Actor Sana Javed pursues legal action against people for 'lies, fabricated stories'

Actor Sana Javed says she has initiated legal action against three people after several people took to social media with allegations that she misbehaved with them. The Dunk star took to Instagram on Thursday and said she has decided to pursue legal action against model Manal Saleem, makeup artist Omayr Waqar and stylist Aneela Murtaza.

"In the past 72 hours I've been subjected to all sorts of lies and fabricated stories, bullying, hate speech and threats," she wrote, in reference to detailed posts made on social media by makeup artists models and stylists about the way she had allegedly treated them.

According to her post, she served notices to three people. It all started when Saleem took to Instagram to share her experience working with an actor who belittled her. Saleem had originally written, "Requesting all the clients to not ask me to shoot with any actress/celebrity ever again. With their self entitled attitudes they think we are 'do takay ki [two bit] models'. The audacity to say that on my face! Hum bhi kam krne atay hain, muft main zaleel honay nahi atay [We come here to work, not to be insulted for free]." Her Instagram story has since expired but is available in highlights section of her Instagram account. She did not name the actor in question.

In the pictures of the defamation notice she shared online, Javed has refuted comments that Saleem had made in her story.

"When in fact at no point my client had any conversation with you let alone the one fabricated by you which is nothing but figment of your own imagination. It is categorically stated that insinuations made by you against our client’s being frivolous, vexatious, tainted with ulterior motives are nothing but an attempt to achieve publicity at the cost of our client’s reputation," read the notice.

The legal notices argued that Javed having a following of 6.8 million on Instagram and Saleem's account seeing a 6,000 follower increase after her story was posted illustrated that the move was "a publicity stunt so as to increase your following at the cost of our client's [Javed] goodwill."

The notice demands that Saleem retracts her story, tenders an unconditional public apology within 14 days and refrains from any further defamation. "You are also liable to pay Rs100 million as damages for the loss and damage to our client’s reputation, mental agony, torture and suffering," read the notice.

Saleem's story was shared by Waqar and Murtaza. Waqar wrote, "guess who is she [Manal] talking about? P.S it's just one person, not all actresses are the same," but did not name any actor. Murtaza reposted both of their stories and wrote "Sana" in a thought bubble emoji. The stories have since expired.

In her post, Javed called the situation a "proper smear campaign" that has been initiated against her by a group of individuals that has "caused severe trauma" not only for her but for her family as well.

"I'm shocked to see how toxic people can be and how quickly everyone jumps on a bandwagon without knowing all the facts. As far as the incident is concerned everyone knows one side of the story and I refuse to comment and discuss what was said and done by the other party as it's beyond disgusting and disgraceful to even mention here," she wrote.

The actor also mentioned that she "loves her work and holds it in the highest regards" throughout her career and has tried her best to hold her ground and integrity "by giving utmost respect to colleagues and peers" and expected the same in return. She ended her caption with a note of appreciation for family and friends who showed support. Her photographs of the notices sent to Waqar and Murtaza only featured the first page so it is unclear whether they have also been asked to tender apologies and pay damages.

Makeup artists Rhyan Thomas and Ikram Gohar had also posted detailed accounts of their experiences with Javed and named her in their posts. The legal notices shared on Javed's social media do not mention their names. More people have also spoken up against Javed, the most recent being makeup artist Wajid Khan, stylist Aarinda Tul Noor and model Mahnoor Sheikh who shared their experiences on Instagram a few hours before Javed shared the legal notices.