A viral clip has upended one of Pakistan's busiest television sets, dragging a simmering backstage conflict into full public view.
Actor Fahad Sheikh found himself at the center of a growing firestorm after veteran performer Syed Mohammad Ahmed recounted, during a recent podcast, how a lead actor roughly four decades his junior ridiculed him on a drama set.
Ahmed, born in Karachi in 1957, has worked across Pakistani television since 1980 as a screenwriter, lyricist, actor, and director. Credits spanning Mystery Theater, Tanhaiyan Naye Silsilay, and a beloved turn as Agha Jan in Suno Chanda have made him one of the industry's most respected figures. He also earned a Best Actor nomination at the 18th Lux Style Awards for the 2018 film Cake.
Speaking on Sheeba Khan's Dareecha podcast, Ahmed described being ridiculed in the green room by a much younger colleague. He recalled one instance in which the actor grabbed a portable fan from another cast member and pretended to style his hair, calling others over to watch. Ahmed said he chose not to react at the time, fearing the moment would end up on social media without context.
That fear proved justified. A video soon circulated online showing Sheikh and other cast members laughing at Ahmed while someone aimed a pocket-sized fan at his head. FHM Pakistan published a clip that explicitly named Sheikh as the person involved. The two actors had collaborated on two dramas between 2020 and 2022.
The footage sparked anger online, with several actors condemning the behavior. Nadia Jamil posted a video to her account saying she was "disgusted" by the conduct shown in the clip. Hassan Ahmed said Sheikh has a habit of making fun of others and argued he should be held accountable. Rabia Anum expressed shock, stating that Ahmed was "disrespected" and "recorded without permission."
Not everyone agreed. Faysal Quraishi revealed the issue had been resolved privately, saying Sheikh apologized wholeheartedly and admitted his mistake, and urged fans to accept the apology and move on. Shamoon Abbasi also praised Sheikh for apologizing publicly and asked fans to stop trolling him. Host Maya Khan and actor Aijaz Aslam similarly called for restraint, suggesting the matter could have been handled behind closed doors.
Sheikh responded with a statement on Instagram, apologizing to Ahmed and announcing he intends to pursue legal action against those who circulated the clip. "He is my senior, I am not ashamed to ask for his forgiveness publicly," Sheikh wrote. In separate Instagram stories, he called "half-cooked stories" dangerous, insisting that on set, "we don't work as co-actors we bond like a family who laughs together."
Ahmed, for his part, expressed gratitude for the support he received and named two colleagues, Jenan Hussain and Faizan Sheikh, asking the public to stop criticizing them, saying both had always treated him with respect.
He did not mention Fahad Sheikh by name in that statement.
The controversy climbed high enough to reach Islamabad. Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar condemned the incident on X on Thursday and proposed a mentorship programme for emerging television artists. "What happened with Muhammad Ahmed, senior TV artist on the set of a drama serial, is not only condemnable but highly deplorable," Tarar wrote, offering "a mentorship programme for young TV artists headed by senior TV artists like Ahmed sahib." He added that he would convene a meeting with television artists in the coming days to discuss the proposal.
Where this leaves Sheikh's career remains an open question. He is a recognized television actor and host, known for performances in dramas such as Jalan, Dunk, Ghamandi, and Betiyaan. He is currently receiving attention for his role in Green Entertainment's Intekhab. Whether public opinion cools or hardens may depend on Ahmed's own next move.
So far, the veteran has let others do most of the talking.
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