Pakistani filmmaker Syed Noor has once again addressed longstanding accusations of favoritism towards his wife, actress Saima, clarifying that his decision to cast her in films was based on talent and suitability for the role — not personal bias. Speaking openly during a candid conversation on Ahmed Ali Butt’s podcast, Syed Noor shed light on his professional and personal journey with Saima, including how their love story began on the set of the 1997 film Ghungat.

Recalling the early days of Saima’s career, Syed Noor revealed that she was often cast in older roles much before her time. Despite being young, she was heavily made up to look older and was frequently paired opposite the late Sultan Rahi in Punjabi films. “Her real age didn’t match the roles she was given, but she pulled them off due to her professionalism,” he said.

Syed Noor explained that Ghungat was a turning point, not just in his career, but in his personal life. Both Saima and Shan were considered “flop” actors at the time, but he took a risk by casting them in lead roles. Interestingly, the original cast included Naumaan Ijaz and Neeli, who couldn’t commit to the project. That’s when Saima and Shan were brought on board.

It was during the making of Ghungat that Syed Noor found himself falling for Saima. “Initially, I was just flirting,” he admitted, “but slowly, it turned into genuine love.” The film turned out to be a commercial success, launching both actors back into the limelight.

Responding to criticism that he repeatedly cast Saima as the lead in his films due to their personal relationship, Syed Noor clarified that she was not always the heroine. “I cast Saima in supporting roles alongside other leading actresses like Reema Khan, Resham, Janaan Malik, and Jia Ali. The idea that I only made films to promote her is simply not true.”

He added that after a long gap, he cast Saima again in Punjabi blockbusters like Chooriyanonly because the roles genuinely suited her. “There were certain characters only she could do justice to,” he said, praising her screen presence and beauty.

Syed Noor concluded by reiterating that his professional choices were never about favoritism. “I cast Saima where she fit the role — not because she was my wife, but because she was the right actress for it.”

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