Pakistani actress Zara Noor Abbas recently opened up about her experience with brands refusing to work with her during her first pregnancy. Speaking on Faisal Qureshi’s podcast, Zara shared that she had a contract with a brand at the time, but when they learned of her pregnancy, they abruptly canceled it.
“They told me I no longer fit their target market because I was pregnant,” Zara explained. She expressed her disappointment, questioning why pregnant women are excluded from wearing makeup, to which the brand responded that she didn’t look as “smart” as before.
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Zara also highlighted a stark contrast between the Pakistani and Indian entertainment industries. While pregnant actresses in India are often given major roles, Pakistani brands and advertisers shy away from working with pregnant women due to concerns over their appearance.
The actress also revealed that during her second pregnancy, her health forced her to take a break from acting. This was especially difficult after losing her son Aurangzeb in 2021, six months into her pregnancy. Zara and her husband, Asad Siddiqui, recently welcomed their daughter, Noor Jahan, in March this year.
Zara addressed public speculation about her absence from the screen, clarifying, “Being temporarily away from the screen and leaving work are two different things,” calling for an end to the stereotype that pregnant women cannot balance both family and work.
