Mehwish Hayat has always promoted Pakistani content. Even going as far as to reject Bollywood offers. Though her recent statements about Pakistani content are raising eyebrows.
In a recent interview with Gulf News, the Jawani Phir Nahi Ani star voiced strong opinions about contemporary Pakistani content. It started when the actress breached the subject of Pakistani content on digital streaming platforms.
Mehwish Hayat said the lack of Pakistani content on OTT platforms is because it’s not good enough.
“This is a very simple answer to the question that Pakistani content is just not good enough, … The global audience is far more sophisticated, and Pakistani content is too geared for the home market and such work doesn’t travel internationally.”
The Dil Lagi actress explained how Pakistani content isn’t adapted for a global audience in a global market. While she voiced how there’s nothing wrong with staying close to home. But such content cannot be expected to resonate with a global audience.
“There is no harm in making content for local market but such content has zero potential of reaching international platforms.”
She also explained how Indian content that’s popular on digital streaming platforms is significantly different from standard commercial cinema.
“It is worth noting that even the work from India that has done well on OTT platforms is a far cry from their regular commercial cinema and TV dramas.”
The starlet still has faith in Pakistan’s potential but the industry will have to revamp its work ethic and processes.
“It’s not that Pakistanis cannot do it, if a small country like Korea can top the Netflix global charts, why can’t Pakistan?”
Though she highlighted that in order to do so, Pakistani creators need to change how they work. She stressed the need to work on storytelling and working more professionally.
Mehwish Hayat said that substandard content is the main reason she became picky about work. She said that she didn’t find anything worth essaying after Dil Lagi which was aired in 2016.
