Veteran film star Meera’s mother battles illness in Lahore

Veteran actress Meera's mother, Shafqat Zahra Begum, has been admitted to National Hospital in Lahore’s Defence area following a sudden and serious illness. 

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, her condition is reported to be critical, prompting a wave of concern among fans and the entertainment community alike.

As her mother remains hospitalised in Lahore, Meera’s plea for prayers highlights the deeply personal toll of fame and distance in the face of family health crises.

Meera, whose real name is Irtiza Rubab, is currently in the United States working on the production of her upcoming film. Despite being thousands of miles away from her family, she has reached out through social media, urging her followers and the public to pray for her mother’s swift recovery.

Known for her work across Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi cinema, Meera rose to prominence in the early 2000s. In 2004, she starred in Salakhain, and the following year made her Bollywood debut in Nazar, a joint Indo-Pakistani production. 

The film sparked widespread controversy in Pakistan due to her on-screen kiss with Indian actor Ashmit Patel. The backlash included threats from conservative clerics, rejection of Patel’s visa to Pakistan, and attempts to bar Meera from future films. She later dismissed the uproar, defending her role as a matter of artistic freedom and expression.

On television, she appeared in the title role of Husan Ara Kaun in 2010, followed by Bichday Toh Ahsaas Hua in 2011. In 2014, her performance in the psychological thriller Hotal earned her the Best Actress Award at the 3rd Delhi International Film Festival. She also ventured into direction with her film Oscar in 2016 and played significant roles in the dramas Mein Sitara and Naagin. Her 2019 film Baaji became a box office hit.

Her Bollywood journey began with Nazar, directed by Soni Razdan, marking the first major Indo-Pak joint cinematic project in half a century. She continued acting in Indian films such as Kasak and Paanch Ghantey Mein Paanch Crore. While Kasak failed commercially, her third film garnered moderate success, and The Times of India even listed it among the top 10 bold films of 2012.

Off-screen, Meera's personal life has also drawn significant media attention. In 2009, businessman Sheikh Attiq-ur-Rehman claimed that he and Meera had married in 2007. She denied the allegation and pursued legal action, accusing him of defamation. However, in 2018, a Lahore family court validated the marriage based on official documents and personal photographs.