Ali Zafar also Came on the Field to Support Rashid Mahmood

Leading singer of Pakistan music industry Ali Zafar has also come to the field to accompany Pride of Performance actor Rashid Mahmood. World-renowned singer Ali Zafar, in response to a tweet from Shamoon Abbasi’s senior actor Rashid Mahmood, recounted an incident from the old days when he visited a state TV channel.

I remember the day I had visited PTV some years ago and was shocked to see such a senior & respected artist urging for his (very small) payment to be cleared. I had conveyed that I would not take mine until his was cleared with the hope that things would change sooner than later.

The singer wrote in his next tweet that “the way a society treats the creative and literary industry is known all over the world.” Shamoon Abbasi said that it was beyond his comprehension to send a check of only Rs. 620 to Rashid Mahmood for the payment of his work by the state TV channel.

It may be recalled that recently the state TV channel had given a check of only Rs 620 to Rashid Mahmood for reciting an obituary in Muharram, after which Rashid Mahmood had announced not to work on the state TV channel anymore.

As a veteran of Pakistani show business, Rashid Mehmood has plenty to say about the industry. The actor sets great store by local television serials in particular, having acted in renowned dramas such as Saheen, Laag, Ghuroor and Kahi Un Kahi over the years.

Unfortunately, Mehmood – who was recently chosen to receive the President’s Pride of Performance Award – now finds his beloved industry in dire straits. He recalls a time when Indian producers used to copy Pakistani serials in hopes of becoming just as successful.

“Back then, our drama serials were loved the world over, thanks to their sound scripts, good acting and quality production,” says Mehmood, reminiscing of days he believes are long gone. “But still, when it comes to television, India cannot compete with us!

Nowadays, producers show a world of dreams in their projects. Instead, we should promote our own culture and society if we wish to peak once more. I feel very disheartened that today’s artists don’t seem to know much about dramas.”

Rashid Mahmod (born Muhammad Rashid Mahmood Kashmiri) is one of the most versatile and most casted actors in all of Pakistan’s film and drama industry.

One of his most famous performances was in the drama serial ‘Ilzaam’, which was aired from former channel STN during the 1990s. The drama was shot in Bangkok and saw Rashid play a difficult role of a transvestite.

His earliest performances on Pakistan Television (PTV) include ‘Shikan’, ‘Kalmoohi’, ‘Laag’ and ‘Ghuroor’. All of these dramas saw him in different roles and Rashid’s profound acting did complete justice to every role that he has been a part of.

After the introduction of private channels, Rashid signed up a number of dramas on private channels as well. These include drama serials ‘Identity’ (ARY Digital), ‘Lakhon Main Ek’ (TV One), ‘Dil De Ke Jayain Gey’ (Geo TV), ‘Dilruba Nautanki’ (Geo TV), ‘Uss Par’ (ATV) and ‘Khuda Zameen Se Gaya Nahin’ (Hum TV).