Renowned celebrity photographer Irfan Ahson sparked nationwide controversy by exposing exploitation in Pakistan’s lavish wedding industry. Known for covering high profile events, he revealed the dark side of the glamour.
Ahson took to social media to share disturbing cases of deceit. From fake currency to unpaid performers and staged displays of wealth, he exposed all that goes on in the industry, lifting the curtains off the glamorous lives of celebrities.
In one incident, wedding hosts told the qawwals not to collect money thrown during their performance, promising to return it later, and in the end, they kept the millions. In another, folk singer Malkoo unknowingly spent fake bills that he was paid with.
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He only realized it later when the police intervened. Even the dramatic dollar showers often use $1 bills to fake extravagance. His revelations exposed how the industry glorifies excess while exploiting performers, dancers, and artists.
Many of whom go unpaid or underpaid. Legal experts warn that using counterfeit money, even symbolically, is a criminal offense in Pakistan, yet the practice continues under the pretense of tradition.
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Ahson’s exposé triggered public outrage, pushing wedding practices that favor optics over ethics into the spotlight. Calls for reform and worker protections in the billion rupee industry are growing louder.