"I kept saying, 'Please don't touch me.'"
Pakistani actress Mamya Shajaffar has made serious allegations of workplace harassment against fellow actor Arsalan Butt in a candid interview.
She appeared on Iffat Omar’s podcast Say It All and spoke openly about uncomfortable on-set experiences in Pakistan’s entertainment industry.
Mamya described the experience as her worst professional encounter as an actor working in Pakistan’s drama and film industry.
She alleged that Arsalan Butt made her feel repeatedly pressured, disrespected and deeply uncomfortable throughout their time working together.
“There was this guy, like every other thirsty man in our country, who saw my profile and assumed I would be fine with being touchy-feely or overly friendly.”
Mamya was clear about her personal boundaries and made no apology for holding firm on them throughout the working experience.
“I am not a touchy-feely person. It takes someone becoming a close friend for me to even give a hug; otherwise, I prefer just a handshake.”
She said she had absolutely no hesitation in naming the individual responsible for making her feel this way on set.
“I don’t have any shame in naming him. I think his name was Arsalan Khan, and he started making me feel uncomfortable.”
Mamya also took aim at his professional abilities, dismissing any claim he might have to credibility within the acting industry.
“He is absolutely a nobody. I wouldn’t even call him an actor. He could barely pronounce words properly.
“Yet he started lecturing me about acting while not doing the job himself.”
According to Mamya, the situation deteriorated to the point where a director had to step in and intervene between the two.
Despite that intervention, she alleged that the actor continued attempting to initiate physical contact with her against her clearly stated wishes.
“When he realised I wasn’t overly friendly and only communicated through work, I think he got intimidated.”
She added: “Maybe he was insecure. I was very confused.”
Mamya also described a particularly alarming incident that occurred during an on-set discussion about the legendary writer Manto.
She said a disagreement over her interpretation of Manto’s work led to a shocking and threatening physical display from the actor.
“He stood up and started shaking his belt as if he wanted to take it off and hit me.”
“He then started calling me names on set.”
She further claimed that despite repeated refusals, he continued to push for physical contact in a deeply uncomfortable manner.
“He said, ‘Come give me a hug,’ but I kept saying, ‘Please don’t touch me.’
“I had to repeat it multiple times before I eventually shouted.”
Mamya also alleged that he made inappropriate comments about her physical appearance, compounding the overall hostility she experienced on that set.
Following the podcast, Mamya Shajaffar clarified on her Instagram story that she made a mistake with the names.
The actress stated that she was not referring to Arsalan Khan but to Arsalan Butt.
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