Renowned Pakistani film star Reema Khan has admitted to slapping a fellow actress during the early years of her career, expressing regret over the incident and calling it a moment of youthful impulsiveness.
Speaking in a recent podcast, Reema Khan recalled the episode that occurred during the shooting of the film Miss Istanbul, directed by veteran filmmaker Shamim Ara. She said she was known for being reserved and focused on her work, but at the time, she was between 18 and 25 years old and could be easily provoked.
“I was not someone who engaged in fights, but when a co-actor misbehaved with me repeatedly, I lost control and slapped her in front of everyone,” she said.
The actress shared that the incident took place in Islamabad, where the film was being shot. According to her, the co-star used inappropriate language twice, which triggered her reaction.
Reema Khan, who rose to fame with her debut film Bulandi and went on to become one of Pakistan’s most celebrated film actresses, refrained from naming the co-star but confirmed that the individual remains active in the industry.
“I regret my action even today. I should have controlled myself. I pray for her and wish I had handled the situation differently,” she added, emphasizing that one should leave matters of revenge to God.
She also criticized the long-standing “number one and number two” rivalry narrative in the film industry, stating that it was largely fueled by media rather than actors themselves.
Reema Khan was widely admired for her on-screen pairings with leading actors such as Saud, Shaan Shahid and Babar Ali. She is now married to Dr Tariq Shahab and resides in the United States.
It is pertinent to note that speculation has long linked the incident to her reported rivalry with actress Meera, who was her co-star in Miss Istanbul.