Saba Qamar broke down during the interview. (Image courtesy: YouTube)
Highlights
- Saba recollected that she was stopped while her crew was allowed to pass
- "That day I realized, that this is our position," said Saba Qamar
- Saba Qamar starred in Bollywood film Hindi Medium
Pakistani actress Saba Qamar, star of Irrfan Khan's
Hindi Medium, emotionally recounted being singled out at a Georgia airport, allegedly because of her nationality. Speaking to a Pakistani news channel, Ms Qamar claimed that she, alone of the film crew she was travelling with, was frisked at the airport because she had a Pakistani passport - it is not clear of what nationality her companions were. Video footage of Saba Qamar's interview with the TV channel, in which she says she was 'humiliated' and breaks down, is available on YouTube.
Visibly distressed, Saba Qamar's told the news channel: "The way we are checked, I feel so humiliated. I remember when I visited Tbilisi for a film shoot, the entire crew was allowed to go through except for me, because I carry a Pakistani passport." Ms Qamar, who has featured in several Pakistani television shows, alleged that she was cleared only after 'thorough checking and an interview." She said: "That day I realized, that this is our position. Where do we stand?"
Watch:
The Internet was quick to comment on Saba Qamar's now viral interview. Some Twitter users suggested that she should apply for Indian citizenship while the others invoked Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan, who has been detained at US airports more than once. A Twitter user said: "This has nothing to do with the passport."
Saba Qamar became a household name in India after her television show
Maat aired here. She has starred in shows like
Jinnah Ke Naam,
Thakan and
Main Aurat Hoon.
In 2013, Saba Qamar starred in
Aina, a film made for television. She has also starred in the Pakistani films
Manto and
Lahore Se Aagey. She made her
Bollywood debut in 2017's Hindi Medium.