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Mohib Mirza knows his character in Jafaa needs therapy and hopes the show raises awareness among men to address their traumas and get professional help.

Jafaa, which airs on Hum TV follows the marriage between a toxic, secretive husband [Mirza] and his doctor wife [Mawra Hocane] who grapples with his outbursts.

In conversation with BBC Urdu, the actor said there was no discussion on mental health and people often refused to go to therapy, thinking that talking to friends was a sufficient way to deal with their issues but that was “not therapy”.

“I had the opportunity [in the show] to explore what a person’s triggers are when he is behaving in a certain way and what childhood traumas he may have.”

He continued that, maybe one in a hundred people might watch the show and reflect on what their trigger point is, that they need help and maybe — especially Pakistani men — would understand that “if this is their behaviour then it is not a display of masculinity”.

The actor underscored that men should realise that childhood traumas could cause issues later in life.

Mirza said he hoped audiences, after watching his character’s toxic traits, would realise if they should go to a psychiatrist or psychologist and the level of their own issues, adding that the show was helping raise awareness. He maintained that so far audiences had acknowledged his character had a problem and “those with even the slightest bit of awareness or exposure said he needs therapy”.

The actor said his own family, who did not know the conclusion of the ongoing show, hoped his character received therapy.

Commenting on the pressure women face in Pakistani society to make a marriage work, Mirza said efforts should be made to make the union work but questioned why there was so much pressure on people to do so.

“We’re not promoting divorce, we’re trying to promote that if there is constant toxicity then that will cause illness. Constant, continuous stress is caused and it is scientifically proven that that will lead to an illness in some part of your body.”

He added that no one should nurture something “so bitter and poisonous”.

Mirza said that if he was friends with the protagonist who was married to his toxic character, he would tell her to create a safety net by sending him to therapy. However, he added that she would advise her to stay with him to a certain extent.

It is refreshing to see an actor, especially a man, speak about mental health and the need for therapy among Pakistani men. We’re glad the show and its cast aren’t normalising toxic marriages — as television dramas often do — and are instead helping raise awareness.