Actor Fahad Sheikh has denied disrespecting veteran actor Syed Mohammed Ahmed after a video of the pair on a drama set went viral on Wednesday, saying the incident had been taken out of context.
The video gained attention after Mohammed Ahmed, in a recent podcast, recounted an incident in which he said a lead actor much younger than him allegedly ridiculed him on set.
Ahmed said the actor reminded others that he had once assessed his acting abilities before telling a producer he was “alright”. He also described an incident in which the actor took a portable fan from another cast member and pretended to style his hair while calling others to watch.
Ahmed said he chose not to react at the time because he did not want the incident to be shared on social media without context.
Following the interview, several actors, including Faysal Quraishi, Shamoon Abbasi, and others, urged the unnamed actor to apologise.
Responding to the criticism on Instagram after a video of the set went viral, actor Fahad Sheikh said: “Half-cooked stories are always dangerous because they are used to set a narrative. On set, we don’t work as co-actors we bond like a family who laughs together, eat with each other and share grievances”.
“What seems like a ‘bully’ was not the case to begin with,” he wrote in a series of Instagram stories.
“This was not my first project with Ahmed Sahab — I have worked with him on many projects, and we shared a bond where we would laugh and have a good time on set,” wrote Fahad.
“I don’t know at what point the joke he initiated himself made him feel like we were bullying him, because that was never anyone’s intent,” he said.
Fahad also said he had apologised to Ahmed before the controversy emerged. “He is my senior, I am not ashamed to ask for his forgiveness publicly,” he said.
“And if Ahmed sahab thinks my personal apology was not enough for him, then I apologise to him on this platform as well. I hope you don’t keep any grudges against me because I would [never] think of insulting my seniors in any case,” wrote the actor.
The actor said that legal action was being initiated against parties who “circulated out-of-context video material to deliberately mislead the public”.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Ahmed took to his Instagram and thanked the entertainment fraternity for their love and support over the issue.
“I am truly overwhelmed and touched by all the messages, calls and voice notes I have received from all my colleagues in the industry. Thank you to each one of you. It has truly been heartwarming to see how you have all reached out and stood up for me.”
