Karachi: A famous film exhibitor once said, “Everything is new for the entertainment and film industry right now. People are still learning how to behave at film premieres.” Given the drama that unfolded at the Ho Mann Jahaan premiere in Lahore, it is safe to say while the revival is in full swing, the industry still has to learn a few things about conduct.
No stranger to controversy, Overload drummer Farhad Humayun posted a lengthy Facebook status, lamenting the mistreatment of him and his mother, renowned PTV artist Navid Shahzad, at the Lahore premiere of the Asim Raza film.
“I have known Asim for over a decade and he is one of the nicest guys in the industry. He had personally invited me and my mother to the film premiere. While Farhad was aware of what goes about at such events, he remarked his 70-year-old mother agreed to accompany him only upon the insistence of Asim.
“At first, we had difficulty entering the cinema hall and when we did, we were asked by the organisers inside the cinema to go and sit in the top right corner of the hall, which honestly wasn’t possible for my mother,” he added. Despite arguing with the attendants for a long time, Farhad was unable to get a seat and decided to leave the event as a sign of protest. He clarified he harboured no ill feeling towards the Ho Mann Jahaan team, and actually took a stand against the VIP culture that exists in the country.
“There is a lot of discrimination in not just our field but elsewhere as well. Even in the Pakistan Super League event that took place this year, we saw celebrities seated in the front row whereas cricketers were seated way back,” said the drummer.
According to Farhad, he was not the only celebrity to have been mistreated at the event, with Mira Sethi, Moin Khan and the media all facing similar problems. “We should follow the model of the West where even celebrities are treated like normal people. People like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie travel economy class to avoid any discrimination.”
When approached for comment, Samra Muslim of Walnut Media, the company organising the event, said the misunderstanding took place “because the ushers did not recognise Farhad and his mother. Even Jerjees Seja of ARY Films has posted an apology on Farhad’s Facebook.”
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