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Tarar Condemns Treatment of Veteran Actor
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has weighed in on the controversy surrounding veteran actor Mohammed Ahmed, calling the treatment meted out to him on the set of a drama serial “not only condemnable but highly deplorable” .
In a post on X, Tarar proposed setting up a mentorship programme for young TV artists, to be headed by senior actors such as Ahmed, or alternatively forming a council along similar lines. He said he would call a meeting of TV artists to gather suggestions on the proposal .
What Happened on Set
The controversy erupted after a video went viral showing actor Fahad Sheikh and other cast members laughing as Ahmed was filmed with a small handheld fan pointed at his hair. The clip surfaced shortly after Ahmed spoke publicly about being mocked by a much younger co-star on set .
Speaking on Sheeba Khan’s Dareecha podcast, Ahmed described being ridiculed in the green room by an actor roughly four decades his junior. He said the lead actor raised his voice in front of others and remarked that he had once evaluated Ahmed’s acting ability early in their working relationship before deeming him competent enough for a role .
Ahmed also described an on-set incident in which the actor grabbed a portable fan from a colleague and held it up to his hair as if drying it, announcing loudly to the set that he was styling him .
Industry Backing for Ahmed
Several industry figures, including Faysal Quraishi and Shamoon Abbasi, publicly backed Ahmed and pressed the unnamed actor to identify himself and apologise .
Nadia Jamil also criticised the behaviour shown in the video, saying there were limits to how younger people should address their elders even in a joking manner. She said Ahmed’s discomfort in the clip was evident and criticised whoever posted the video for adding to his embarrassment [citation:7].
Fahad Sheikh Responds
Sheikh addressed the controversy on Wednesday evening through Instagram stories, arguing that partial narratives can be misleading and describing the set environment as a close-knit one where cast members joke together. He said he had worked with Ahmed on multiple projects over the years and that their rapport had always involved friendly banter [citation:8].
Sheikh maintained that he had personally apologised to Ahmed well before the video drew public attention and extended a further public apology. He added that he was pursuing legal action against those who had shared an edited version of the footage [citation:9].
New Programme Proposal
Tarar’s proposal for a mentorship programme aims to prevent similar incidents in the future. The programme would see senior artists guide young actors on professional conduct and set etiquette.
