Ahsan Khan advocates for women's success, urges men to support their wives' ambitions

Actor says husbands should encourage their wives' education, careers rather than feel threatened by their success

Ahsan Khan has advocated for women's empowerment, urging men to support their wives by investing in their education, encouraging financial independence and helping them pursue their ambitions instead of confining them to household responsibilities.

The actor made the remarks during a recent interview, where he spoke about the importance of husbands growing alongside their wives rather than leaving them behind as they become more successful. Khan said men should never feel threatened if their wives achieve greater success or earn more than they do.

"This is very important for people to understand. If you feel like you are doing well in life, you should hold your wife's hand and take her with you. Do not just keep her in the kitchen or tell her to take care of the kids. Make your women independent and help them stand beside you," he said.

Drawing on his own marriage, Khan said he had always encouraged his wife, Fatima, to pursue her interests and build practical life skills. "If they have less education, give them more. My wife, Fatima, was a LUMS graduate, but she also wanted to pursue baking. I got her enrolled and invested in the equipment she needed."

He said that when she later developed an interest in interior design, he encouraged her to enrol in a six-month course. "I told her I would stay home with the kids."

Khan said he wanted to see his wife become even more successful than him. "She was raised with drivers taking her everywhere. I taught her how to drive, gave her bills to pay, and asked her to go to the bank herself. That is how men in our society should be. They should not leave their wives behind. There is nothing wrong if the wife earns more and the husband earns less."

The actor also criticised the tendency of men and women to speak negatively about each other, saying such comments influence how others view relationships. "Either women put men down or men put women down. When people sit with their friends, they say things like, 'My wife never does this,' or 'My husband is never home.' These comments also affect how other people view your relationship."

Recalling one of his own viral interviews, Khan said a light-hearted remark about his wife not cooking had been taken out of context. "I once said on a show that we have household help and my wife does not cook for me. That ended up becoming a huge headline," he said.

Instead, he stressed that marriage should be built on companionship, mutual respect and encouragement.

The interview also touched on Khan's latest drama, Aap Ki Izzat, in which he plays Tabish. He compared the role with his critically acclaimed performance in Udaari opposite Urwa Hocane, saying the two characters were fundamentally different. "My character in Udaari was irredeemable."

He said Tabish, despite making serious mistakes, was capable of change. "Tabish is not a negative character. He is a grey character. We often forget to give people room for redemption. Yes, he should be punished for what he has done, but he is also a human being who can change."

Khan added that Aap Ki Izzat reflects situations familiar to many Pakistani households, particularly marriages in which women face neglect or emotional abuse. "It is relatable because it is a story found in many households. Even if it is not happening in your own home, everyone has a friend or relative who has gone through something similar."

He also praised co-star Urwa Hocane, describing her as an exceptionally talented performer who deserves to work more often. "She has so much depth in her performances and is a wonderful artist. She works less than she should."

Khan commended Hocane for choosing to play a flawed, realistic character rather than a conventionally glamorous heroine. "She could have played a glamorous role and become the typical heroine everyone expects. Instead, she chose a character who wears oversized sweaters, has a double chin, doesn't wear makeup in some scenes, and doesn't always have perfectly styled hair."

Concluding the discussion, Khan urged audiences not to judge Tabish too quickly. "It is too early for us to judge what will happen. There will be a turning point where you realise the character was not simply negative."

Khan currently stars in Aap Ki Izzat and is also appearing in the viral drama Zanjeerain.