Ruby Anum faces backlash over ‘ageist’ dig at Bushra Ansari and Asma Abbas
Ruby Anum is under fire for passing a series of disrespectful and ageist comments about veteran artist Bushra Ansari and other elderly stars.
During a podcast, the host asked Anum to share her thoughts on leading women of the entertainment industry including Mehwish Hayat, Sajal Aly, Hania Aamir, Bushra Ansari, and Asma Abbas.
Anum’s comments on the younger stars were a mix of praise and digs.
She admired Sajal Aly’s beauty and even joked that she would have made her a ‘sister-in-law if her brothers weren’t already married’.
She dismissed Mehwish Hayat by accusing her of botox, while Hania Aamir was called ‘the pride of Pakistan.
But when the discussion shifted to senior actors, her tone turned cutting.
Anum took direct aim at Bushra Ansari, saying, “Bushra Ansari is my favourite. I like her a lot … if I say so, it would be a lie. She should rest at this age.”
She said Bashra Ansari’s vlogs did not suit her and stressed quitting work in her later years.
“She is older than our mothers,” she remarked, drawing gasps online.Her criticism extended to Ansari’s sister, Asma Abbas. While praising her at first, Anum questioned why the veteran continues to act and even shop for clothes and shoes.
She added that Ansari wasn’t beautiful enough to remain in the limelight, implying that an actor’s worth is tied solely to physical appearance.
The comments triggered swift and sharp reactions from fellow celebrities.
Actor Zhalay Sarhadi slammed Anum as ‘incredibly out of line, intrusive, rude and disrespectful,’ questioning whether she was seeking attention just to “go viral.”
Actor Mamya Shajaffar echoed the sentiment, writing: “Breaks my heart how women always bring other women down.”
Ghana Ali weighed in with a blunt take: “Ok, I found her extremely rude, period!”
Mishi Khan recorded a detailed video message on Instagram. In it, she condemned Anum’s remarks as “below the belt” and defended Bushra Ansari’s right to work and vlog at any age.
“It’s entirely Bushra Ansari’s call that she’s acting and vlogging at whatever age she is; she has maintained herself so well, MashaAllah,” said Mishi. “You said yourself that Asma Abbas calls you to her show and gives you so much respect and protocol. You complimented her too, and then degraded her. What is this behaviour?”
Mishi challenged Anum’s views: “If you have a problem with them vlogging, you can start your own channel. If someone else is interested in keeping themselves fit or up to date, what’s your issue?”
Bushra Ansari, widely considered a legend of Pakistani television and theatre, has remained active for decades, adapting to changing trends and embracing new mediums like vlogging.