What Happened?
Veteran actor Firdous Jamal became the center of bad attention because of some comments he made about Mahira Khan.
The actor of legendary status was a guest on Faisal Qureshi’s Morning Show, which airs on the ARY network. In a segment Jamal had to give his opinion on contemporary stars and actors. He gave them positive feedback about everyone overall, like Mehwish Hayat and Faisal Qureshi himself.
Jamal however, came under fire regarding Pakistani sweetheart Mahira Khan.
He stated with an apology attached, that ‘she doesn’t have heroine material’, followed ‘mediocre sort of a model’.
The most problematic statement being that ‘her age is too much’ and, ‘normally in this age actresses play the role of mothers’.
Public Outrage
The public and media industry took offense to his statements, and defended Mahira khan. Then came several articles about the ageist and misogynist undertones in the ‘mother’ comment.
Actors like Mawra Hocane, Gohar Rashid and Adnan Malik were quick to share their feelings about the matter.
Social media was frantic with people defending Mahira, or agreeing with Firdous Jamal.
In the latest development of the news Momina Duraid, the head of MD productions, a worker at HUM TV network, has banned Firdous Jamal from their platform.
Hamza Firdous, Jamal’s son, also an actor, has been on a media campaign defending his father.
Reminding the public that Jamal has provided the industry with 300 plays, in all local languages and during a time when it was extremely difficult to work.
An Analysis of the Situation
We do believe that Firdous Jamal came aggressive towards Mahira Khan. (Some statements more than others.)
Generally with the arts, opinions aren’t always the same, and everyone is entitled to their opinion. Some opinions of course carry more value.
If Firdous Jamal being an actor who has given his entire life to the industry thinks that Mahira khan is not up to mark, then we can’t really go against him in that.
I personally like Mahira khan, she carries herself very well. She is entertaining because the camera loves her. She represents the country extremely well, and doesn’t get involved in controversy and responds well to everything.
We have seen her in dramas like Humsafar, Saddqay Tumharay , Bol and Meri Zaat Zara Benishaan. And the wooden acting and pretty face comments have followed her throughout her career, and as a senior artist Firdous Jamal can say whatever he wants. In the same segment he praised Mehwish Hayat for her acting and talent.
The Ageism in Media
The comment that ‘Mahira should play a mother‘ is however regressive.
Beyond Jamal it exposes the idea that at a certain age, women shouldn’t play leading ladies and should be mothers on screen.
Of course there is nothing wrong with playing a mother, but the implication is that a mother is not the center in a story or drama. Mothers don’t get the man, and mothers generally don’t have to go through conflict.
Most of our dramas and movies, globally, deal with younger female characters, so women of a certain age are set aside a lot more than men.
But honestly, Mahira Khan is an attractive beautiful woman. She is only 36, which is nothing in acting years. If the concern is about acting then why should her age matter? An actor only gets better with experience and putting in work. (The same with fame.)
Besides Mahira is a mother and that hasn’t and shouldn’t stop her from anything.
Picking younger girls is not a solution. Even a younger, talented girl won’t have the same skills and attitude of someone who has been working for ten years. A younger actor won’t also have a fan base as someone who has been consistently working.
Because beyond talent people need a work ethic, a sense of self, consistency, hard work, business skills, a team, connections and likeability.
And Mahira Khan if not the best actress has all of this on her side.
( She’s like Keanu Reeves in that sense)
In her response to the issue, in the statement she wrote, “In a world full of hate let’s choose love”.
In Defense of Firdous Jamal
People can brush aside Firdous Jamal all they want, but if he didn’t put in the work then maybe we wouldn’t have the industry we have today. No one can take his status from him. But it also no ones fault that younger audiences font know anything about that.
Furthermore Firdous Jamal didn’t come up with ageism and sexism. These are things that are heard and practiced all over the world, and in industries involving film and fashion, pretending like that isn’t how they have behaved since inception is wrong.
We also cannot pretend like many of our dramas are not infested with misogynist tropes. So why are we surprised?
If anything the Pakistani industry is the only one that actually values and respects actresses and models with the work and years they put in. We should be proud of that.
Conclusion
Momina Duraid should not ban someone like Firdous Jamal. She could disagree with him and even talk to him, but to ban him from a whole channel. Press censorship much.
Mahira khan can have a successful movie launch for ‘Superstar’, with all the sudden publicity and promotion.
Of all the responses Shaan and Faisal Qureshi presented themselves the best.
Hamza Firdous should probably talk to Firdous Jamal about how to stay safe on the internet. He should make a documentary about how much work his father has done for the industry.
We hope that our films and dramas do nothing but grow and prosper and that this can be a learning experience for everyone.
Maheen Ahmed — Writing to make Culture
@lahore_la_notte_
