Entertainment
Zara Noor Abbas Reveals Brands Refused to Work with Her During First Pregnancy
Popular Pakistani actress Zara Noor Abbas recently shared her experiences of facing discrimination in the entertainment industry when she became pregnant. In a candid conversation on Faisal Qureshi’s podcast, Zara revealed that well-known brands and advertising companies refused to offer her work during her first pregnancy.
Zara explained that she had signed a contract with a brand, but once they learned of her pregnancy, they abruptly terminated the contract. “They told me that now that I was pregnant, I no longer fit their target market,” Zara shared. She challenged the brand’s management, questioning whether pregnant women don’t wear makeup. Their response was disheartening: they stated that she no longer looked as “smart” as before, which ultimately led to the cancellation of her contract.
Highlighting a disparity in how pregnant actresses are treated, Zara noted that in India, pregnant actresses often land significant projects, while in Pakistan, there is a reluctance to work with them due to concerns about their appearance during pregnancy.
Zara also discussed her health issues during her second pregnancy, which forced her to take a break from the industry. This pregnancy followed the heartbreaking loss of her son Aurangzeb in 2021, six months into her pregnancy. However, she and her husband, Asad Siddiqui, celebrated the arrival of their daughter, Noor Jahan, on March 27 of this year.
Addressing her absence from the screen, Zara clarified that being temporarily away from work does not equate to leaving the industry entirely. Her statement was a response to a newspaper article commenting on her time away from the entertainment scene. Zara emphasized, “Stop portraying pregnant women as unable to balance family and work. If there is no alternative example in your surroundings, that is not my responsibility.”
Zara’s revelations shed light on the challenges faced by pregnant women in the entertainment industry, advocating for greater acceptance and understanding of their circumstances.
