Actress Sanam Saeed made her debut at the Cannes Film Festival this year, honouring Pakistani cinema icon Shamim Ara and paying homage to women in the entertainment industry. 

Captioning an Instagram post “On my trip to Cannes, I carry her legacy and your prayers. Wish me luck," Sanam paid tribute to Ara, sharing a video talking about the “icon that paved the way for many of us."  

“There’s a lineage of women in Pakistani cinema, and it starts with her: Begum Shamim Ara,” Sanam said, adding, “An actor, a producer, and director. Her life doesn’t follow the usual arc of rise, fall, and fade. It is something rarer.”

The actress also reflected on the broader contribution of women in Pakistani entertainment and the lasting impact of Ara’s work on future generations of female artists. Sanam also dedicated her Cannes appearance to the generations of women who shaped the industry and those who continue to carry it forward. “This is for every woman who came before us. This is for every woman who will come after,” she stated.

Marking the occasion of her Cannes debut, Sanam wore a custom blue ensemble by Pakistani designer Hussain Rehar.