Sunita Marshall says minority communities still face discrimination in Pakistan

Actor says education has reduced prejudice in cities, but many minorities still struggle elsewhere

Actor Sunita Marshall, in an interview, discussed the challenges faced by religious minorities in Pakistan while reflecting on her own experience of belonging to a different faith.

Noting that life is often easier for those from more privileged backgrounds, Sunita urged greater attention to minority communities living in areas with limited access to education and fewer opportunities. "I live in the city and do not feel these problems as much. People are educated and do not say anything to me, but there are minorities living in areas where people's mindset is very negative. If they find out a person is from a minority community, they still have many problems," she said.

The actor also reflected on a previous interview during which she was asked questions about having two different religions within her household. "From my perspective, he [the host] was very sweet to me. When the episode aired, people kept tagging me in it, and I was confused about what had happened," Sunita recalled.

She added, "When I watched the episode, there was a phrase, 'Allah aap ko hidayat de,' a very common phrase used in Pakistan that many people say without much thought. He had said the same thing, and I realised my expressions were very normal because I had not noticed it. However, people did notice it and were very upset at the host."

Sunita shared, however, that she harboured no resentment towards the host. "I agree that he should not have said that, and it was a lesson for him too. He also publicly apologised online. I am glad that this came out and that we both learned from the experience," she said.

The actor also noted that the incident had made her realise the overwhelming support she received. "It made me realise that Pakistanis and others abroad — maybe Indians, Bangladeshis and Nepalis, whoever the fans were — stood up for me, and I was so happy. Because of that patriotism of being Pakistani, I felt support from people all over the world who put being Pakistani first, over anything else," she stated.

On public scrutiny, Sunita acknowledged that it remained an inevitable part of working in the entertainment industry. "I believe this is part of our career," she said.

The model-turned-actor also shared, "People are curious to know about our personal lives, but it is up to us what we share publicly and what we do not. There are people who post stories within 30 seconds of drinking tea or wearing certain clothes. There are others who post once a month just to stay in the loop and let people know they are still around."

Sunita described herself as belonging to the latter group. "I do not share my everyday life or even my personal life. I post if I have travelled or if I have work. If people want to judge, they will. I don't really care," she said.

Noting that many creators had built successful careers through social media, opening doors for opportunities in other industries, Sunita stated, "I think if you do have many followers and people are attracted to you, that is also a talent in itself because not everyone can do that." She added, "If someone is doing it for followers, they might not know acting but might still get a chance to pursue it. Trial and error is a part of every field."

Further, she admitted that she, too, had entered the entertainment industry with little prior experience. "I did fashion shows and learned. I also did not know how to act," Sunita revealed, explaining that every profession came with a learning curve.

Through the discussion, the actor stressed the importance of empathy, education and acceptance, expressing hope that greater awareness and understanding would help create a more inclusive environment for Pakistan's minority communities while encouraging aspiring artists to embrace learning and growth throughout their careers.