Pakistani actress Durefishan Saleem has addressed a growing debate surrounding her character Zaryab in Dar-e-Nijaat, particularly questions over why the character needed Abu Bakar’s presence to overcome the emotional turmoil caused by her past.
The actress took to Instagram to share a detailed note, explaining that the drama’s narrative should not simply be viewed as a message suggesting women need men to heal or complete them.
“Been thinking about this a lot,” Durefishan began. “I completely believe in women finding themselves, knowing their worth, and never feeling like they need a man to complete them. But I also think we need to be careful about believing that our version of what is right is the only right.”
Clarifying the central idea behind the storyline, she explained that the drama is more concerned with the double standards surrounding mistakes, forgiveness and redemption than with presenting a woman’s healing as dependent on a man.
“This story is less about telling women that they can’t, or shouldn’t, heal on their own, and more about questioning the double standard around redemption how easily a man can make mistakes, seek redemption and be given another chance, while women are often expected to carry the weight of their choices for much longer,” she wrote.
Durefishan also urged viewers to look at the characters as complex human beings rather than judging every decision through a strictly moral lens.
“Sometimes the best way to watch a story is simply to see it as something that happened to someone. You don’t have to agree with every choice a character makes to understand their emotions or empathise with their journey,” she explained.
“Human beings are complicated, and I think stories should be allowed to explore that complexity without everything having to fit neatly into a morally correct box,” the actress added.
In a follow-up Instagram Story, Durefishan further emphasised the importance of self discovery and healing, writing: “Heal. Find yourself again. The right one always comes along and even if they don't, it's never the end of the world. Sometimes, finding yourself is the love story you needed all along.”
Her clarification comes after viewers questioned the narrative surrounding Zaryab’s relationship with Abu Bakar, with some interpreting the storyline as a transition from one man to another rather than an exploration of Zaryab’s emotional recovery.
On the surface, Zaryab’s journey can be viewed as a woman attempting to move forward after a painful relationship with her childhood sweetheart, Zamil, before eventually finding stability and support in Abu Bakar.
Dar-e-Nijaat follows Zaryab, played by Durefishan Saleem, a modern young woman deeply devoted to her childhood love, Zamil, portrayed by Nameer Nawaz Khan. Her world is shattered following heartbreak and betrayal, leaving her to confront emotional pain, guilt and social consequences.
She eventually marries Abu Bakar, played by Sheheryar Munawar, a grounded and engineer who offers her stability and emotional support.
However, Durefishan’s latest remarks suggest that the relationship should not be reduced to a simple narrative of a woman being “saved” by another man. Instead, she wants viewers to consider the wider questions surrounding forgiveness, redemption, personal choices and the different expectations placed on men and women.
Through her explanation, the actress has invited audiences to engage with Zaryab’s journey as a complex human story rather than viewing every character decision as a straightforward lesson about what is morally right or wrong.