Will always curse myself for casting Mahira in 'Sadqay Tumhare', says Khalilur Rehman Qamar

Renowned writer Khalilur Rehman Qamar is not the one to own up to his mistakes. However, this time around, he is confessing to committing a 'sin'. And the said offense is of him casting celebrated star Mahira Khan in the 2014 hit drama serial, Sadqay Tumhare.

It all started when the Raees star recently took to Instagram and shared a throwback picture from the aforementioned show. Mahira, who played Shaano in the acclaimed project, coupled the post with a heartfelt caption, "Aaaj Sadqay yaad aaya... PS: I just got told Sadqay Tumhare is finally out on YouTube." 

While her fellow artists lauded her portrayal as Shaano in the recent Instagram post, the playwright of the same show, Khalil, took to Twitter and shared how he will always curse himself for casting in a role so very 'sacred' to him. "I'll always curse [myself] for the sin I committed by casting her [Mahira] in a very sacred role in my Sadqay Tumhare," the writer tweeted.

Adding to the same comment, Khalil shared Mahira's 2020 tweet where she called the former out for cursing commentator Marvi Sirmed on national television. 

"This is a tweet by this woman [Mahira] that she tweeted a day after the incident with Marvi Sirmed," he further shared. "I used to respect her [before this tweet] but I will never forget her language and absurdness until the day I die."

Mahira is yet to comment on the Punjab Nahi Jaungi writer's recent remarks. 

In March 2020, Khalil cursed a woman on live television on a local TV channel, with no remorse. The topic of discussion was none other than Aurat March, which is right around the corner and he expressed his disdain towards the kind of slogans that are raised during the yearly protest.

In response to a question by the host, the screenwriter started off by saying, "When the court has denied the usage of slogans like 'Mera jism, meri marzi' (My body, my choice), then it hurts me deeply when figures like Marvi Sirmed use these slogans."

As soon as he said this, Marvi interrupted his response by reiterating the same slogan over and over again. This left him baffled and he started yelling at her in a demeaning manner. "Tere jism men hai kya? (What is in your body) Don't talk in between. Thookta nahi hai koi tere jism pe (No one would even spit on your body). Shut up you b****. Beech men nahi bolo (Don't talk in between)," he said

Mahira was the first to speak out against him. "I am shocked at what I have just heard and seen!" wrote the actor. "Sick to the core. This same man who abused a woman on TV is revered and given project after project because of what? We are as much to blame if not more for perpetuating this thinking!"

She further added, "I personally think it’s imperative that those that stand with the idea of standing up for your rights should write and speak with clarity. A lot gets lost when we try to match jahaalat with jahaalat, abuse with abuse. There MUST be a difference."

The incident, of course, has ignited a fierce debate on social media, with a number of people supporting Khalil's blatant disrespect, while a number of women are rallying to get him banned from TV.