Zoya Nasir says divorce is not an easy decision, stresses need for healing

Actor Zoya Nasir has weighed in on the debate surrounding veteran actor Saba Faisal’s remarks about divorce, stressing that ending a marriage is far from an easy decision for a woman and that the emotional toll of separation should not be overlooked.

Speaking in an interview, Nasir highlighted the heartbreak, difficult choices and healing that can follow the end of a marriage. She challenged the notion that greater acceptance of divorce means people have stopped grieving its consequences.

“I don’t think any girl makes a decision so fast. She’s like, ‘I hope this works.’ It’s not an easy decision. She puts a rock on her heart, and it’s like she’s lost an important part of herself when she gets divorced. To get out of that is very hard as well,” she said.

The actor also emphasised that women should be given the time and space to recover emotionally after a separation. “If she takes a three-month vacation, that’s the least she needs to heal,” Nasir said, adding, “It’s fine if it didn’t work out.”

Her comments come amid renewed discussion about Faisal’s views on how families respond to divorce today compared with previous generations.

In an interview with The Express Tribune, Faisal reflected on how divorce was once followed by an extended period of mourning within families, saying news of a separation now often appeared to be shared more casually. “Before, when someone used to get divorced, there used to be a ‘sog’ happening for months,” she said, referring to the mourning traditionally associated with the end of a marriage.

Nasir had previously expressed strong reservations about the narrative surrounding divorce, describing it as a “dangerous and twisted narrative” in response to Faisal’s remarks. Her latest comments reinforce the distinction between treating divorce casually and recognising that a marriage may end despite a person’s best efforts to make it work.

The discussion also brings renewed attention to Nasir’s own experiences. In a 2022 interview with The Express Tribune, the actor spoke about her early marriage and subsequent divorce, urging parents not to marry teenage girls to significantly older men. She discussed the challenges she had faced and the importance of having a supportive family during a difficult period.

Nasir’s personal life also attracted public attention through her former engagement to German travel vlogger Christian Betzmann. The pair announced their engagement in 2020 before calling it off in 2021, following a public disagreement over Betzmann’s remarks concerning Pakistan, its culture and religion. Nasir announced the end of their engagement, citing differences over her values and his stance.

A focus on growth and healing

More recently, Nasir reflected on personal growth and self-discovery in a birthday post, describing the occasion as a private new year that allowed her to look back, learn and set new goals. “I’ve always treated my birthday as my own private New Year. A time to reflect, learn, unlearn, grow and step into another year with the same ambitions and new goals,” she wrote.

She added that the year had been rewarding both personally and professionally before describing her changing outlook on ageing. “I think I’m experiencing the exact opposite of a midlife crisis. A midlife clarity maybe? Turns out growing older might just mean growing into yourself,” she added.

Her reflections on growth and healing echo the message behind her comments on divorce: difficult life transitions require time, understanding and the freedom to move forward without judgement.

Beyond her personal life, Nasir has established herself as an actor and entrepreneur. She made her television debut in Hania and went on to appear in popular dramas including Deewangi, Dobara, Mere Humsafar, Jannat Se Aagay and Noor Jahan. Before entering the entertainment industry, she pursued cosmetology and built a career in the beauty business.