Saheefa Jabbar says dramas need realism, not fantasy

(Web Desk) -  Actor and model Saheefa Jabbar Khattak took to Instagram to share a candid reflection on the current state of Pakistani drama content and the flawed systems operating behind its glamorous facade.

In a carousel post, the actor brings to light what really happens behind the scenes, calling out production houses for exploiting actors, ignoring social issues, and prioritising saleability over sincerity.

Jabbar, who has acted in only five TV dramas, revealed why she consciously stayed away from most acting gigs. “I always had work, more than enough, actually. But I didn’t say yes to everything. There were projects I simply didn’t believe in,” she wrote.

Highlighting the lack of care and seriousness in the production process itself, she added, “It’s rare that a drama is taken seriously during production. Most scripts aren’t treated with the depth they deserve… As long as we’re making dramas just to sell, we will keep losing our purpose, our integrity and the real stories that need to be told.”

Calling for a shift toward realism, she also criticised the excessive glamorisation of characters through makeup and costumes that defy logic or class context. “Hire professional stylists and artists who actually understand how to dress a character according to the story, class and culture. We need realism, not fantasy.”

Jabbar also questioned why we’re not making dramas about the stories that surround us, including “Balochistan, the Zainab case, and Noor Mukadam.” She suggested, “Why not turn to documentaries? We have endless stories around us, just take a walk outside Data Darbar and see the heroin addicts no one talks about, or the child abuse ring in Kasur. These are the stories we need to show, stories that wake us up instead of numbing us.”