Hina Khwaja Bayat applauds Khalilur Rehman Qamar for 'well-defined' female characters

Veteran actor Hina Khwaja Bayat recently appeared on a local television show, where she shared her insights on actors and writers in the industry. Bayat also expressed her admiration for actors who bring something special to their on-screen partners, while also shedding light on some of her favourite female artists. 

During the conversation, Bayat interjected when the host mentioned the increasing opportunities for women in writing. She interjected to add that there were more opportunities for younger women in particular. Moreover, Bayat added that, according to her personal belief, some of the best-written roles for women have actually come from male writers. 

As per Bayat's opinion, writers such as Sarmad Sehbai, Khalilur Rehman Qamar, and Mohammed Ahmed have created some of the best characters for women. She praised their understanding of a woman's psyche and the way they have developed the character arcs. Bayat went on to suggest that these writers possess an inherent understanding of women's experiences. 

"Good, well-defined characters [for women have been] written by men," shared Bayat. "I can take names. There's Sarmad Sehbai, Khalilur Rehman Qamar, and Mohammed Ahmed. For these three, I can say that I've done their work, and the way in which they've worked with the woman's character and graph, understood her psyche - I think there's a woman inside them all."

It is pertinent to note here that Qamar has often been criticised for his anti-feminist takes, and his infamous dialogue from Mere Paas Tum Ho, which popularised the term, "Dou takkay ki aurat" (cheap woman).

Bayat also mentioned a few names as individuals she enjoys working with. Sharing how some actors give their on-screen partners something to work with while exercising their craft, the veteran actor stated, "I think Omair Rana is one. It's fun. Waseem Abbas is another." Shaking her head in approval, she reiterated, "It's fun to work with him." Bayat also added trending heartthrob Wahaj Ali to the list. 

The senior actor further discussed her fascination with voices, highlighting legendary figures whose voices captivated her from a very young age. She said, "Since childhood, the voices that fascinated me were those of Aslam Azhar and Shafi Mohammad. Zia Mohyeddin had a particular way of speaking. There was Talat Hussain and Abid Ali." 

When it comes to female actors, Bayat commended the exceptional talent seen in the industry today. "Now, the women are incredibly talented," stated Bayat. "There's Madiha Imam, Sajal Aly, there's Saba Qamar...The female talent that you're seeing, it's brilliant. It's world-class. I'm also enjoying watching Zara Noor Abbas."

Have something to add? Share it in the comments below