. “Nowadays, your privacy is gone, it’s finished. But look at all the information you get. I cannot think of my life now, whatever is left, without social media, I love it. I have so much fun watching TikTokers, reels and like I said, scroll past whatever you don’t like,” she offered simply.

As for her future endeavours, Shehnaz shared a desire to pursue projects aligned with her vision, lamenting the lack of interest from industry peers. Ultimately, she remains optimistic about embracing retired life on her own terms.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.