Islamabad, May 30, 2026: Veteran Pakistani actor Shaan Shahid has delivered a candid assessment of Pakistan’s film industry, criticising its dependence on Eid releases, lack of original storytelling, and failure to establish a sustainable cinema culture.
Speaking during a recent podcast interview, the actor — who has appeared in more than 500 films over a career spanning decades — said the local film industry had become overly reliant on festive seasons and was neglecting audiences for the remainder of the year.
“Today, you see that films are not released except on Eid. Apart from that, there are twelve months in a year, but no one puts out a movie,” Shaan remarked, arguing that such a seasonal approach prevents the development of a thriving film culture.
The actor also expressed concern over what he described as repetitive and formula-driven content, saying filmmakers have become disconnected from the wider public and are increasingly targeting only a small segment of society.
According to Shaan, the industry has become preoccupied with appealing to specific demographics while overlooking the broader audience that forms the backbone of cinema.
“We have put a label on Gen Z,” he said, questioning whether filmmakers were attempting to engage the masses or merely catering to a privileged minority.
“Are you looking for the masses, or are you just going to go for that one or two per cent?” he asked.
Shaan stressed that entertainment should remain accessible to all segments of society rather than being treated as a luxury product.
“You can’t deny people entertainment just because they have less money or a lower status,” he said.
Reflecting on his decision to decline major opportunities in India, including a reported offer to play the antagonist in the Bollywood blockbuster Ghajini, Shaan said he always prioritised contributing to Pakistan’s own entertainment industry.
Addressing the often-repeated notion that art transcends national boundaries, he offered a more pragmatic perspective.
“Artists say that art has no boundaries, music has no boundaries. See, there are no boundaries, but the boundary between India and Pakistan exists today,” he said.
The actor maintained that genuine pride comes from strengthening one’s own industry rather than seeking recognition elsewhere.
Shaan also revealed that he has not watched The Legend of Maula Jatt, one of Pakistan’s most commercially successful films in recent years.
Explaining his stance, he said he prefers focusing on future creative possibilities rather than revisiting older cinematic concepts through remakes.
He argued that long-term growth would come from generating original ideas rather than reimagining established titles.
Discussing the challenges faced by Pakistani content creators on international streaming platforms, Shaan said the issue was not a shortage of talent but structural problems within the industry itself.
“Netflix has been around for so long, but nobody could crack the code,” he observed, suggesting that excessive gatekeeping and unnecessary complications were preventing Pakistani productions from reaching global audiences.
According to the actor, industry stakeholders often create obstacles by focusing too heavily on technical and administrative concerns instead of prioritising quality storytelling and innovation.
“These are problems we have made ourselves,” he said, criticising the tendency to become distracted by funding models and technical specifications.
Shaan said his upcoming psychological thriller, Psycho, represents his effort to break away from conventional filmmaking trends and encourage greater experimentation in Pakistani cinema.
He urged audiences to support fresh and original stories, expressing hope that the industry would move beyond safe formulas and embrace more meaningful, diverse and innovative filmmaking.
