Toxic masculinity in dramas are nauseating: Nadia Jamil shares her take on toxic men on television

Actor shared her views during an intense debate on Twitter

As the popular drama Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi nears its finale next week, social media has become a hotspot for fans and celebrities alike to discuss and analyse its narrative.

Chiming in on the conversation, actor Nadia Jamil voiced out her concerns regarding the toxic masculinity present in the series and how scriptwriters have "set the bar so low" for our onscreen "heroes."

On December 8, veteran journalist Fifi Haroon took to Twitter to share her views on the aforementioned drama by calling it "well-developed." She further elaborated that young naive girls such as Mahek (Dur-e-Fishan Saleem) are bound to fall in love with men like Shamsher (Danish Taimoor), and dismiss their red flags when they start "behaving better."

In response to Haroon, Jamil pointed out several misogynistic acts perpetrated by the leading character which he was never held accountable for in the show.

"Um, he tortures her father and brother and has them locked up. Kidnaps her, humiliates and forces her to marry him against her will, then imprisons her in his house and loses his sh** when she visits her father. He also continues to harass her family and insults the life out of her," said the Damsa actor.

Um. But he tortures her father and brother. Has them locked up. Kidnaps her. Humiliates her and forces her to marry him against her will, then imprisons her in his house and loses his shit when she visits her dad. Continuing to harass her family and insulting the life out of her. https://t.co/WoCdepADJl

— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) December 8, 2022

Jamil continued to reflect upon drama scripts and underlined how the majority of Pakistani writers dub toxic and abusive male characters as "heroes," and in doing so have set the expectations from men so low. Now, all a hero needs to do is show remorse and every wicked deed committed by him is forgiven and overlooked.

"In real life, men are decapitating women and beating them to death. At least in this drama, he [Shamsher] didn't burn her [Mahek] or beat her to a pulp. It's just that we set the bar so low when we are writing our heroes. Also, now the Shamsher's wicked father is all remorseful and giving himself up to the police too," conveyed the veteran actor.

Nothing is implausible. In real life men are decapitating women, beating them to death. Ye to phir bhi didn’t burn her or beat her to a pulp. It’s just that we set the bar so low when we are writing our heroes.
& now evil dad is all remorseful and giving himself up 2 the police https://t.co/eCXqJ5QWJ9

— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) December 9, 2022

Later, a fan requested the actor to stop contributing to the viewership of such dramas that write toxic men into lauded heroes.

In response, Jamil confessed to playing her part in promoting such narratives. "Toxic masculinity is nauseating. I am a culprit as I watch many dramas propagating it. Even in Habs and Fraud, the men are so controlling and misogynistic," penned Jamil.

Toxic masculinity is nauseating. I am a culprit. I watch many dramas propagating it. Even in Habs and Fraud the men are so controlling and misogynistic. https://t.co/0xqRumy2Fk

— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) December 9, 2022

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