News Desk |
The Raees starlet Mahira Khan penned down a heartfelt note on social media after senior actor Firdous Jamal passed crass remarks against the actress at a morning show. Mahira Khan, however, remained sturdy in the face of offhand denunciation from an acclaimed actor.
Jamal’s comments of Mahira Khan, a ‘mediocre model’ and ‘too old to be a heroine’ incited a whirlwind of reactions on social media, a large number of Mahira’s advocates gathered on social media to express their support for her, which included her fans and insiders from the entertainment industry. However, it took a day or two for Mahira Khan to recollect herself to respond to critics.
Mahira Khan’s reaction
Mahira Khan, in a note shared on social media, reiterated that she would continue her journey in the entertainment industry despite criticism. She also expressed gratitude to her fans for uplifting her spirit in the scenario.
“We are present. What we do and how we do it, is our future. Thank you to all those who have come out to support me- I did not ask for it and that makes it even more special,” wrote Mahira.
Read more: Using ones influence for good: Mahira Khan fulfills a cancer patient’s wish
Adding that, “I’m grateful to my senior artists for paving the way for people like me and so many others. I am also proud of myself. In this journey of mine, I can proudly say that I have done what I thought was right and never succumbed to what others thought was right for me. That – I will continue to do. InshAllah,”
Mahira Khan, however, urged her followers to love other people and respect their opinion pressing that there is a need to fight the mindset to thrive tolerance in society.
“In a world full of hate, let’s choose to love. Let’s be tolerant of other people’s opinions and let our fight be against the mindset that a successful woman is a scary thought. No, it isn’t. It’s a beautiful and empowering one. Let us stop picking on one another so that this industry and our country thrives like no other,” she continued.
“I read somewhere that ‘Stardom’ in Latin means – thank you to the fans when it was lonely. Stardom it is then! Love and Gratitude, X,” she concluded.
Read more: Mahira Khan lauds Pakistan’s service to Afghan refugees on ‘World Refugee Day’
Firdous Jamal’s defense
Firdous Jamal had derided Mahira Khan when asked about his views on the actress. In a morning show hosted by Faysal Qureshi, Jamal asserted that ‘Sorry to say, she is not heroine stuff. She is a mediocre sort of a model, is not a good actress and not a heroine,’ and that ‘in her age actresses usually don’t play roles of a heroine rather they do character roles of a mother.’
https://twitter.com/hamza_firdous/status/1155571984698413061?s=20
Hamza Firdous Jamal, a comedian, and son of Firdous Jamal, who was also present on the show sided with his father and encountered incoming fire from netizens on social media. Hamza Jamal took to Twitter to post his statement while describing his father’s remarks a ‘difference of opinion’.
Read more: Mahira Khan becomes a part of Pakistan’s National Youth Council
https://twitter.com/hamza_firdous/status/1155570641904525314?s=20
‘We should not shove everything under the rug of chauvinism and misogyny. If he was a chauvinist by any standard, he wouldn’t have praised #Saniasaeed, #SabaQamar, and #mehwishhayat in the same show,” asserted Hamza Jamal in a series of tweets.
https://twitter.com/hamza_firdous/status/1156312478223089664?s=20
https://twitter.com/hamza_firdous/status/1155572863258234882?s=20
Support for Mahira Khan
The bigwigs of the entertainment industry like Madiha Rizvi, Samina Pirzada, Asma Abbas, Faisal Kapadia, Frieha Altaf, Nadia Hussain, Tooba Siddiqui, and Gohar Rasheed spoke in defence of Mahira Khan, counted on her achievements and praised her work in their messages.
I am really appalled that senior and respectable persons like #Firdousjamal sahab still think that a woman has a heroine by date….till when will we continue on this repressive path and pull peers down. @TheMahiraKhan is a star in every sense of the word like her or hate her. pic.twitter.com/fZTEBUgJDj
— FK (@faisalkapadia) July 26, 2019
They also deplored the senior actor Jamal’s irresponsible conduct while appearing on a program watched by many.
https://twitter.com/ArslanR70413271/status/1155126576318693376?s=20
On the work front, Mahira Khan is preparing to take on the cinema screens with her upcoming movie ‘Superstar’, set to be released on Eid-ul-Azha. Mahira Khan, following the course of actresses like Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma, and Preity Zinta made her Bollywood debut against the legendary Shah Rukh Khan in 2017.
Love Mahira Khan for not giving a shit about people; did not care when her smoking pictures with Ranbir Kapoor were all over the internet. Did not bother when Firdous Jamal spewed hatred comments about her. ✌🏼
— . (@sohanvd) July 28, 2019
Im a huge fan of Mahira Khan. Not only is she beautiful, talented but shes also a great human! Love the support u got girl frm your peers. #FirdousJamal incase you haven't heard 50 is the new 40, 40 a new 30 and 30 a new 20! Age is a number while respect is a given @TheMahiraKhan pic.twitter.com/oDMcacQrWD
— Frieha Altaf (@FriehaAltaf) July 28, 2019
Hum nahin seekhain ga!!!!!! Toxic age shaming at its peak!!!! #firdousjamal @TheMahiraKhan u rock girl!!!! Yes I said GIRL!!!! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/yAWS96C86p
— NADIA HUSSAIN (@NADIAHUSSAIN_NH) July 27, 2019
She's right Mahira Khan has changed the img of pak film industry & it's heroines altogether.. that's y old uncle isn't liking this new cinema. All new girls are inspired by Mahira so uncle you probably won't see the kind of heroines you want in the future as well😂 #FirdousJamal pic.twitter.com/UyrCKFcRaY
— M! (@royalpoincianaa) July 27, 2019
There is a reason why other entertainment industries of the world are thriving because the seniors pass on the torch with grace and love to their juniors sir personally speaking I expected better from you (3/3) #FirdousJamal #MahiraKhan #RespectfortheSeniors #LovefortheJuniors
— Mirza Gohar (@GoharRsd) July 27, 2019
I as a responsible host will address this on the same platform in the coming week also. As a host I am and was shocked at our veteran actor Firdous Jamal's comments on the live show for @TheMahiraKhan who is undoubtedly an icon of our industry and for our country.
— Faysal Quraishi (@faysalquraishi) July 27, 2019
Extremely disappointed and strongly condemn Firdous Jamal’s comment regarding Mahira Khan. Whatever his point of view is, there’s absolutely no justification for such rude remarks for a colleague publicly & on television. Mahira is extremely hardworking and honest to her craft…
— Humayun Saeed (@iamhumayunsaeed) July 27, 2019
When Firdous Jamal sir decides to pass his unwarranted judgment on Mahira khan, it says volumes about his chauvinism and redundant thinking concerning women in general, than who #MahiraKhan is. I am so livid I can barely type!
— zhalay sarhadi (@Xxhalay) July 27, 2019
Respect. To get it, you must give it. I don’t think our elders sometimes realise how regressive they sound. #FirdousJamal a person’s age has NOTHING to do with their acting ability sir. You should know this better than anyone. https://t.co/Ock2wyKBQL
— Anoushey Ashraf (@Anoushey_a) July 27, 2019
Mahira Khan had gathered immense praise in the Indian film industry for her flawless performance.