Mahira Khan called out for glorifying emotionally abusive relationships

Twitter users compared the actor's strikingly similar roles in 'Humsafar' and 'Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay'

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 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, played by Usman Muktar, in Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay. 

Kanwal added, “10 years of promoting how to STAY 'patiently' in (violently) emotionally abusive marriages on the top drama channel with the highest ratings.” 

“Mummy aap Kya keh rahi hain” se “Aswad aap kya keh rahain hain” ka suffer (pun fully intended).

10 years of promoting how to STAY “patiently” in (violently) emotionally abusive marriages on the top drama channel with the highest ratings.#SabrKaDIY #HumKahanKeSachayThay pic.twitter.com/6RAIz5YIUy

— Kanwal Ahmed (@kanwalful) November 28, 2021

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.” 

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.

— Maheen Ghani (@maheenghani_) November 28, 2021

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. 😭

— K-Hanif (@KJHanif) November 28, 2021

In honour of Humsafar’s 10th anniversary, Mahira Khan recently 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 is 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."