Buzz cut and no chill

On Monday, Pakistani actor Naeema Butt shared an Instagram story featuring a doctored photo of her getting her head shaved. The gesture, according to the post, was a tribute to "the people who lost their lives in Pakistan." The original post, shared by an Indian troll read: "Naeema Butt sacrificing her long hair to support the people who lost their lives in Pakistan. PS – she can do this for real."

The meme showed Butt with tears in her eyes, holding a chunk of her cut hair, while a man used clippers to shave the rest. The image was particularly jarring given that the actor's long, sleek hair has been the talk of town ever since she played the suave antagonist Rubab in the Hania Aamir and Fahad Mustafa-starrer Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.

In response, Butt added a caption directly addressing the ill attempt at humour. Her reply read: "Wow, look at you man. I'm happy to sacrifice anything for my people and my country, Pakistan. But you guys sacrificed your souls to darkness, harming innocent lives. Your path is destructive; mine is for the greater good."

The story was shared widely on social media platforms, with users noting Butt's calm but firm tone.

On social media, fans praised Butt's gesture and response. One user commented, "Thank you and appreciated." Another wrote, "What a slap across their faces!" Many also appeared to be confused regarding the image, and what the purpose of such an act could be until other users clarified that it is fake.

Deepfakes have become a serious concern in South Asia's entertainment industry, as manipulated clips of popular dramas circulate widely on social media. In March, actor Faysal Quraishi warned about AI-generated videos disrupting narrative integrity, citing audience confusion over fabricated scenes. Viral clips falsely depicting intimate moments between actors in Ishq Murshid and Jaan Nisar sparked outrage and regulatory scrutiny, despite being proven fake.