Love lives and limelight

KARACHI:

Umair Jaswal's singular wedding photo was enough to stir an explosive reaction, especially after his first marriage ended in quite the spectacle. It was significant that while the singer was evidently dressed as a bridegroom, and his post accompanied a common religious verse signalling his marriage, Umair's life partner remained off-frame.

The Sammi Meri Waar singer spoke up about his decision to maintain his wife's anonymity on Rising Pakistan, offering his take on revealing too much of one's life to the public. "These days, people have become obsessed with other people's lives. I feel like you open that door yourself," he said, sharing that an artist must keep their following engaged with their work, which is paramount in this uncloaked era of the internet.

Privacy matters

Umair's eloquent response gives us much to ponder, from an apt reminder of the rugged edges of fame to insights on treading carefully when respecting the personal boundaries of a non-celebrity spouse. Once you present your vulnerabilities to someone, you do it with the reassurance that they won't betray your trust. So it is true indeed that those avenues become difficult to navigate when you brave the step of revealing confidential information about yourself on a public platform.

And it only makes you human to do so. Happiness often urges us to express our elation to the world. Even the most modest people long to flaunt their best moments sometimes. It is natural to get wrapped up in that joy—especially the joy of finding The One—to the point that you don't consider the possible vitriol until it arrives.

Considering what celebrities are subjected to at the hands of paparazzi and cyber-bullies, it is safe to say that they know a thing or two about how extreme this criticism can get. It is no wonder that they'd rather protect their peace and keep their inexperienced loved ones safe from backlash by choosing not to broadcast what makes them the happiest, lest that happiness be used against them.

However, it doesn't always have to be a matter of bravery. For some of our favourite stars, it may just be about preference. Take for example Veena Malik, who is unafraid to share with the world just how much she adores her now-husband, Shehryar Chaudhry, while also respecting his decision to not reveal his face on social media.

For this couple, compromise is key. Shehryar may not be intent on showing us the face that Veena has fallen for, yet he made an Instagram handle as a gesture of his love. Given Veena's elation as of late, it seems that she has truly found light at the end of a dark tunnel.

Long-time sweethearts

It is clear from the disparate examples so far that privacy in relationships works differently for everyone. There are instances when privacy falls in place for celebrities, even as they keep achieving new milestones in their quest for stardom.

Take for example the heartthrob Fawad Khan, who has swept the emotions of even his Bollywood peers with his on-screen talent, yet has remained committed to his wife Sadaf Khan since 2005. Having been in a relationship for years before their marriage, the two lovebirds even founded a clothing line after they tied the knot.

Sometimes, privacy becomes a fortunate happenstance if a household name got hitched years before they garnered international renown. Such is the case with film and TV star Fahad Mustafa who married award-nominated writer Sana Fahad in 2005. In conversation with Naumaan Ijaz, Fahad revealed that the pair defied odds and got married early, despite familial disapproval and educational differences.

"We've learned together. We've seen failure and success together," he said in the two-year-old interview. And how wonderfully these sentiments have aged! Fans of the star's new projects often find themselves struck with surprise when they discover that the evergreen actor is a father of two yet his skills on screen have never gotten stale. The quite opposite, in fact. Fahad's charm soars each time he returns to the big or small screens with a fresh character to portray.

Star couples

Then there are those who own the spotlight as confidently as they don every glamorous fit. These celebrities can't resist sharing every beautiful moment with those who are willing to pay attention. And honestly, when you have means of documenting your star-studded life as it passes before you, why not immortalise it in digital memory?

One celebrity couple that seems to stand by this belief is the pair of Ayeza Khan and Danish Taimoor. Having solidified their individual journeys in the entertainment industry, the two celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary this year. A thread post accompanied Ayeza's heartfelt letter to her husband, recounting in loving words what their life together means to her.

"I love you, my husband, and I'm looking forward to that small townhouse, far away from the world, where you and I will sit in our 80s, having tea and discussing the stories of our past work, family, and just the two of us," she wrote, highlighting an important perspective.

For those like Ayeza and Danish, sharing the limelight makes the flame of romance burn brighter. Who better to understand that than Yasir Hussain, who got "jelly legs" proposing to Iqra Aziz during an award show? And what better moment of twin-flame affection than the pair being awestruck in unison? It was truly the kind of act to get hearts racing and faces grinning.

It is safe to assume that those who craft inspiring tales of love for their audiences desire a taste for something similar in their personal lives. So when we see the abundant, fairytale-like video edits made of Urwa Hocane and Farhan Saeed's love story, it is difficult to pay attention to the negativity of heedless criticism.

Often, it is difficult to evade the virtually contagious lives of showbiz stars. When something is all over the internet, it might envelop you in a snare that is difficult to escape. But that doesn't necessarily oblige us to pour scorn as if we're being paid to do so. At the end of the day, we are not entitled to someone else's private life, no matter how public it might be. So let these endgames be a reminder that it is better, and all the more easier, to answer love in kind.