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Firdous Jamal’s ageist comments about Mahira Khan reveal our double standards
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Firdous Jamal’s ageist comments about Mahira Khan reveal our double standards

"We don't have heroines at this age, they only play the characters of mothers," said the actor
Images Staff
Updated 28 Jul, 2019

Firdous Jamal has something to say about Mahira Khan's age and it's not okay.

The veteran actor made an appearance on Faysal Qureshi's morning show, Salaam Zindagi where they played a game giving advice to different actors.

Upon Mahira Khan's picture, Firdous Jamal blurted, "You didn't even ask me what I think. I'm sorry to say if someone likes it or not, but Mahira is not heroine stuff. She's a mediocre sort of a model, she's not a good actress and is not a heroine.

"She's quite aged as well and we don't have heroines at this age, they only play the characters of mothers", added the 65-year-old actor.

First of all, "Heroine stuff" just sounds weird.

Moving on from that, can we please get rid of this dated idea of having 'heroines' from a specific age bracket? The fact that are our male actors not viewed with the same scrutiny is an argument we should not have to make in 2019.

Also, Mahira's made it this far on her own and she is here to stay, not to adhere to your norms. No amount of age-shaming can change that.

We expected a better reaction from Faysal Qureshi, who did looked surprised at the veteran actor's comments. But he chose to start the conversation himself with, "I honestly wish that at least one of Mahira's films is a hit this year. Because so far, none of Mahira's films have done well"

Later, Faysal clarified how he also said a lot of positive things which were not highlighted. But we hoped for a better defence for Mahira.

Both the actors drew criticism on their comments and people did not shy away from calling them out on Twitter.

Because what's up with this gender discrimination?

Talk about spilling the real tea

Disappointing indeed

Osman Khalid butt has something to say

Gohar Rasheed knows whats up!

We see what you did there

Here's hoping that the industry learns to stop putting fellow actors down upon such inconsequential issues, and especially not their age!

Comments

Ahmad Khan Jul 27, 2019 04:45pm
I don't think hos comments are wrong , she is older then other actors and her acting skills are very poor. Her acting with SRK was hopeless , she got the accents mixed up and portrayal of her character was very poor
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Omar Jul 27, 2019 04:49pm
Others are just being PC . There is truth on his statements . But I agree , that kind of statement should be for “off the record “ situations .
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M. Saeed Jul 27, 2019 04:55pm
Age is irrelevant if the story demands what an actor presents.
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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani Jul 27, 2019 05:01pm
Stupid remarks made a senior actor against another female colleague that I strong condemn and find it offensive.
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Justicefirst Jul 27, 2019 05:12pm
It seem that Firdous Jamal is a beneficiary of a Benami transaction.It must be unearthed.
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Mwaqar Jul 27, 2019 05:31pm
F Jamal is ignorant. What do you expect?
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Aleem Jul 27, 2019 05:33pm
May be Firdous Jamal should not have said that on national TV but honestly, he is right. I have felt that for a long time.
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Adi Jul 27, 2019 05:40pm
Everyone is free to have own viewpoint. Let the man have his own while others are free to have their own. Chils
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Saad Jul 27, 2019 05:40pm
We have such seniors who always get jealous when their time is over and never encourage the new talent. I believe this is the reason we as nation is not progressing to our full potential
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Babita Jul 27, 2019 05:46pm
He is absolutely right. She is an overrated actress.
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Bono Jul 27, 2019 06:18pm
I don't agree with his age for the heroine remarks. That's pathetic. But I agree her acting skills are quite poor and so of FJ.
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Rocky1 Jul 27, 2019 06:23pm
Mahira should reprocess her acting skills as she still bags potentials to influence.
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aziz alam Jul 27, 2019 06:50pm
Most men are always jealous of women’s success !
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Faisal Jul 27, 2019 07:01pm
This kind of thinking is so ingrained in us that we don't even think what we are saying is wrong. Just like how Sarfaraz called out the black player and didn't realize that there was anything wrong with his comments. As we are exposed to the world we realize how racist and sexist we Pakistanis are.
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isha Jul 27, 2019 07:46pm
humayun saeed at 48 is romancing kubra,sohai,ayza women in their 20's. Also faysal qureshi, adnan sidiqui, aijaz aslam, fahad mustafa, zahid ahmed, imran abbas , nabeel, noman ijaz are playing romance with women in their 20's on the screen people. Firdous jamal himself at 65 is playing husband to women in their 30's poeple in this country are cool. katrina,deepika, kareena are their favourite ladies btw all in their 30's. amir can play a 18 year old in 3 idiots at 45+ people are happy. Salman is playing a 30 years old at 50 in his movies people are going gaga. srk is playing a hero at 50 people are ok. but a Pakistani woman who at 30 has made her mark after years of hard work and is more sucuessful thn most men in her industry and the male fragile ego loses it and the sexism and chauvinism comes out in full form. Apparently desi men are incapable if seeing a women having live outside motherhood after 30. ridiculous
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isha Jul 27, 2019 07:50pm
firdous jamal at 65 should be playing a grand father or retire going by his logic but here he is playing 40 something husband to women who are actually in the 30/40 which is like him playing husband to women the same age as his daughter . meryl streep can dance her heart out at 70 in mamamia at 70 but men in this country cant think of women being anything but a mother post 30 they want 19 year old to romance 45+ men on films and thats gorse
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Iqbal Jul 27, 2019 07:59pm
Mahira is a superstar with a poise and beauty that is second to none among any previous or past film heroines of South Asia. She is also an articulate spokesperson for the promotion of education in Pakistan particularly for girls. Unfortunate that Mr. Jamal should make such hurtful comments about someone who is half his age and has contributed so much to Pakistan's entertainment industry.
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Irfan ul Huq Jul 27, 2019 08:23pm
Mahira could be heroin at any age. This depends on the story and the role the cast. It is no ones business to make a judgment. If people discard her as a heroin then be it.
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ahmed Jul 27, 2019 08:38pm
Jamal looks older than 65. Mahira is a pride of PK. Those recognizing her internatioally are not stupid. FQ should intervene appropriately.
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Insaafian Jul 27, 2019 08:54pm
Mahira is a superstar - she can't be looked in one dimension, which is what makes her who she is. She is hardworking, beautiful, intelligent, compassionate, accommodating, courteous, and most of all isn't full of herself. All these other that comment about her are borderline narcissist and reflects their own insecurities. Mahira carry on, you are doing great.
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Ahsan Gul Jul 27, 2019 09:10pm
Firdous you are absolutely wrong! You have no right to say anything to other actor as you are not an accomplished one either. Sorry, but True.
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Equinox1 Jul 27, 2019 09:18pm
That GOT meme at the end sums it up best.
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VIQUAR SYED Jul 27, 2019 10:22pm
For all those criticisms I have only one thing to say "Art has no physical boundaries". Small minds target people. If you are a veteran in your field show respect and encouragement for younger class. Criticism does not bear any result. Look around globally, the concept of heroin is no more. It's about character and acting.
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Texan Jul 27, 2019 10:27pm
Mahira is class and elegance compared with heroines of last two decades. These guys love watching indian actresses and actors much older than Mahira playing the lead roles but always want to pull the legs of their own. revival of Pakistani cinema in Karachi has brought many educated and good family girls forward and they should be encouraged.
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Anon Jul 27, 2019 10:53pm
Shabnam ji did heroine roles till ripe old age and was accepted alright. But she was a veteran by that time.
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Khalid Nabi Jul 28, 2019 12:10am
I honestly believe that Mahira Khan has given our industry a new life specially in Films. She is already the finest actress in Pakistani Dramas. Firdous Jamal, himself avery fine actor of his times should be ashamed of making such remarks. Dr. Khalid Nabi Houston Texas USA
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Mobby the smoker Jul 28, 2019 02:05am
Irrespective it is true or not (I have never seen acting Mahira), as a professional of any field such comments about your colleagues, on their faces shows a sign of jealousy and weakness. Specifically when some senior is saying to a junior in public. I had respect for Firdous Jamal, but not anymore.
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Abdul Jabbar Jul 28, 2019 02:33am
She is wonderful actress. Several bollywood actresses are much older than her. Firdous Jamal comments leave bad taste. Sorry for him
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Amna Nabi Jul 28, 2019 06:50am
@Babita Her acting skills are different point of discussion, she getting work, producers are investing for a reason. BUT problem is with Thjs gental man'comments is about age of the a woman who should not be heroin of a movie because of age. He said in most disrespectful way as well...
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Afzal Jul 28, 2019 07:31am
Well for Firdous g, I would say that fame comes with jealousy, what Mahira has achieved in half of your age is more than double U may have managed. Your comments were of a person who is just jealous.
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Afzal Jul 28, 2019 07:34am
50 Plus male actors with hair transplants skin stretching surgeries can be portrayed as college boys but a beautiful women in her 30's bothers a 65 year old??
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illawarrior Jul 28, 2019 08:17am
Being a mother and a heroine are NOT mutually exclusive. Perhaps this man should watch Helen Mirren in RED and RED2 to see heroines come in all ages. Also Carrie Fisher (Starwars Princess Leia) led her army for 40 years, and accomplished actresses like Judi Dench continue to play many admirable roles.
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Faisal Jul 28, 2019 08:35am
Base on Psychology He wishes he was young or he is jealous of her.
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Taimoor Jul 28, 2019 08:41am
Plain Jane Mahira has hits like Bin Roye to her credit. If 60 year old men can rule the film industry, play 25 hero’s role with love interest his daughter’s age , then so can woman. Dont have separate standards for men. His comments reeks of male chauvinism and sexism.
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Fiza Jul 28, 2019 03:25pm
Then faisal qureshi should play grand father roles
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Huma Jul 28, 2019 11:30pm
Firdous sb well said about her acting skills. I had been saying to my friends/family about mahiras acting skills since long. She has same accent, style and tone for each and every single sentence, situation and movie. She was awesome in sadqay tumhare whereas she acted poorly in all other dramas/movies. She is just a hyped actress.
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Huma Jul 28, 2019 11:32pm
@Mwaqar he is a veteran and extremely good actor. He was telling the truth about her acting skills.
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Mobby the smoker Jul 29, 2019 01:08pm
@Huma Your eyes are a little smaller than your forehead and whats wrong with your walk !! How does that sound ? I am just telling the truth. If you must couch / guide your juniors 1) You should not do it without their permission or request 2) You should not do it in public specifically when it involves pointing towards their flaws. If you are ignoring these points then your intention is not actually couching or guiding, its somewhere inside you some jealousy and insecurity w.r.t to that person you are letting out.
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Aisha Jul 29, 2019 03:43pm
Professional jealousy I guess, she is amazing actor and beautiful woman.
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Saye Jul 29, 2019 06:08pm
Regarding Firdous Jamal commentsabiut Mahira Khan could be summarized in short “ Succhai Chupp Nahi Sakti In Maje Up Ke Ussoloon Se, Khushboo Aa Nahi Sakti In Kagaz Ke Phoolon Se”. Reality can not be hidden. The writer addressed this issue last year directly to Mahira in a blog.
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Detroit Jul 29, 2019 09:49pm
I believe Firdous Jamal sahib told the truth and as Faisal Q. said it in the beginning that Mahira has not given any hit movies, so that tells us the acting caliber of Mahira Khan.
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N abidai Jul 30, 2019 12:58am
Mahira khan is a amazingly talented artists , plus, she is a good human being ,her parents have taught her well, she is always very respectful . His words , will bring him the karma ,that he deserved ! Mahira will shine ,in superstar !
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shahram Aug 03, 2019 10:07am
That is the truth.
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