It's upsetting to see bullying via my show: Ushna Shah
Ushna Shah took to X to clarify that she was the one who made the comparisons to the Kapoor family, not Momal Sheikh. photos: file
Ushna Shah has found herself at the centre of controversy over a video in which she compared fellow actor Momal Sheikh's family to Bollywood's high flying Kapoor family on her show After Hours. The video sparked a heated debate, drawing criticism from some quarters, with many accusing Sheikh of drawing parallels between her own family and the Bollywood royalty. However, Shah has taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to clarify that the comparison was entirely her own.
"If you watch the entire clip from my show, you can clearly see that Momal Sheikh didn't compare herself to the Kapoors, I did," Shah posted. "In our tiny little industry, her family does hold a strong legacy, MashAllah. She was gracious enough to answer my question and explain which of her relatives are actors."
The clarification, while well-intentioned, didn't stop the wave of online criticism that had already gained traction. Much of the ire has been directed at both Shah and Sheikh, with viewers of the original video and interview sharing their frustrations across platforms. One particularly vitriolic comment from a viewer on YouTube took aim at Sheikh, saying, "This Momal woman needs to get off her high horse first. No one knows her! I had to look her up. How desperate is she to draw a reference of hers with Kapoor's! Tacky! Be you! And this Ushna whatever, she is fake too. Everyone in Pakistan is trying to be someone they are not!"
Despite the scrutiny, Shah emphasised that Momal was simply responding to her question, handling the situation with poise, as Shah herself attested: "Everyone who knows her praises her humility and kindness."
The backlash from some netizens also highlights a recurring narrativethat Pakistanis are somehow obsessed with Bollywood. "They are obsessed with India! That's why Pakistan is failing at so many levels. These wannabes," one angry commenter claimed.
Yet, Shah wasn't willing to stay silent on the matter, despite Sheikh advising her otherwise. "She advised me against speaking out, but it is very upsetting for me to witness any form of misquotation and bullying, especially via my show," Shah concluded. It's clear that, while the initial comment may have been harmless, the online mob's interpretation has turned it into a larger issue of national pride and identity.