Durefishan Saleem addresses debate over Zaryab's journey in 'Dar-e-Nijaat'

Actor says drama explores redemption and double standards surrounding how men and women are expected to heal, move on

As Dar-e-Nijaat continues to spark debate online, lead actor Durefishan Saleem has responded to questions surrounding the drama’s central story — particularly why her character, Zaryab, appears to need Abu Bakr’s help to recover from heartbreak.

The conversation gathered pace after the latest episode, in which Zaryab, a woman once willing to give up her admission to Harvard University to comfort Zamil (Nameer Khan), discovers that her long-time partner and childhood sweetheart has married somebody else without telling her.

 

 

 

 

 

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When Zaryab confronts him, Zamil dismisses their years together as his “era of ignorance”. He says he needs a “pious, pure and innocent” partner and believes God accepted his repentance by giving him his new wife. He tells Zaryab to find someone “like herself”. When she asks whether only a man has the right to repent, he dodges the question.

The fallout soon catches up with Zaryab. She suffers an emotional breakdown, with Abu Bakr (Sheheryar Munawar) arriving to help her up and steady her.

As Zaryab’s story progressed, some viewers questioned whether the drama was suggesting that a woman needs another man to recover from a toxic relationship. Durefishan appeared to address the debate on her Instagram Stories, urging women to heal and find themselves again. “The right person always comes along, and even if they don't, it is never the end of the world,” she wrote. Sometimes, she added, “finding yourself is the love story you needed all along.”

Screengrab: Durefishans/Instagram

Durefishan went on to say that she believes in women finding themselves, knowing their worth and never feeling that they need a man to complete them. At the same time, she cautioned against assuming that “our version of what is right is the only right”.

In her view, the story is “less about telling women that they can't, or shouldn't, heal on their own” and more about “questioning the double standard around redemption”.

She pointed to how easily a man can make mistakes, seek redemption and be given another chance, while women are often expected to carry the weight of their choices for much longer.

Screengrab: Durefishans/Instagram

She also encouraged viewers to approach the drama as a story about something that “happened to someone”, arguing that one does not have to agree with every choice a character makes to understand their emotions or empathise with their journey.

“Human beings are complicated,” she said. “Stories should be allowed to explore that complexity without fitting neatly into a morally correct box.”

The discussion around Durefishan’s performance has also extended to the comments section of her post about the drama, where fellow actors Hira Mani, Zara Noor Abbas and Meerub Ali praised her acting. Influencers Momina Munir and Ayla Nusrat Raza also shared their appreciation for the actor’s performance.

Viewers, too, were emotional about Zaryab’s latest turn in the story. One fan said she “cried with Zaryab the whole time”, adding, “May no one ever have to go through this kind of pain.” Another praised Durefishan, saying she “doesn't just portray a character; she breathes life into her”, making “every silence speak”.

Another viewer said she was “literally crying” during the latest episode and defended the actor against those who question her acting: “She absolutely nailed it!” Others said her expressions “have a language of their own”.

Much of the audience’s frustration, meanwhile, was directed at Zamil. One viewer called him a red flag “from the start”, while another jokingly appointed themselves “Zamil hate club president”. Another said the drama reflects “what our society actually thinks”.

Earlier, actor Nameer Khan, who plays Zamil, used his character’s troubled arc to highlight the importance of men treating women with respect and taking responsibility for their actions. Following the latest episode, Khan took to Instagram to reflect on where Zamil went wrong and draw attention to behaviour he said he had witnessed in real life. “Zamil is Zalim” he wrote, adding a red flag emoji.

Khan explained that beyond the story being told through the drama, he wanted to address the behaviour of some men towards women.“Growing up, I have seen boys objectifying girls, getting into relationships, playing with their feelings and then feeling proud about it, while their friends cheer them on,” Khan said.

His comments came after the latest episode, in which Durefishan’s character, Zaryab, was betrayed by her longtime fiancé.

Reflecting on the storyline, Khan shared a direct message for men. “My message to all the boys: stop this nonsense! Your desire to be known as a hero or playboy can become someone else’s trauma. Hurting a girl and breaking her trust is nothing to be proud of,” he wrote.

He concluded his message with three simple reminders: “Be respectful. Be honest. Be a better man.”

With the debate now extending beyond the characters themselves, Durefishan’s comments offer her perspective on what the story is attempting to explore: not simply whether Zaryab needs someone to help her heal, but how redemption, choice and expectations are viewed differently for men and women.