Shagufta Ali's Dramatic Downfall Lays Bare TV Industry's Harsh Realities

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If you have grown up watching Zee TV and Star Plus in the 90s, like me, then chances are that the beautiful face of Shagufta Ali is very familiar for you. My most vivid memory of her is in shows like Parampara and the Zee Horror Show. I always thought she had great screen presence and strong acting skills.

Today, Shagufta Ali is going through one of the worst phases of her life. Now, 54 years old Shagufta Ali has revealed in a recent interview with an entertainment portal that she is broke and struggling to make ends meet due to lack of work, for the past four years.

Shagufta Ali said she even had to sell of her assets to manage her finances: She said work started drying up and she has barely found any employment in the last 4 years in the TV industry and whatever came, at the last moment, did not work out. IN the interview she said, "Not many knew that I am going through a major financial crunch because till then I sold a lot of my assets to survive." I have sold my car, jewelry and I have been traveling in auto rickshaws even if I am going out to the doctor. It's been very hurtful to me because I have been a self-made person. I had no support when I came to this industry and whatever work I have done, I got on my own merit."

Shagufta Ali, is now asking for work to survive. She literally said, "I need immediate financial help and also work to survive. I was really confused, honestly if I should come out and ask for help. Par ab haal yeh hai ki ab bechne ke liye bhi kuch nahi bacha, she said.

Shagufta also has a 73-year-old mother and both are undergoing treatment for health complications.

Elaborating on her mothers condition, she said, "My ammi needs immediate medical attention....unko diabetes, arthritis aur ghutno ki problem hai. I am unable to take her to the doctor. I am getting her medication done by consulting the doctors over the phone, who I know in the family."

But it's a double whammy for Shagufta, who is also a diabetic and is slowly losing her eyesight because of that. I know this because my Dad, who is also a diabetic has already lost his left eye because of Glaucoma - a common eye condition where the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes damaged, This is caused by the fluid build up in the front part of the eye, which eventually can lead to the complete loss of eyesight.

Shagufta says she doesnt even don't have money for her diabetes treatment which can prove dangerous for her eyesight, if the treatment is delayed. She said that people must be facing the pandemic induced lockdown for the last one and a half years. But for me, I have had this situation for the last four years."

Even after 3 decades of experience in the TV industry, Shagufta still has to look for work and give auditions like newcomers. She says she keeps getting audition calls and she goes for it because if she won't do that they will not give her work.

But even here, things are getting harder for Shagufta as nowadays auditions are happening on video and that is not possible for her because she doesn't have anyone to record the video for her. Apparently, she has a selfie stick with which she hold and operates her phone but then she can't perform. Her mom has arthritis so she can't record her video. Maybe Shagufta should try a tripod, but one can understand the dilemnas of people who are not very tech savvy

She says time aisa hai ki acche projects aakar na ho rahe aur kai projects to mujhe reason hi nahi samajh aa raha ki kyu mana ho rahe hain."

Surprisingly, there is no news about Shagufta's other family members. She has been married to a director called Shuja Ali and she has a daughter Zainab and a son Mohammad Abbas, as per some online reports, but wonder where they are right now.

Thankfully for Shagufta, the Cine And TV Artistes' Association or CINTAA has come forward with some hope now.


I have time and again said that surviving in the film and TV industry is no mean task, Yaha survive karna bilkul asaan nahi hai. Unlike a corporate job where you get paid momthly, here there are no guarantees and one has to work his way through a complex web of competition, insecurities and many toxicities. If I were to tell you the truth for most struggling actors, looking for a job is a full time job. And that is the worst time because during this time, all your expenses are building up and you have to maintain yuorself phyiscally and mentally and go for auditions after auditions....before you land a role. But seeing something like this happening to a popular and seasoned face like that of Shagufta Ali, is truly shocking.

What are your thoughts on this story? DO you think the TV industry will stand in solidarity with Shagufta just like they did for Pearl V Puri?

Let me know in the comments.

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