Veteran actress Simi Raheal has raised concerns over the growing emphasis on physical appearance in the entertainment industry, stating that beauty is now being prioritized over talent and skill.

In a recent interview, she shared her views on the changing nature of the industry, pointing out that actors today are often chosen based on their looks rather than their acting abilities. “An actor’s success is defined by how well people remember their roles, not by how they look,” she said.

Simi Raheal praised legendary actresses such as Uzma Gillani, Samina Ahmed, Roohi Bano, and Khalida Riyasat, noting that they were admired for their powerful performances, not just their appearances.

She also commented on the current trend of uniformity in appearance among performers. “Everyone looks the same now — the same faces, same eyebrows, same complexion. There’s no individuality left,” she observed.

Simi emphasized that actors from earlier generations were more thoughtful and socially aware. “I’m not just talking about formal education. They had a deeper understanding of how their words and actions could influence society. We used to spend days discussing scenes with writers and directors to ensure we portrayed them responsibly,” she recalled.

Despite the decline in overall content quality, she acknowledged that some recent dramas have stood out with strong storytelling and impact. She mentioned that meaningful content still resonates with audiences and proves that quality is appreciated when offered.

She rejected the notion that content is purely driven by audience demand. “It’s not always about what people want to see. Sometimes, creators shape what audiences come to value,” she stated.

Simi Raheal also spoke about the increasing class divide in sports. “In our time, everyone played the same street games like gulli danda. Now, even sports are divided by class — some seen as for the rich, others for the poor. But to me, a game is just a game, and it shouldn’t be labeled by economic status,” she said.

She concluded by noting that with the abundance of TV channels and new dramas being aired daily, not all can be of high quality, but the industry should still strive to produce content that is thoughtful, original, and socially relevant.

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