Latest news with #MeraJismMeriMarzi
Express Tribune
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Fazila and Kaiser's secret behind long marriage
Pakistani actor Fazila Qazi has long been a household name, known for her powerful performances in dramas such as Rozi and Nazr-e-Bad. Beyond her celebrated career in television, Fazila's marriage to actor and director Kaiser Khan Nizamani has also remained a subject of admiration. Recently, Fazila and Kaiser appeared on a local channel's morning show where they spoke candidly about what makes a marriage last in today's world. Answering the host's question on making love last, Fazila commented on the ever-changing nature of love, saying that in the early stages of a relationship, "Love is accompanied by friendship, but when you have spent time with each other, a different kind of bonding develops." She added, "Once kids come into the picture, a different kind of love evolves." According to her, the key to keeping love alive is "regard, and respecting each other's sacrifices," and valuing each other's commitment to spend life together through thick and thin. The couple, who tied the knot in 1993, have two sons together, Ahmed and Zorain. Fazila further stressed the importance of personal space in relationships, saying, "Love is not you sticking to someone like a sticker and assuming everything will always stay the same way." She explained that love isn't about losing yourself in another person, but about understanding and respecting each other's individuality. "We are not twins who are supposed to do the same kind of things," the Kashish actor said. "We are two different individuals who come from different backgrounds. We understood each other and changed ourselves." On modern relationships Fazila maintained that a "fake feminism" as evidenced by slogans like "Mera Jism Meri Marzi" has ruined many relationships. Fazila's critique of the slogan "Mera Jism Meri Marzi" follows a pattern seen among several Pakistani celebrities who have publicly dismissed or misrepresented it. Actor Yasir Hussain, husband of host Nida Yasir, previously mocked Aurat March placards on social media, and Faysal Quraishi also criticised the slogan as "vulgar." However, Aurat March organisers have consistently defended the slogan as a demand for bodily autonomy. Their Instagram account clarified that it "means an enforcement of a human right every individual is born with, but women, trans, and non-binary people are robbed of." Joining the conversation, Kaiser compared a household to a country, saying that just as a country runs on its economy, a home depends on financial stability. He said that a man who provides well for his family naturally feels more protective and secure. "If another country looks at your country with an evil eye, then your country, or in this case, the establishment of the household, should be strong enough to defeat them." Fazila has spoken previously about her relationship in a separate TV appearance, sharing that she manages all internal household matters, while Kaiser takes care of things outside. "The rule in our house is that I oversee all household matters, and Qaiser is not allowed to interfere," she said, laughing. She added that she sometimes advises him on his outside work, but she never listens when he tries to interfere in the house. She joked that while she is not a typical mother-in-law, Kaiser has a "hidden mother-in-law" inside him. Her daughter-in-law is slightly afraid of him, but shares a friendly bond with Fazila. In another interview in 2024, Fazila spoke about the importance of care and sacrifice in marriages. "Everyone's become far too career-oriented," she insisted. "I'll remove gender here. What this does is that the one who has to sacrifice says, 'Why should I? You should sacrifice."
Express Tribune
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Should men on screen hide their chest hair?
Are you appalled by the sight of male chest hair? You may not be, but actor Atiqa Odho certainly is — and the Dhoka actor is not shy about expressing her withering views on the subject. "Wear disco jackets if you must, but please do not have undone buttons all the way down so you can show off your chest hair," pleaded Atiqa during a recent appearance on a local talk show during a conversation on the double standards of men and women are subjected to on screen with regards to modesty with their clothing. "I just get so put off when I see men with hairy chests. You can wax it off! I can take you to a salon!" In case any men taking notes had missed the point, the scathing screen veteran reiterated, "If you must have your buttons undone all the way down, please get it all waxed, because hairy chests are a complete put-off." For those still left in suspense about Atiqa's true feelings, she concluded, "It's yuck." Atiqa's comments came in the wake of actor Ali Raza flaunting an unbuttoned shirt in drama serial Dastak, with a full chest of hair on display. Atiqa's definitive verdict vis a vis male body hair and its relative visibility predictably sparked a discussion amongst fans online. "I don't understand why men in Pakistani dramas often have their shirts unbuttoned halfway down," commented a user, evidently in agreement with Atiqa — although the fan did not agree with every point raised by the screen veteran. "Even if the chest is waxed, it still looks cheap." Others, however, were as critical of Atiqa as the latter was of men favouring undone buttons. The logic stands that if women should be free to wear clothing of their choice (see the 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi' movement for reference), so should men. "She needs to lower her gaze, period!" wrote one enraged commenter on Instagram. "We cannot have double standards. If men are told to lower their gazes, so should women." Echoing similar sentiments, another user wrote, "Honestly, if women stand up for their right "mera jism meri marzi", then on what basis are these remarks made for men? Waxing for men is a very personal choice and some don't even want to wax." Fans (or not, as the case may be) on Reddit were largely aligned with this criticism of Atiqa's no-holds-barred opinions. "If you don't tolerate body-shaming or age-shaming of women, extend the same towards men. I am not fan of Ali Raza, but this was an unprovoked attack and very distasteful with the way she approached the topic on air."
Express Tribune
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Why is 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi' so controversial?
On Tuesday, Mira Sethi shared a clip of herself at a panel discussing why the slogan 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi' (my body, my choice) sparks controversy in Pakistan and is seen as a threat to traditional values. "Why is 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi' so polarising? I think it is [polarising] because it goes right to the heart of patriarchy in our context, which is premised on the control of women's bodies and their sexuality," Mira said. She added that the slogan comes across as a threat because it challenges what men and women are socialised to believe. "Women saying that they will not cede control of their bodies is a threat to the entire social structure. Because in general, women are thought to be the property of their male kin, by which I mean male relatives. Before marriage, they belong to their fathers, and after marriage, to their husbands. 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi' is a refusal to submit to that system of patriarchal control." Given the nature of the controversy, the Kuch Ankahi actor turned off her comments under the post. However, she did not shy away from stance, as she later posted a clip from an interview where she addressed men's need to police women's clothing. Recalling a degrading comment under a colleague's post where said colleague wore clothes that prompted criticism, Mira said, "Someone wrote, 'Now if I fall prey to my masculinity and say or do something you don't like, then you'll complain.' What does this even mean, becoming so helpless against your masculinity? Is your definition of 'masculinity' so fragile that it limits itself and your dignity to a woman's clothes? Is this your masculinity?" She added that it is absolutely possible for an empowered woman and a broad-minded man to co-exist in a society without one gender posing harm to the other. She also believes that masculinity as a concept has been reduced to trivial ideas of control, in that it feels threatened by a woman's right to choose. Baffled by the 'masculine' desire to control women, she admitted that she doesn't understand this mindset at all. Urging men to expand their minds, Mira said, "If I encounter a man who's wearing ripped jeans, I'm not going to say things like, 'You are inviting me to sin.' Women don't say such outrageous things. Why is that? Firstly, our minds don't stray that far. And secondly, society hasn't given us the right to berate men like that. But they believe otherwise."
Express Tribune
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Aurat March was hijacked'
During a podcast with entrepreneur Kanwal Cheema, actor Ahmad Ali Butt sparked controversy with his comments on the #MeToo Movement and Aurat March. "Like the #MeToo Movement, Aurat March was also hijacked. Now, there's even proof that these movements are being heavily funded just to disrupt the family structure of Pakistan," he claimed. However, Butt failed to provide any evidence or data to back his statement. He further amplified the backlash by sharing a snippet of his views on feminism on his Instagram account. The post quickly drew sharp criticism from showbiz figures and social media users, who condemned his unsupported claims. Schooling feminism Actor and former model Frieha Altaf wrote, "Oh, hello! Please look up the definition of 'feminism'. Feminism stands for full social, economic, and political equality for women. Humanity suffers when one gender is discriminated against. For example, women not being allowed to work or getting paid less for the same job, not allowed to vote, and basically not allowed a choice." She added that, socially, women are considered lesser beings, who don't possess the ability to make their own decisions, and are viewed as baby-producing machines. "Ahmad, I'm so disappointed that you made the statement that #MeToo and Aurat March are foreign-funded. These opinions must be backed with facts," she wrote. "For years, women have endured sexual harassment at workplaces, being looked at in a lewd way, and being inappropriately touched. How could you, a man, know what that feels like?" she said. "The courage it took to speak up on this became a global voice. By saying that Aurat March is disrupting your family structure and that women are created to multiply, you are insinuating that that's their only purpose in life." Frieha believes that the same principle applies to men whose sole function in society is not just to be providers. "Let me tell you that feminism and Islam do not take away women's rights. They give them those rights. If a woman chooses to be a homemaker, she does it out of free will; she's not a prisoner. If her husband, father, or brother force her to be a homemaker, then she's definitely a prisoner. Now, can we stop being so obsessed with women's clothing? 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi' is about choice and free will. Let it be a choice." Where is the proof? Many in the comments section questioned Ahmad on potentially spreading misinformation. Joyland director Saim Sadiq wrote, "Where is the proof of this foreign funding? Please share it immediately or apologise for your irresponsible and factually incorrect lies." Activist Leena Ghani was quick to point out the podcaster's hypocrisy. "If Ahmad Ali Butt hates feminists so much, does he also hate his own grandmother, Madam Noor Jehan? She was a true feminist icon. She wore what she wanted because she understood the power of 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi'. She built a legendary career in a male-dominated industry. She paved the way for countless women in music and lived unapologetically on her own terms." Leena added, "Typical how men like him, who, let's be honest, no one would even know of if not for his grandmother, enjoy the benefits of powerful women in their own family but have a problem when other women demand the same freedom." Digital creator Saddia Mazhar called out both Ahmad and Kanwal on their views. "Feminism is about empowerment and equal rights. Kanwal, the very reason you are sitting here and speaking on multiple platforms is because of the strength and space that feminism has provided," she began. "Ahmad, instead of spreading baseless propaganda, present concrete proof if you claim that Aurat March is funded and aims to destroy Pakistan's family structure. Otherwise, it's best to remain silent," she asserted. "These individuals, sitting comfortably in their lavish studios, have no genuine concern for societal welfare. Their only goal is to stir controversy and spread misinformation." On hypocrisy Other users also weighed in on the debate, with many echoing the sentiment that there is no concrete proof to back Ahmad's claims. In addition, an Instagram user slammed the close-up shots of women overlaying the clip when the interviewer and his guest discussed the topic of "indecency". "What's with that voyeuristic montage of women's bodies at the start? Why are you acting like a t-shirt and jhumkas are some anomaly?" the user wrote. "Did amnesia hit you overnight or are you just performing purity now? You were not exactly observing purdah during your days in EP, and you definitely ran in circles full of 'modern' women throughout your career. Did a memory wipe come with this midlife rebrand?" Netizens even criticised Ahmad for building a mass narrative based on "dangerous" claims that are sure to influence the wrong crowd, urging him to be careful with what he perpetuates to his large following.
