Aymen Saleem speaks out against romanticizing abuse in drama serials
Pakistani actress Aymen Saleem has spoken out against the abusive portrayal of love against women in Pakistani drama serials. Her statement came after the latest drama serial Mann Mast Malang showed the lead actor, Danish Taimoor (Kabir), as husband, tying up the feet of his lady love, Sahar Hashmi (Riya), and calling it ‘love’.
Throughout the drama serial, Kabir can be seen performing various controversial acts with his woman, including grabbing her and dipping her into his arms, spinning her around, before the minutes the romantic music plays in the background. He can be seen naming Riya as 'Mere Jan' ( my love) and telling another character that he will go to extreme lengths to keep her with him.
Raising objections over the scenes, Aymen Saleem took to her social media handle and wrote, “Enough is enough. I’m deeply disturbed by the way a recent drama is portraying abuse — tying up a woman with ropes, showing it in a romantic or bold light, and then normalising it as part of a love story. This isn’t entertainment. It’s dangerous storytelling. In a country where women already face so much within marriage patriarchy, emotional and physical abuse, societal pressure-media has the power to either reinforce or challenge toxic norms. Drama should offer relief, empowerment, and power. Not drag us into justifying harm in the name of love. We have made strides in showcasing strong, self-aware female leads and breaking generational curses. Why are we slipping back? To the writers, producers, channels, and especially actors, you have influence. People look up to you. Please choose your script and stories responsibly. This is not just a fiction, it shapes culture.”