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Actor and host Danish Taimoor has issued a public apology following the backlash over remarks he made about multiple marriages during a live Ramazan transmission — comments that were deemed disrespectful towards his wife, superstar Ayeza Khan, who was seated right beside him while he made them.

The controversy began when Taimoor, who co-hosts Mehfil-e-Ramzan alongside Rabia Anam, invited Khan as a guest on his show only to bring up his right to marry four times while sitting next to her.

“If God has permitted something, then He has permitted it. That I’m not doing it, is a different matter,” he said. “I say this in front of her (Ayeza Khan) and today I’m saying it in front of you all, I am allowed to marry four times… But it’s because of my love and respect for her, that for now, I want to spend my life with her,” he said.

His use of the word “filhaal” or for now sparked widespread outrage on social media, with users calling him out for humiliating his wife.

Taking to his Instagram on Wednesday, Taimoor shared an apology video, saying his choice of words was perhaps poor.

“I know you guys are a little upset with me. Whatever happened that day, some people think that I disrespected my wife, but that was not what happened and that was never my intention. I love her a lot and perhaps my choice of words was poor,” he said.

“I want to add that I use the word filhal often because I believe that we will not always be alive. We can only talk about the present and I especially make it a point to do that. I suppose I shouldn’t have used that word in that moment — whatever it was, a slip of the tongue.”

Taimoor went on to add that in his 18-year career, he had largely steered clear of controversies. “Still, if people felt hurt by what I said then I’d like to apologise from the bottom of my heart.

“Believe me, I do not wish to upset you, I am here to entertain you. I have dedicated my life to your entertainment,” added the Haara Dil actor. “To make people happy. I would also like for all of you to remain as happy as I am, in this house, with my wife and kids. And believe me, there is no issue between Ayeza and me. Thank God, we are happy, so please, you also stay happy in your lives and remember us in your prayers.”

His apology came a day after he doubled down on his comments in a later episode of the Ramazan transmission, explaining that the term filhaal was used in reference to life’s unpredictability. “I love her for the time being, because I don’t know if I’ll be alive after I leave here,” he said, adding that he and Khan “laughed” at social media reactions.

However, many didn’t find the matter amusing. Social media users spoke about how Taimoor’s remarks reflected deeper attitudes around male entitlement, even in seemingly ‘harmless’ discussions. It has been days since the episode aired and timelines are still flooding with filhaal jokes.