SWABI: Famous TV actor Hamid Rana and actress Sheeba Arshad, widely known as Sona and Chandi, respectively, said here on Tuesday that the art of acting had undergone a great change in Pakistan in the last two decades and observed that the new lot mostly could not create an impact like their predecessors because they were looking for shortcuts.

The duo along with their team visited the archaeological site of Hund, Hund fortress, Gaju Khan’s tomb, tomb of Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum – the founder of Islamia College Peshawar – and Ghulam Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology to record their cultural programme.

They told Dawn that they mainly focused on cultural and historical aspects while moving around the country and educating the people about the great personalities and history.

The two comedians observed that in past all the writers and actors would work with devotion, but now the young actors were looking for shortcuts to get fame.

“The writer, director, cameraman and all other related people should have to put their heads together if they want the success of their play,” they said. Answering a question, Sheeba said that despite facilities and opportunities the young lot failed to match the work of the past performers.

She said that famous writer Munnu Bhai had played a great role in the success of ‘Sona Chandi’ because he had written the play and was also part of the entire team.

Mr Rana said that they had fought against all odds and worked in TV dramas at the time when there were numerous societal and domestic restrictions.

RECOVERED: The district anti-corruption officials have recovered Rs16 million from contractors who allowed the use of substandard material in the construction of Topi -Ulta road project, sources said.

They said that the recovered amount had been deposited in the national exchequer.

They said that an inquiry was conducted on public complaints that substandard material had been used in project. When contacted, other officials said that seven contactors of the project were found involved in corrupt practices.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2016