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There’s an unspoken rule in Pakistan’s entertainment industry: women must stay young, or at least appear to. The moment time starts to show, the spotlight dims and roles that once came easily are suddenly out of reach. Somehow, the same rules don’t apply to men who seem to bag all kinds of roles regardless of their age.

Actor Mehwish Hayat recently spoke about the prevalent ageism — which disproportionately affects female actors — in the industry during a conversation with Rabia Mughni of Fuchsia Magazine.

“Here, men are allowed to age gracefully, to appear as heroes and main leads with younger girls. That’s okay. But with our female actors, we’re expected to freeze in time,” she said, adding that the same culture isn’t as prevalent in the West. “Why are we so fixated on the age of an actor, instead of their craft, their work, their character Everything else is sidelined.”

When the host asked how the industry could move beyond these ageist notions, Hayat emphasised the importance of portraying strong, desirable female protagonists in their 30s, 40s, and 50s — women who are CEOs, leaders, and change-makers. “That’s the only way we celebrate and cherish them,” she said, adding that artists themselves need to be unapologetic about embracing aging.

She pointed out that even in Hollywood, male actors over 40 are taken seriously because of their experience and mastery of the craft. The same applies to women. “Female actors above 30 are taken seriously because that’s when they’ve grown and matured as an artist and as an actor,” she explained. Pakistan’s entertainment industry, however, continues to lag in this regard. Age is still treated as a limitation rather than a marker of growth or depth.

Last week, when ARY Digital released the teaser for its much-anticipated drama Main Manto Nahi Hoon, starring Humayun Saeed and Sajal Aly, the obvious age gap between the two leads quickly became a point of contention among fans. While Saeed remains a popular figure, many viewers were unsettled by the 20-something year difference, with some even calling the pairing “vile”; if nothing else, it’s symbolic of the industry’s ongoing obsession with youth when it comes to casting women.

There’s no expiry date for talent and craft, Hayat pointed out. “Writers need to write those scripts. Producers need to produce those stories. We as actors need to do more women-led roles where we have women of all ages,” she said.

The conversation then moved to Hayat’s recurring appearances in romantic roles and the societal pressures around marriage. The host asked whether she identifies as a romantic person. Hayat described herself as a “closet romantic.” She elaborated, “You could say I’m a bit boring. I’m a realistic person, very practical. I have a life of my own. I’m independent. If somebody comes into my life, that person shouldn’t just complete me but should add to whatever might be lacking.” Hayat added that she’d decide to marry when she’s 100 per cent sure the person is right for her.

Mughni asked whether Hayat frequently faces the question of why she hasn’t gotten married yet. To that, Hayat responded that it’s more of an external pressure, not an internal one. “Every person has a timeline, a goal in life. For some people, getting married is their main goal. For me, it never was. Of course, it’s important, marriage is the most important decision of one’s life, I would say,” she said, adding that since it carries such weight, one should be careful before rushing to make the decision.