Veteran actress and director Sangeeta, a big name in Pakistani cinema since the 1960s and 70s, is currently facing a wave of online criticism over her comeback film “Mukho,” which stars Saima Noor, Meera, and Moammar Rana and is being made with a government film grant.
The first controversy started when she and Naeema Butt got into a fight. She claimed that because Naeema was new and had tantrums, she had to ask her to return the advance for the role that Naeema had been offered. Actor Naeema Butt responded to the accusations and categorically refuted them, stating that scheduling issues prevented her from working on the project and that the “demands” were actually recommendations the director had requested.
The second controversy started after clips from the film’s set went viral, showing Sangeeta personally directing Moammar Rana through a romantic scene. Many social media users called the directing style overly intimate and inappropriate, with some questioning whether such scenes were even necessary given the film’s budget, while others openly mocked the production and doubted anyone would watch the final film.
The third controversy involves how much Rana, once one of Pakistan’s biggest film stars, is reportedly being paid for the project. Singer Zeeshan Rokhri, who had been offered a role in “Mukho” but turned it down, spoke about the situation in an interview with Hina Niazi. Rokhri said he had quoted one crore rupees for eight days of work, but was told that Moammar Rana himself was only being paid five lakh rupees. He expressed disappointment that a former superstar was being offered such a low amount, saying it does not reflect well on the industry.
Rana has been going through a rough patch in his career recently, with drunk videos of him going viral and a lack of film offers pushing him toward theatre work. Reactions online have been mixed, with some users saying his fading stardom explains the modest pay, while others argued the film itself looks outdated and unlikely to succeed regardless of salary.
