Iffat Omar: Progressive actors not supportive in tough times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani supermodel and actress Iffat Omar opened up about her journey in the media industry and reflected on struggles she faced during her career.

Omar recently made an appearance on the comedian-host Shehzad Ghias Shaikh’s podcast The Pakistan Experience, where she recounted her experiences as an actor in Karachi, where she encountered what she described as an ‘elitist crowd.’

She said that those individuals not only criticised her for her lack of fluency in English but also looked down upon her Punjabi accent and scrutinised her proficiency in Urdu on set.

The London Nahin Jaunga actress said that these ‘elitist’ individuals would belittle those who were not proficient in English, fostering a sense of inferiority about their language skills, be it English or Urdu, within the media industry.

She further disclosed that she was called by derogatory names to demean her Punjabi identity, accent, and her non-native Urdu-speaking abilities.

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“Coming from Punjab, we naturally have a Punjabi accent,” explained the Mohabbat Aag Si star, noting how people often interrupted her speech to correct her pronunciation of certain words.

Nevertheless, despite the challenges she faced due to her Punjabi accent and limited English proficiency, Iffat believes she was fortunate to have received numerous work opportunities, eventually establishing a successful career.

“I must admit that I was fortunate. Perhaps there was less competition, which is why I received many opportunities and worked extensively,” she added.

She further said that she always chose to speak truth and go candid fearlessly. She stated: “There’s no support among us. Those who have the power to advocate for a cause often choose to stay silent.”

Furthermore, she expressed her viewpoint concerning the reluctance of even the most popular and progressive actors and media professionals to publicly support their colleagues when cases of mistreatment on set or content censorship come to light.

Meanwhile, the supermodel also touched upon the #MeToo Movement and her outspoken support for Meesha Shafi in her sexual harassment lawsuit against Ali Zafar. She stressed the difficulty survivors face when sharing their traumatic experiences publicly and encouraged people to listen to and stand by survivors when they come forward with their stories.

“I understand. Many young men and women find it challenging to speak up, but when they do, listen to them. This is the only way to put an end to harassment,” emphasised Iffat.