‘Khalilur Rehman Qamar has proven himself’

In a candid interview on Say It All With Iffat Omar, acclaimed Pakistani scriptwriter Bee Gul opened up about the challenges she faces in her profession. Known for her compelling narratives, Gul revealed that she’s currently embroiled in what she calls “I won’t change the script’ fights,” highlighting the constant pressure writers face to alter their work.

When host Iffat Omar suggested that Gul had reached a point where she could resist such pressure, the writer humbly disagreed. The conversation took an interesting turn as Omar compared Gul’s situation to that of Khalilur Rehman Qamar, a veteran in the industry.

Gul acknowledged Qamar’s success, stating, “He has proven himself, I haven’t. Khalil sahab has given superhits.” She praised his storytelling skills and added, “When it comes to his craft of writing a story, he’s brilliant. I don’t like his dialogues but people remember them.”

In a moment of raw honesty, Gul touched upon the industry’s power dynamics. “Khalil sahab is pretty scary so people are afraid of him. They are not afraid of me,” she confessed, shedding light on the complexities of standing one’s ground in the competitive world of scriptwriting.

Despite these challenges, Gul’s career seems to be on an upward trajectory. She revealed her plans to venture into a new film, with two projects on the horizon. Notably, she’s in initial talks with Rafay Rashdi, whom she described as “an extremely professional guy.”

Gul and Rashdi recently collaborated on the critically acclaimed short film on consent, Jamun Ka Darakht. The ensemble cast features the talents of Adnan Siddiqui and supermodels Maha Tahirani and Fouzia Aman, along with actors Saman Ansari, Syeda Ramsha Nawal, Ahad Touqeer, Zara Usman, Yogeshwar Karera, and Irfan Motiwala.

Earlier, Bee Gul addressed head-on the sexual exploitation running rampant in the showbiz world – and how she prevailed in a toxic industry filled with lewd requests. Appearing as a guest on Rafay Mahmood’s podcast, the Jamun Ka Darakht writer declared, “It is so common that any girl who enters the industry considers it normal.”

“It happens everywhere I know. Women are mentally prepared for it. They know that at some point, they will have to trade off their body or beauty.” Gul is adamant that granting sexual favours is such an entrenched part of climbing the ladder to success that often if women are to progress, they have no choice but to give in. “For so many, it is their only way to the top, no matter how good an actor they are otherwise.”