Pakistani actress Javeria Abbasi has strongly criticized veteran actor Firdous Jamal over his controversial views on casting preferences, calling his remarks hurtful and reflective of a deep rooted gender bias within the entertainment industry.
A viral video circulating on social media features Javeria candidly sharing her disappointment over Firdous Jamal’s statements during a television appearance.
“Firdous Jamal saab jo keh rahay thay TV par baith kar, mera toh dil hi toot gaya. I was shocked and thought, what are you saying? You belong to our industry, you know how it works. We have all grown together in the same field, and it’s not even that big an industry. It was so painful to hear,” she said.
Coming to the defense of superstar Mahira Khan, Javeria emphasized that reducing her accomplishments to a single remark was unfair.
“Mahira Khan is not a small name. She has given immense hope to our industry. So many young girls believe that if Mahira can do it, they can too. Married women and mothers like me also found inspiration in her journey. She even worked alongside Shah Rukh Khan after becoming a mother, proving that motherhood does not diminish an actress’s worth. What matters is who you are and the place you carve out for yourself,” she added.
Javeria further argued that such mindsets only reinforce double standards for women in showbiz.
“If this mentality among men in our society continues, then people will keep demanding younger and younger heroines. First a 15 year old heroine, then perhaps a 12 year old. These rules seem to apply only to women, never to men. If someone called Firdous saab today and offered to cast Hania Aamir opposite him, he would happily agree. He would never insist on being paired with an actress his own age. That is the mindset,” she remarked.
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For those unfamiliar, the controversy dates back to Firdous Jamal’s earlier comments in which he suggested that Mahira Khan was “too old” to play leading roles and should instead portray mothers. The statement sparked widespread backlash, with many celebrities and fans defending Mahira and condemning age based stereotypes in the entertainment industry.
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