In the grip of nepotism

Arsalan Naseer reveals how an actor’s son stole his project

No industry, especially acting, is immune to the pervasive influence of nepotism. In the Pakistani drama industry, the children of celebrities frequently find themselves thrust into an advantageous spotlight. Actor Arsalan Naseer, who made his debut in the 2021 series Chupke Chupke, recently opened up about his own brush with the pervasive curse of nepotism shadowing the entertainment industry. Taking to his Instagram Stories earlier this week, Naseer engaged with fans in a candid Q&A session. One particular question stood out, shedding light on his personal experiences with the issue. In his forthright style, Naseer didn’t shy away from addressing how he is also one of those actors who have not been spared from the insidious grip of nepotism.

A fan eagerly wrote to Naseer, “Please work with Ayeza Khan... That too with the main lead having a happy ending.” Sharing this fan’s comment on his Instagram Story, the actor didn’t hold back in revealing the behind-the-scenes drama. “I was working with her, but then they took some actor’s son instead, and kicked me off the project. After a while, Ayeza left as well,” he stated candidly. Naseer highlighted the all-too-common industry practice of favouring star progeny over talent that deprived fans of what could have been a captivating on-screen partnership.

The last time Naseer made headlines over his trademark wit, was when Meta’s Facebook and Instagram were down worldwide during Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s famous pre-wedding celebrations. On this temporary shutdown, Naseer shared an Instagram story in which he made a hilarious remark about Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta. The story read, “I want to be as chill as Zuckerberg in life. The whole Instagram was not working, and he was busy enjoying wedding food.”