Actress Mehar Bano has shed light on the uncomfortable realities of haras*ment within the entertainment industry, revealing how both men and women face inappropriate pressure in exchange for work.
Speaking on the comedy talk show Hansna Mana Hai, Mehar Bano shared her experiences from within the industry and described it as a place where “powerful people often exploit struggling actors.”
“Both boys and girls in the Pakistani showbiz industry face haras*ment frequently,” she said. “Whether in front of the camera or behind it, such incidents are unfortunately common.”
Bano, who currently resides outside Pakistan, added that actors are often met with “unreasonable demands” and offers like “do this and you’ll get work.”
“Showbiz is full of beautiful faces and attractive personalities, and that’s why the dark side is so prominent,” she said. “People often fall victim to it.”
In a lighter yet shocking part of the interview, she revealed that some well-known actors have poor hygiene, making it hard to work with them.
Referring to a project with actor Affan Waheed, she said:
“One co-actor had such strong body odor that it was hard to be around him, but I handled it professionally.”
She also shared her dislike for roles that portray women as helpless or overly naive:
“I don’t enjoy playing innocent girls. I prefer characters who are confident and make their own decisions those roles reflect who I really am.”
Mehar’s bold statements have reignited the conversation around haras*ment, professionalism, and stereotypes in the entertainment industry, earning praise from many for speaking up.
