Salman Shahid claims seniors also annoy youngsters
The conversation sparked by Muhammad Ahmed’s recent remarks about the behaviour of junior actors on set has drawn a thoughtful and balanced response from veteran Pakistani actor Salman Shahid, who offered a perspective that many in the industry may have been thinking but had not yet said out loud.
Shahid, who built his reputation through beloved comedy productions including Such Gup, Teen Bata Teen and Family Front before going on to appear in acclaimed dramas such as Seerhian, Aseer Zadi, Khuda Aur Mohabbat, Main Manto Nahi Hoon and Sher, appeared on Rise and Shine, hosted by Zohaib Hassan, where the conversation turned to Muhammad Ahmed’s complaints about junior actors on set.
His response was measured, fair and grounded in his own experience of what set dynamics actually look like from the inside.
“Listen, if juniors misbehave with seniors, there are also seniors who become unreasonable and behave the same way with younger actors,” he said. “It depends on a person’s nature. Sometimes, seniors also annoy juniors because they want to show their authority. They say things like, ‘You’re young, what do you know about acting? We’ve been doing this for so many years. You’re doing it wrong.’ So, this issue exists on both sides.”
The point Shahid was making was not that Muhammad Ahmed’s concerns were invalid. It was that the problem is not generational but personal. Difficult behaviour on set is not exclusively a junior actor problem. It can come from anyone, regardless of how many years they have spent in the industry or how much respect they command.
What made his remarks feel credible rather than defensive was the contrast he drew with his own approach to working life. He spoke with evident warmth about the aspects of set culture that he actively enjoys.
“Personally, I love socialising,” he said. “I enjoy tea breaks and interacting with my co-stars on set. I really love it. It’s part of my social life, no matter what age my colleagues are.
The image he painted was of someone who genuinely takes pleasure in the shared environment of a drama production, for whom the time between scenes is as much a part of the experience as the work itself. It was a reminder that sets are workplaces where people spend long hours together, and that the atmosphere on them is shaped by everyone present, senior and junior alike.
Shahid is currently earning praise for his performance in the ongoing drama Bas Tera Saath Hu, which has resonated strongly with audiences. He is the son of legendary actress Begum Khursheed Shahid, is married to Tahira Ali, and has been a consistent and respected presence in Pakistani television for decades.
His contribution to the current conversation about generational dynamics in the industry is characteristically grounded. He did not take sides. He simply told the truth.
