Sadia Imam opens up about betrayal in showbiz

Pakistani actress and television host Sadia Imam has opened up about some of the difficult experiences she faced during her career in the entertainment industry, revealing that she was repeatedly betrayed, sidelined and spoken about negatively by people she considered close friends and colleagues.

Speaking during a morning television show, Sadia reflected on the early years of her career and explained that there were relatively few female performers in the industry at the time. Most established actresses were either much more senior, while others were newcomers and junior artists. She said there were very few women of her own age and professional standing with whom she could build close friendships.

As a result, most of Sadia’s professional circle consisted of male colleagues. According to the actress, some of the men she considered close friends eventually disappointed her. She recalled instances in which people she trusted allegedly spoke against her behind her back and even tried to harm her professional opportunities.

Sadia said her father had always advised her that it was better to remain alone than to keep fake friends. However, she admitted that she did not understand the importance of his advice at the time because she felt that she needed people around her.

With the passage of time, the actress said she learned valuable lessons from those experiences. She believes those difficult phases ultimately made her stronger and said that, by the grace of God, she was able to move beyond them.

Sadia also recalled hearing some of her male colleagues discussing her when they thought she was not listening. She said that on several occasions, she heard people suggesting that she should not be cast in projects because she was not a “party girl” and did not socialize extensively with others during shoots.

The actress explained that television productions at the time sometimes required actors to travel abroad for filming. She said some colleagues apparently had an issue with her personality and lifestyle because they preferred working with women who were more openly friendly and social with them.

According to Sadia, this attitude sometimes affected her career. She claimed that she was removed from certain projects or offered secondary roles because she did not fit the social expectations of some people in the industry.

Despite these setbacks, Sadia said the most painful part was not professional rejection but the behavior of people she considered genuinely close to her. She recalled how some of these individuals would visit her home, share meals with her and spend time with her, while allegedly speaking negatively about her behind her back.

Looking back, Sadia said these experiences taught her to recognize the difference between genuine relationships and superficial friendships. Her reflections highlight the challenges she faced while navigating the entertainment industry and the importance she now places on trust, loyalty and surrounding herself with sincere people.