Mahenur Haider talks leaving abaya

Actor reveals she was mocked for covering up

Pakistani actor-model Mahenur Haider, renowned for her role as Apana in the popular drama serial Khay, recently shared her personal journey regarding her decision to stop wearing a burqa. In a candid conversation on actor and host Ahmad Ali Butt’s podcast, Mahenur discussed the various factors that influenced her choice and the evolution of her perspective over the years.

Mahenur began by recounting her initial decision to wear the burqa. “I started wearing an abaya in 2009, I was doing my matriculation then,” she recalled. Despite coming from a religious and spiritually observant family, Mahenur was the only one to don the abaya. “When I first wore the burqa, I thought my father would be so proud. So I went in front of him and he burst out laughing. He said, ‘What’s with the hypocrisy?’ and I was like ‘What do you mean?’”

Reflecting on her father’s reaction, the actor interpreted his words as a reminder that “change should come first from within.” However, the initial enthusiasm for her new attire waned due to reactions from her friends and family.

She recalled, “I stopped wearing the burqa because my friends and family made fun of me. Even my mom would say that I looked odd when going out with the family because the others didn’t carry themselves like this. She’d say, ‘You don’t look part of our family. What is wrong with you?’”

As Mahenur grew older, her sense of independence and self-assurance solidified. “Now, I’m a very independent individual so no one can question me like that. I wear the abaya when I feel like it. Like right now, I have not covered my head because I didn’t want to give out a very strong statement. It would contradict my profession,” she explained.

The celeb acknowledged her concerns about public perception, especially given her visibility in the entertainment industry. “I used to worry that if I wore a chaadar or draped a dupatta over my head then got featured on a billboard and acted on TV, what would people say? But now I am beyond that worry. I am not answerable to anyone. I do as I please.”