Sadia Imam Reveals How Male Colleagues Betrayed Her During the Early Years of Her Career

Pakistani actress and television host Sadia Imam has spoken candidly about some difficult experiences from the early years of her career, revealing that she was betrayed by male colleagues and friends she once trusted.

The actress recently appeared on ARY Digital’s morning show Good Morning Pakistan, hosted by Nida Yasir, where she reflected on her journey in the entertainment industry and the challenges she encountered while establishing herself as a performer.

Sadia Imam Recalls a Different Industry Landscape

Looking back at the time when she entered showbiz, Sadia explained that there were comparatively few female actresses working at her level. According to her, the industry environment meant that most of the people around her professionally were men.

She recalled that Maria Wasti was among the actresses working at the time, but she was senior to Sadia and based in Lahore. As a result, Sadia found herself surrounded largely by male colleagues and friends.

Reflecting on those relationships, she said she was “stabbed in the back” by people she considered close to her and experienced betrayal on several occasions.

‘My Father Used to Say, Instead of Having Fake Friends, You Should Be Alone’

Sadia also remembered advice from her father, who had encouraged her to stay away from fake friendships rather than surround herself with people she could not trust.

At the time, she admitted, she did not fully understand his advice because she felt that having people around her was important. With experience, however, she came to understand the value of his words.

The actress said that she eventually learned from those experiences and was grateful that the difficult period passed.

She Claims Some Colleagues Wanted Her Replaced

One of the more striking parts of Sadia’s account involved conversations she said she overheard among male colleagues and friends discussing her professionally.

According to the actress, some people allegedly discouraged others from casting her because she was not considered a “party girl” and did not socialize in the way they expected during overseas drama shoots.

Sadia explained that some of these projects involved travelling abroad, and she believed certain colleagues preferred having women around them who were more socially outgoing.

She claimed that this sometimes resulted in her being excluded from projects or offered second-lead roles instead.

What made the experience particularly painful, she revealed, was that some of the people involved were not distant acquaintances. They were individuals she considered close friends people who had shared meals with her, spent time at her home and were part of her personal circle.

A Career Shaped by Experience

Despite those disappointments, Sadia’s reflections suggest that the experiences ultimately became lessons in navigating the entertainment industry.

Known for her work across numerous Pakistani television dramas, including Singhar, Pehli Barish, Rani Beti, Sirf Aik Bar, Ijazat, Bilquees Kaur, Musafat, Uljhan, Hum Se Juda Na Hona, Mera Naseeb, and Colony 52, Sadia has also built a career as a television host.

Now living in Germany with her husband, Adnan, whom she married in 2012, Sadia is also a mother to her daughter, Meerub.

Her latest comments offer a more personal look at the realities she faced behind the screen. While the actress has moved beyond those early struggles, her story highlights how professional relationships can sometimes bring unexpected challenges and how experience can teach valuable lessons about trust, friendship, and boundaries.