Zara Noor Abbas says Pakistan's showbiz is a community, not an industry
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Actor Zara Noor Abbas has said that Pakistan's entertainment sector is not developed enough to be classified as an industry and should instead be considered a small community where a handful of people drive the entire business.
Speaking on a private TV channel's Ramadan transmission, Zara pointed out the lack of proper recognition for supporting crew members, arguing that a true industry acknowledges the contributions of all professionals, from graphic artists to cameramen.
"Rather than an industry, it is more like a community where a few people come together to make dramas," she said. "An industry is one where every creative professional is respected, recognised, and nominated for awards. That does not happen here."
Her remarks came during a discussion with host and actor Danish Taimoor, who disagreed with her assessment, stating that Pakistan's drama sector has grown significantly over the past decade. He argued that the industry is flourishing compared to what it was 10 to 12 years ago.
Abbas, however, maintained that while progress has been made, the structural shortcomings still prevent Pakistan's entertainment sector from reaching the level of a full-fledged industry. She pointed out that while there is an abundance of creative talent, the opportunities remain limited to a select few.
"In the current scenario, we have a huge supply of creatives—actors and digital influencers from Lahore, Faisalabad, and other cities of Punjab. There is such amazing talent, but the demand continues to stay for a handful of people only," she said.
Zara Noor Abbas is a prominent Pakistani actress known for her versatile performances in television and film. She gained widespread recognition for her roles in popular TV dramas such as "Khamoshi" and "Ehd-e-Wafa". In 2019, she made her film debut with "Chhalawa" and "Parey Hut Love", both of which performed well at the box office.
Her most recent project is "Standup Girl", a comedy-drama television series that aired from December 2023 to 2024 on Green Entertainment. In this series, she portrayed Zara, a young woman from Islamabad who aspires to become a stand-up comedian and embarks on a journey to Lahore to pursue her dreams.
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