Sahar Hashmi, a rising Pakistani television actor, has addressed the recent backlash over her on-screen hugging scenes in dramas and comparisons to Indian actor Emraan Hashmi. In an interview, she described the criticism as hurtful and confusing, while also defending her choices as a performer following the script and director's guidance.
Criticism and Comparisons
Sahar revealed that social media users dubbed her "Pakistan's Emraan Hashmi" due to frequent hugging scenes in the dramas Zanjeerain and Shaidai. She called the comparison "ridiculous," stating, "I find it ridiculous. I’ll be honest, I’m not the first actor or the last actor who has hugged somebody on-screen." She questioned why actors are blamed for following a script, emphasizing that such moments are situational and required by the narrative. "These are situational things. It's a requirement and you have to understand that," she said, adding that her director encouraged her to perform the scenes if she was comfortable.
Cultural Context and Double Standards
Sahar noted that while hugging the opposite gender may not be widely accepted in some parts of Pakistani culture, it is common in others. "I get that it is not accepted by many in our culture, but hugging someone of the opposite gender is something that happens. Can we just stop lying to ourselves? In some parts of Pakistan it might be uncommon, but in others it isn’t," she remarked. When asked why male actors escape similar criticism, she joked about the "Hashmi-Hashmi connection" but admitted the backlash has made her more cautious about accepting such roles in the future. "I’ll be honest, I'll be more cautious of this because if we are making dramas for the audience, if you don't like it then we won't do it but just don't put me at gunpoint," she stated.
Emotional Toll and Support
The actor opened up about how online hate affected her mental health, saying she used to cry herself to sleep. "I think when there are good things, people will always find bad things. Not everyone wants to see you grow, and that does make me feel bad," she shared. However, she found support from colleagues including Shehzad Sheikh, who was her first co-star, and director Momina Duraid. Recently, actors Nawal Saeed and Feroze Khan also reached out, telling her not to worry. "Where people will critique you, there will also be people who tell you everything’s fine," she added.
Career Reflections and Zanjeerain
Discussing her role in Zanjeerain, Sahar revealed that one of the main reasons she accepted the project was the opportunity to work with Sajal Aly. "It was an opportunity to work with Sajal Aly herself — one of our industry’s biggest stars, not just in Pakistan but internationally as well, even in India. I wanted to do that and learn from her," she said. Although they had limited screen time together, she described every scene as a pleasure.
Initial Rejection Due to Personal Trauma
Sahar disclosed that she initially declined the role in Zanjeerain because the character's death reminded her of the trauma of losing her mother. "At first, I declined Zanjeerain. The reason I initially said no was because I was going through the trauma of my mother’s passing," she explained. She felt her purpose in life had ended after her mother's death, as she had spent her whole life caring for her. "When she passed away, I kept wondering, 'Now what?' I started having panic attacks about dying. I thought I would die too because my purpose had been served. So I didn’t want to play a character who dies," she said. However, after a personal call from producer Momina Duraid, she changed her mind out of respect. "I thought, if someone so senior is asking me personally, I should do it out of respect. I told myself, 'You know what? I should.' I was fearful, but that’s okay," she stated.
Rising Career
Sahar Hashmi is known for lead roles in popular television serials such as Zulm, Ishq Hua, and Mann Mast Malang, as well as telefilms like Deewani. Despite the controversy, she continues to pursue her acting career with cautious optimism.
