The controversy queen Meera Jee is making the headlines again and that too, for all wrong reasons. Merely a week or so after the PSL finale issue, the superstar has found herself in yet another controversy, this time with the Punjab Institute of Language, Arts and Culture (PILAC).
Reported by The Express Tribune, as per Meera’s statements, the institute owes her Rs25,000 for attending the recent Spring Festival in Lahore. However, PILAC officials claim that they had invited the celebrities simply for them to honour the Festival and Meera is the only one to demand money. The latter apparently made sure to inform the media officials present at the event that she was not being paid due to which, PILAC director Dr Sugra Sadaf was forced to hand her Rs25,000.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Meera claimed that she is facing unemployment and is out of business. “All the artists here in Lahore, including me, are currently in a very tough spot. There is hardly any work to be done and I at least want to speak with the Chief Minister to discuss my situation with him in person. I want to re-start my showbiz career and produce a film but I don’t have the money to do so. Therefore, I want to request the CM to help me.”
According to Meera, it is common for event organisers in Lahore to reap benefits from celebrities and not pay up. “They make huge amounts of money but never pay us any of it. I don’t have any personal issues with the PILAC administration. Dr Sugra paid me from her own pocket and realising my troubles, has asked me to perform on March 17 as well, in return for Rs100, 000.”
Meera continued, “For the last two years, I have been travelling to different places for work and just returned to Lahore, which is in a crunch in terms of money and work. I want to go out and search for something to do but it’s painful since I don’t have money to purchase tickets either. How will I manage without money?”
“I am also planning on consulting with scholar Moulana Tariq Jamil to get some religious guidance to help me through this difficult time,” added Meera. “How else will I manage when there is no work for me? The Punjab government should take notice of my situation seriously.”
If rumors are to be believed, then the actress has also started selling off her prized possessions, she recently sold her car in order to acquire some funds for a film’s music recording.
With all these recent revelations, one can only wonder whether her unemployment stance is for real, since she’s known for pulling off publicity stunts to seek attention.
