Faysal Quraishi says his Sitara-e-Imtiaz nomination was turned down twice

Actor Faysal Quraishi has opened up about his disappointment over not receiving the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, despite spending over three decades in Pakistan’s entertainment industry.

Appearing on a podcast with Shahzad Nawaz, Quraishi addressed the topic with humour, but hinted at underlying frustration. “I’m thinking of going to the Imtiaz store as a protest and announcing that I’m standing in Imtiaz, but I still haven’t received any Sitara. Maybe I’ll get one from there,” he joked.

He revealed that his name has been sent for consideration multiple times but hasn’t made the final cut. “They’ve sent my name back twice. It’s been 33 years in this field, and I still don’t know who gets Sitara-e-Imtiaz. Maybe I’m deficient in calcium — that’s why they aren’t giving me the award,” he added.

While he kept the tone light, Quraishi admitted the question has crossed his mind more than once. He said people have even reached out on his behalf. “I’ve questioned it myself, and others have emailed them asking why I haven’t received it. I don’t know the reason — I’m not even political. I am a patriotic person, though. If I get the award, I will accept it because I believe I deserve it,” he said.

Following the clip, many fans showed support for the actor on Instagram, calling him one of Pakistan’s finest performers and insisting that his contributions to the industry make him worthy of the honour.

Quraishi is widely recognised for his roles in Case No. 9 (2025), Fitoor (2021), and Baba Jani (2018), along with hosting game shows, morning transmissions, and Ramzan specials.