Here’s a reminder from Ainy Jaffri — abuse is always unacceptable
The actor appeared on a podcast where she said that it isn't a woman's job to "fix" her significant other — and she's absolutely correct.
If you happen to be in London towards the end of next month and find yourself looking for something to do, we’ve got just what you need. Ainy Jaffri and Hassan Khan are bringing Pakistani theatre to London’s Tara Theatre with Rukhsati.
The one-act story by Saqib Deshmukh follows Nighat (Jaffri) and Tariq (Khan), two old friends reconnecting after years apart in the restroom of a London wedding hall.
As the 40-somethings begin reminiscing about the past and their youth spent together, more present woes begin to show. Nighat expresses her feelings of being trapped in her current life, particularly regarding her inability to have children, while Tariq grapples with his responsibilities as a father and husband.
The tension builds and builds until the bubble finally bursts with Tariq confessing a desire to rekindle their lost romance — and putting everyone in an awkward position.
Jaffri posted about the play on Instagram, telling fans the story was for anyone who “ever had a relationship that didn’t quite end” or “ever carried something unresolved”. She called it “intimate, layered, and very close to the bone”.
Elaborating on her character, the actor said Nighat was “A woman shaped by memory, love, resentment, and everything we don’t say out loud.” She said the play was “about relationships that don’t resolve neatly. About what lingers. About the versions of ourselves we leave behind… and the ones that come back.”
Meanwhile, the Tara Theatre, where Rukhsati has four shows from April 23 to 25, said the play was about “love, life and lotas”, exploring “complex relationships in a South Asian/Muslim context and the nature of change in our communities”. Tickets for the limited run are now available on the theatre’s website.