Mahira Khan is getting a huge amount of backlash for her role as Mehreen in the current drama serial Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay (HKKST). Due to the emotional abusive relationship Mehreen is in with her husband and her family, people are questioning Mahira for taking on such abusive roles.
A talk show host Kanwal Ahmed recently took to Twitter to highlight the issue of the glorification of staying in toxic relationships in Pakistani dramas, using the examples of Mahira Khan’s Humsafar and her most recent project, Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay.
Referencing to Mahira’s Humsafar character Khirad’s hugely popular dialogue that she says to her mother-in-law when Khirad is turned away from her home after being accused of infidelity, Kanwal wrote, ‘Mummy aap kya keh rahi hain’ se ‘Aswad aap kya keh rahain hain’ ka suffer (pun fully intended) [The journey from ‘Mummy, what are you saying,’ to, ‘Aswad, what are you saying’].” The second part of the of the tweet is a reference to a dialogue spoken by Mahira’s character to her emotionally abusive husband Aswad (Usman Mukhtar) in HKKST.
Kanwal added: “10 years of promoting how to STAY ‘patiently’ in (violently) emotionally abusive marriages on the top drama channel with the highest ratings.”
Responding to the tweet, a user wrote, “I honestly could not watch this- our shows haven’t evolved. They have regressed. No trigger warning. Just keep glorifying abuse and suffering in silence. Pitting women against each other.”
Another commented, These dramas truly will mess up young minds as to what a healthy relationship consists of. Women have and always will endure abuse and still feel obligated to their spouse in our culture. Society and family stand by and watch. No one does anything to change it.”
On Humsafar’s 10th anniversary, Mahira took to Twitter to reflect on her character in the series, writing, “I have nothing but gratitude and love for all of you and only myself to offer.”
When a fan said her role as Khirad is one for the books, Mahira wholeheartedly agreed. “Khirad is Khirad, not a woman comes close,” she responded. Mahira also replied to writer Farhat Ishtiaq, writing, “Farhat! You wrote Khirad so beautifully. Ek aur romance hojaye [Let’s work on another romance?].”
On the character of Khirad, who chose to get back together with a man who turned her out of his house after she was falsely accused of infidelity, Mahira said, “Khirad is by far my most special character. She loved fiercely, she gave whole heartedly and when it came to her self respect -she held it closest to her heart. What a woman.”
Earlier, netizens were unhappy with HKKST for its dragging drama line. There were high expectations from the drama that marks the comeback of the Superstar diva after six years to the television screens, and it lived up to its hype in the first few episodes. However, the story took a nosedive and is constantly dragging for the last couple of weeks with little or no developments. All viewers can hear is Tere Bin Tere Bin in Yashal Shahid’s vocals or the background score.
Here are a few reactions:
While some of the users were also upset that Mahira is also promoting cousin marriages in the drama.
The Current reached out to Mahira Khan for a response and are waiting to hear back.
The post Is Mahira Khan glorifying abusive relationships in Pakistani dramas? appeared first on The Current.
Comments
Post a Comment