"They told Saima they would handcuff her."
Director Sangeeta filed a police complaint after unidentified armed individuals forcibly stopped the shooting of her drama Bulleh Shah and held actress Saima Noor hostage.
The industry veteran claimed that Saima was detained for nearly two hours by the intruders on the set.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore alongside director Syed Noor, Sangeeta explained the threats faced by her team during production.
She said emotionally: “It has been 50 years serving this country and nation, and this is how we are treated.”
The shooting of Bulleh Shah was taking place near the River Ravi in Lahore when the incident occurred.
Sangeeta added that seven to eight lawyers came to the set and threatened the cast and crew during the incident.
She described how the armed individuals harassed the actress on location:
“They told Saima they would handcuff her.”
Sangeeta explained that she had left the set after feeling unwell and asked Saima to complete the two remaining scenes.
She said: “When they said they would handcuff her, she told them to go ahead.
“They held her there and told her she couldn’t leave without their permission.”
The director confirmed that she had lodged an FIR at Shera Kot police station naming lawyer Ahmed Jahangir Baloch as responsible for the harassment.
She revealed: “He keeps sending notices to all the artists, claiming he is the producer.
“He keeps saying, ‘Meet me alone, madam, and this matter will be resolved.'”
Sangeeta questioned his claims of investing 2 crore 40 lakh rupees and asked: “Where is the proof? Who did he give this money to?”
She stated that she has been producing the 50-episode drama Bulleh Shah for two and a half years and cited witnesses supporting her role as producer.
Sangeeta said: “I have directed 80 films, worked in 150 films, and produced 50 films as a producer.
“I have never experienced anything like this.”
Director Syed Noor, who is married to Saima, also spoke about the incident and expressed concern for the film team.
He asked: “We are those people from the film industry who only endure hardships. We provide entertainment, we give respect, we portray the world in our films, but what do we get in return?”
Syed Noor praised Saima’s bravery, saying: “My wife Saima is a brave woman. The way she faced that harassment, she handled it.”
He warned about the difficulties faced by the struggling film industry in Pakistan and the potential consequences of such incidents.
Sangeeta revealed that actor Nauman Ejaz refused to continue working due to the threats, causing production adjustments for the remaining scenes.
She said: “Nauman Ejaz got so scared, he said he won’t work until this matter is resolved.
“So I let him go, and his son worked in the drama instead.”
Sangeeta appealed to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and the Inspector General of Punjab to take the incident seriously and act accordingly.
Watch the Press Conference:
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