In an interview to Dawn, the veteran actor lamented the state of cinema in Pakistan. She recalled how during one of her visits to Pakistan, she visited Bari Studios and felt bad about how ‘the cinema had gone to go-downs’.
She stated that in her time, films used to be message-oriented and that cinema was crucial to opinion formation about social issues.
Moreover, while commenting on the film Punjab Nahi Jaungi, the film actor opined that it was more of a TV drama than a movie.
She said that a film that was captured in the conventional cinema frame kept the spirit of the cinematic experience alive.
Shabnam further said that she belonged to Pakistan and its film industry, but she regretted the fact that a 13-time Nigar Award winner had no place in the industry that used to be her home.
She added that she had been offered a few roles, but there was no follow-up.
She also revealed that she visited Pakistan from time to time and met with her friends, including the actor Nadeem.