Parwarish under fire for promoting underage romance and poor parenting values
Television dramas like Parwarish have come under fire for allegedly glorifying underage relationships and promoting narratives that sideline responsible parenting and personal growth.
The controversy stirred after an entertainment portal shared a critique by news anchor Kirna Naza, who voiced serious concerns over the messaging these dramas convey to young viewers.
Taking to Instagram, the Galaxy Lollywood reposted Kirna Naza’s reaction to recent drama trends, especially those that romanticise the lives of college students while portraying love as the ultimate life goal.
She expressed shock over how the storyline of Parwarish frames the lives of teens and young adult characters around intense emotional attachments, often at the cost of their education, ambitions, and family values.
“This isn’t just harmless fiction anymore,” Kirna said in her post.
“These dramas are shaping the mindset of an entire generation. When you constantly show young girls and boys falling deeply in love, abandoning their dreams, and challenging their families, all for the sake of a relationship, it sets a very dangerous precedent.”
Her main critique focused on the absence of positive parenting in such narratives. According to Kirna, these storylines normalize emotional neglect by guardians while romanticising rebellion and disobedience.
She also warned that when impressionable minds see love as the only goal in life, it may lead to disappointment, poor decision-making, and an unrealistic understanding of relationships.
“What happened to showing strong role models, parents who guide their kids, students who chase dreams, or young people making responsible choices?” she questioned. “Our media has the power to inspire, but too often, it sells fantasies with little thought for the real-life impact.”
Kirna Naza added: “There’s more to life than love. Our stories should say that out loud.”
Galaxy Lollywood’s caption echoed similar sentiments, calling for more socially responsible storytelling in Pakistani entertainment.
The post received a flurry of reactions online, with many users agreeing that the recent influx of high-school and college romance stories glamorises unrealistic lifestyles and trivialises issues like education pressure, mental health, and identity formation.
Some users in the comments praised Kirna for raising the issue, saying that Pakistani drama has long ignored character development and realistic youth problems in favour of high-drama romantic plots. Others pointed out that while love stories have a place in fiction, they should not be the only narrative offered to young audiences.
Parwarish, which has gained popularity for its emotional twists and youthful cast, has not yet responded to the criticism. However, the backlash may prompt producers and writers to reflect on the long-term impact of their storylines, especially when catering to a younger demographic.
With growing public scrutiny, the entertainment industry is once again being urged to balance commercial success with social responsibility, offering narratives that entertain without compromising on values.