Actor Faizan Khawaja has made a heartfelt revelation, sharing that the financial and mental challenges he faced in the entertainment industry pushed him to the brink of despair. He admitted that if his father had not been part of the industry, he might have considered taking an extreme step like suicide.

In a series of recent videos posted on Instagram, Faizan spoke candidly about the issue of delayed payments to actors. He expressed deep sadness after hearing similar complaints from veteran actor Mohammad Ahmed and renowned director Mehreen Jabbar, fully agreeing with their concerns.

Faizan emphasized that the media and social media are portraying his statements as if he is trying to “expose” the entertainment industry. “I’m not exposing anyone,” he clarified. “I’m just speaking the truth. I’m not doing this for virality or to gain followers.”

Referring to actress Humaira Asghar, he pointed out, “She had 700,000 followers—did that help her get her rightful earnings?”

He recounted a personal experience, saying he once did a commercial and had to plead repeatedly to get paid. After that, he decided never to do commercials again. However, after gaining recognition from successful dramas and films, he received another offer—and unfortunately faced the same issue once more.

Faizan clarified that 99% of the people he worked with were good and paid him on time. His goal in speaking out, he said, is to highlight the struggles of those who are too afraid to speak for themselves. “I made these videos to raise my voice for those actors who aren’t being paid for their work.”

He added that he hasn’t quit acting altogether—he’s just stopped working with those who don’t pay on time. It has now been five years since his last drama.

Addressing a deeper issue, Faizan stated, “We have to chase producers just to get our rightful payments. People would be shocked to know that TikTokers like Ducky Bhai and Razaq Butt earn more in a year than entertainment channels do in a month—but we’re still told there’s no money.”

He concluded that if his father, Rashid Khawaja, had not been part of the industry, he might have taken his own life even during the peak of his career. His message is for all those struggling artists who rely on showbiz for their livelihood and face countless challenges.

Faizan also hinted that in his next video, he might reveal the name of the producer who hasn’t paid him.

Notably, Faizan’s father, Rashid Khawaja, is a well-known actor and producer in the Pakistani entertainment industry.

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