Saba Faisal’s observations show the widening gap between senior and young actors

In a recent interview on PTV Home’s Star & StyleSaba Faisal reflected on how she learned her craft by shadowing seniors on set, listening to their advice and observing them. Today, he said, that apprenticeship culture has thinned out.

Advice is often taken as an insult. Correction sounds like condescension. “I have learned a lot from my seniors,” he noted, adding that many younger actors now arrive unfamiliar with the nuances of acting and refuse to learn from the experience of their seniors.

Her comments have been echoed by various veteran actors, while younger actors have spoken out to the contrary. This points to a wider concern in Pakistan’s entertainment industry: two generations working side by side but rarely learning from each other.

For veterans the problem is discipline. Actress Nadia Afgan spoke of younger co-stars arriving without knowing their lines or skipping rehearsals, lacking focus on set. THE Cake The actor, Syed Mohammad Ahmed, described showing up on time only to wait almost 8 hours for the younger actors, calling punctuality a basic courtesy that is disappearing in the industry.

“Times have changed,” he said, echoing Saba Faisal’s view. “I have no authority to say something to a new artist or that he was wrong.”

Senior actors brought real strengths to the industry and understood aspects of acting that only came with experience, such as when to arrive on set and how to work with directors. They’ve highlighted issues with accuracy and willingness to learn among younger actors, but it seems the way they impart knowledge has sometimes been off-putting. Public criticism and the assumption that age meant superiority often turned into guarding and made younger actors reluctant to take advice.

Younger actors have their own struggles in the entertainment industry. In the age of social media and overwhelming public scrutiny, they have been under the microscope since the beginning of their careers. This is compounded when the control comes from their elders.

When Ishq Beparwah Actress Alizeh Shah was slammed on TV by Yasir Nawaz and Naveed Raza for allegedly unprofessional behavior on set. Mera Dil Mera Dushman (2020), remained largely silent. Instead, she posted a short story on Instagram, “I respect everyone who respects me,” and later spoke indirectly about the “abuse” on set and dismissive treatment from seniors, without naming anyone. In a recent Instagram story, Shah issued a final warning to Nawaz for his repeated references to her.

Actor Nazish Jahangir has pointed out that criticism from seniors can sometimes come across as resentment rather than guidance. “We respect our seniors,” he said The Night Show with Ayaz Samoo“I don’t think they should show us a side against them that lets us down.”

While many younger actors may indeed have a discipline problem, many older actors may also have a negative way of communicating criticism.

Some veteran actors are trying to bridge the gap. Hazaron Raaste Actress Rubina Ashraf argued that criticism should be constructive and reasonable. Seniors, he said, should act as mentors, not judges. He also acknowledged that, in Pakistan, “we don’t have training facilities” and that this obstacle means that all young actors are self-taught.

Even in these conditions, he believes that “the young actors are doing amazing.”

This reinforces the fact that both older and younger actors bring value and versatility to the screen. The only issue is the communication gap between them.

A balanced approach would require compromises for both generations. Older people should impart experience with a more understanding, less judgmental attitude, while younger people should be open to guidance.