Faysal defends Fawad, Hania

Actor urged unity and criticised public outrage targeting fellow stars

Faysal Quraishi, currently promoting his upcoming film Deemak, recently addressed the backlash that fellow actors Fawad Khan and Hania Aamir have faced in recent weeks. In a candid interview with journalist Ambreen Fatima at a promotional event for the film held on last week, Quraishi expressed his disapproval of the way fans and critics have attacked the two stars, urging the public to avoid vilifying their own artists.

"Who chose to speak, who didn't, and who delayed speaking out against India ... We shouldn't bash our own people. That's not our job," said Faysal, referring to the online scrutiny Pakistani celebrities have faced regarding their responses, or lack thereof, on the recent political tensions between Pakistan and India.

He emphasised that calls for unity should also extend to public behaviour online. "We talk about unity, so why should I expect others to speak? I will do my part," he said.

Using Fawad and Hania as examples, Faysal pointed out that while fans may have expected a faster or louder reaction from them, attacking them publicly was unnecessary and potentially harmful. "Okay, let's talk about Fawad Khan and Hania Aamir - why are people going after them? I didn't like the bashing they received," he said.

Acknowledging the criticism Fawad received for not immediately speaking up, Faysal offered a more empathetic perspective. "Yes, we admit that Fawad tweeted (for Pahalgam) and he wasn't vocal otherwise but he tried to save his film (Abir Gulaal), a project he worked on for six months," he explained. "After whatever happened, he did speak out."

Fawad had remained relatively silent during the initial wave of protests and statements in support of Kashmir and Palestine, prompting criticism from fans who expected him to take a firmer public stand. However, Faysal urged people to consider the pressures artists face, especially when involved in international projects.

"Hania tweeted and Mahira has been vocal from day one," Quraishi added, noting that Mahira Khan's stance was appreciated by many. "But still, it wasn't appropriate to attack Fawad and Hania."

He further suggested that Fawad's silence might not have come from indifference, but from fear of damaging a career milestone. "Fawad just tried to protect his film. Maybe he realised later that he was wrong," Faysal said. "Nowadays, people get angry and lash out at artists which puts them in danger."

Learning from the past

In a pointed reminder of how public outrage can escalate dangerously, Faysal recalled a past incident involving late singer Junaid Jamshed. "The same thing once happened to Junaid Jamshed. People spread hate about him, and he was physically attacked," he reminded viewers. "Is this what people want?"

Commenting on how fellow host Nadia Khan had been vocal about her stance, he added that he had cautioned her from the beginning. "Nadia is a very good friend of mine, and I had personally warned her that it wasn't our concern and we shouldn't do this," he noted.

Throughout the interview, the actor maintained that while everyone has the right to speak, or not to, public dialogue should not come at the cost of safety or compassion. "Let's not destroy our own people. Let's understand. Everyone has a reason, everyone has pressure," he said.

Set to hit cinemas this Eidul Azha, Deemak offers a chilling departure from the season's typical romantic releases. Directed by Rafay Rashdi and written by debut screenwriter Ayesha Muzaffar, the film blends psychological horror with haunting family drama. The trailer hints at a tense power struggle between Faysal's character, his new wife (Sonya Hussyn), and his domineering mother (Samina Peerzada), layered with elements of possession and dark magic.

Through this promotional event held in Lahore, fans got a sneak peek of the cast's onscreen personas, and the buzz has only grown louder since. While the lead trio commands attention, the supporting cast is no less impressive, featuring Bushra Ansari, Javed Sheikh, and Saman Ansari in intriguing roles shrouded in secrecy.

With Deemak competing against the star-studded rom-com Love Guru, audiences this Eid will have two wildly different cinematic experiences to choose from: fluff and frights, laughter and lore.