Famous Pakistani actress Sarwat Gilani has bravely talked about her difficult experience with postpartum depression, including having thoughts of harming her newborn daughter.
In a recent TV interview, Sarwat explained that she didn’t have postpartum depression after she gave birth to two sons so she didn’t know much about it. However, she went through severe postpartum depression after her daughter was born.
She described meeting her daughter four days after birth because they were in different hospital wards after surgeries. During this time, her baby needed breastfeeding, but Sarwat was very depressed and had upsetting thoughts of dropping her baby to end the stress.
“I was crying uncontrollably and told my husband that I wanted to harm our daughter to stop all the tension,” she shared with tears in her eyes. Sarwat talked about how many women lack proper information during their first pregnancy, often turning to books and social media for help. The first pregnancy is especially tough, she stated, recalling the many psychological challenges women face, making support from husbands and in-laws very important.
“When a pregnant woman receives support from her family, it positively impacts her mental health,” she explained. Her husband helped her by explaining that what she was feeling was postpartum depression and that it wouldn’t last forever. His reassurance gave her much-needed comfort and understanding.
Sarwat stressed the need for awareness about postpartum depression for both men and women, saying, “I realized then how important it is for everyone to understand this condition.”
Dr. Fahad Mirza, husband of Pakistani actress Sarwat Gilani, has made surprising revelations about his first marriage and subsequent breakup with actress Sarwat Gilani.
Breaking his silence, Dr. Mirza shared, “I broke up with Sarwat when I was 25 to 26. After she left, I felt like a living corpse, utterly disappointed and financially struggling. I didn’t even have money for cigarettes or phone calls. I prayed for guidance, and Allah sent someone into my life – my first wife.”
According to Dr. Fahad Mirza, at that time he met the woman who was 15 years older than him, she also had three children. “I was so broken at that time that I married her. She was 15 years older and a mother of 3 children but still I decided to marry her.” According to the actor and doctor, he then left home and started living with his first wife because he felt that Sarwat and he broke up “because of family”. He says that when he started living with his wife, “everyone started to think that I was worthless, even my father said that I was not fit to become a surgeon.”
Mirza recalls that when he joined civil hospital, he was being paid Rs 12,000 as salary. “After this job I used to go to the library and study, during this time my wife took care of me, she used to send me food, give me pick and drop. She supported me at every step because she was wise, mature, she taught me a lot. Even after separation, I am still thankful to my wife for guiding me, otherwise I would have destroyed myself.”
In the months preceding the delivery, she shared pictures of her baby bump. While some showed love, the morality police criticized her for being “vulgar”.
Ye hmaray so cold celebrities ne ajeeb besharmi phelai hui hai, Banda pooche is ki zrurat kia hai pic.twitter.com/vpxIBaMBHH
Motherhood is perhaps the most beautiful part of a woman’s life but unfortunately neither Pakistan men nor women understand it. They won’t miss any chance to humiliate a pregnant woman.#Pakistan#pregnant
Noo Tooba babies are not dropped off skies. It involves protrusion of a woman’s abdomen & a lot more. And showing that off is absolutely a woman’s choice and right. https://t.co/y42ys1MXev
Fellas is being pregnant wrong now? were y’all downloaded or what what’s this obsession with hiding pregnancies till the baby arrives as if it’s some sort of behayai bro ajeeb https://t.co/jHXChzWpx9
Motherhood is perhaps the most beautiful part of a woman’s life but unfortunately neither Pakistan men nor women understand it. They won’t miss any chance to humiliate a pregnant woman.#Pakistan#pregnant
This year’s Lux Style Awards were more than just a ceremony celebrating the best of the entertainment industry. We got two sweet surprises that definitely became the highlights of the event.
Actress Sarwat Gilani showed everyone how to leave a mark even when you’re not nominated, by announcing her pregnancy in a picture with the rest of the ‘Joyland’ cast.
“Couldn’t think of a better picture to announce our new arrival! Celebrating together the biggest joy of now and the future.”
Celebrities were as moved by the announcement as social media users, congratulating the actress on her impending bundle of joy.
Mira Sethi and Frieha Altaf sent their congratulations to the actress.
Sarwat was not the only celebrity to share her pregnancy announcement, however. Actress Urwa Hocane moved social media to tears when she shared a picture of herself and husband Farhan Saeed along with her visible baby bump, announcing that they were set to become parents for the first time.
Feroze Khan has issued a public apology to the ten celebrities whose personal information was leaked to the internet when he posted their personal phone numbers and home addresses on Twitter in a screenshot.
Khan had written in a statement: “As an actor, I know the importance of privacy and value it the most. I never intended that anyone’s peace be disturbed. If any one of my colleagues had to go through any inconvenience I’m deeply sorry for that.”
Actor Muneeb Butt and his wife, Aiman, along with her sister Minal, were among the celebrities whose private info was leaked, but yesterday Butt shared a picture of him and Khan together, and revealed that they had settled their differences and decided to drop the charges against the “Habs” actor.
His statement read:
“..To give us pain and mental distress wasn’t FK’s intention it was a mistake I announce to drop all of the charges.”
Butt had previously filed a stalking report with the cyber crime department against Khan for leaking his and his family’s personal information.
“Whoever is suggesting this to you has thrown you into deep trouble my friend I feel bad for you now you will have to face all of this… Initially I thought it’s a stupid mistake waited for 24 hours but no apology or excuse proved that it was a deliberate move, I thought you were better than that seriously. Complaint registration/ verification process has been completed FIA cyber circle has intiated the inquiry. The process has started, you will have to taste your own medicine now wait for the call,” he had written.
Celebrities like Yasir Hussain had slammed Khan for being ‘stupid’ for first beating up his wife, and then leaking his number to the world.
Actor Sarwat Gilani had shared a screenshot on her Instagram page of the numerous phone calls she had received since her number was leaked by Khan, and publicly announced that she was suing him along with the other celebrities.
Gilani had written: “It is bizarre and despicable that private information, including phone numbers, of various famous individuals has been publicly shared on the absurd pretext of issuing legal notice to them by @ferozekhan Not only are such actions clearly illegal but also demonstrates the total lack of maturity to handle matters in a civilized way.”
Actor Sarwat Gillani, in an interview with JORE, expressed her drive to flip the script on female representation in Pakistani TV and cinema. And with that, she also reflected on her earlier roles, and what all she took away from them.
“I feel as entertainers, we have a responsibility towards the kind of behaviours we encourage. Even when I was doing the satisavitri, girl-next-door, damsel in distress kind of roles, I would think to myself that there are unbelievable women doing unbelievable things, why aren’t we talking about them? My struggle even then was, how much of these sob stories are we going to do?” Sarwat shared.
When Churails came to her, Sarwat felt things shifting. “In fact, even before Churails, I was always advocating for women’s rights on various platforms. I felt like, I would not be able to justify a character this weak and meek anymore because I’m encouraging women to raise their voice on one end, how can I be acting like a woman who cannot do anything for herself on the other. There is a huge contradiction there.”
When asked about the type of narratives women and girls need to be seeing on TV, Sarwat said, “I think our girls should be watching 26 episodes of how not to get married – because the whole premise of dramas today is whether a girl is good enough to be married or whether she will be accepted by her in-laws.”
Sarwat, unabashedly continued, “Girls have improved their standards in Pakistan, they are more career-oriented, they are multi-taskers, they are wise, even if they are housewives, they take care of so many things alone, there are so many successful women who have struggled so much. Not just professionally but privately. And we aren’t allowed to talk about that. Art is a beautiful medium where you can talk about the nastiest of things in the purest of ways. Like Hania in Mataye Jaan. Why aren’t we talking about more realistic, more practical, more elevating content for Pakistani women?”
The actor insisted, “Why are we talking about putting down women all the time? That content won’t help women. It’ll only encourage [problematic] behaviour in men!”
Going on to talk about how women are shown falling in love with harassers and stalkers, Sarwat urged drama makers and filmmakers to use art to instill basic values in society. “We need to talk about values and self-respect. We need to teach. I mean, media can’t just be about entertainment. It’s a huge responsibility. You need to teach younger people, men, how to behave around women. A man is not someone who beats his wife or stalks girls. Until we don’t show what a man is supposed to be, men will continue to be how they are.”
Addressing how deep-rooted misogyny is in Pakistani society, Sarwat asserted, “I think we’re just social animals. We want to be in a society that is living a lie. All these women who are cheated, beaten, and harassed by men, actually support that narrative, they want to cover up the truth. So a wife is not supposed to talk about her husband’s extramarital affairs in public because ‘izzat ki baat hai’. So, it is completely okay for a man to cheat but it’s disrespectful if a woman talks about it? I mean, all the lives you teach us that cheating is bad, lying is bad and now, you’re telling us that beta it’s okay, let it go… No! You’re so confused.”
When asked about what she thinks artists and filmmakers should do if one of them is accused of harassment, Sarwat stated, “I feel until and unless somebody is proven guilty and there’s enough evidence, our court system is really messed up. But one can really tell right from wrong. And if you feel somebody has done something wrong, to anyone, I think it’s your responsibility to take a stand. To not associate with such a person.”
She went on to remind everyone that saying, “Hey, he’s a great artist but he’s a child molester,’ or ‘He’s beaten up his wife but he’s a great actor,’” is messed up. “You should not work with such people by the principal. Even in Hollywood, when the #MeToo movement started, so many female artists, A-listers, had not spoken up about these filmmakers who had harassed them. But they spoke their truth when they could and this whole movement followed.”
To make it easier for those who feel one should separate the art from the artist, she added, “Art is not about hushing people, it is about expression. So, if someone is a great artist but a bad human being, it should be clear what one needs to do.”
Circling back to her film, Joyland, an edited version of which was allowed to screen in parts of Pakistan, and the critical reception it received based on the edit available, Sarwat shared, “People fell in love with Joyland abroad because they saw it in its entire spectrum. Even if people didn’t understand the language, the subtitles did it for them. They felt the human emotions.”
Last year while promoting her Zee5 series Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam the Ahista Ahista diva opened up about problematic content on Pakistani television.
Sarwat agreed to do QHKN because of its ‘powerful scheme of narrative’. “I did QHKN after Churails because both shows are completely different.”
She added, “Noir was essential. The idea of playing femme fatale seemed promising, so all of this just came together for me. And then Mehek is very different from Sara in Churails. The latter was very contained, very put together. Mehek, on the contrary, is a hopeless romantic. There’s a lot of ambiguity in this character. She’s stuck in a scenario that doesn’t let her become the person she really wished to be.”
Sarwat shared how she doesn’t have any reasoning as to why the producers are unable to provide good content. “TRPs are a major problem,” the actor asserted.
“Media heads need to be more vigilant of current issues. Safe storytelling is a no. There has to be progression. We have the talent; we have the actors – we have the potential to make something brilliant. Thanks to OTT, we have done it. You can’t just cast the biggest star and call her ‘2 takkay ki aurat’,”
“I did Mata-e-Jaan a decade ago. I changed some scenes from it because I didn’t agree with them but I cannot change the script. I don’t conform to half of the content that is airing now. It’s irresponsible.”
Adding to the same argument her costar Meherbano thinks that the channel owners are to be blamed. “We need people who are willing to take chances. Yes, it will be an experiment and the profits will be lesser than usual but it will be quality content,” she shared
“Showbiz is a money-making business, therefore stakeholders are less inclined to take risks. We, as actors, do not have the ultimate call to change the script. If we do express some reservations, there are people who will not agree to it. The onus doesn’t fall on us.”
Actor Yasir Hussain called out Feroze Khan in his Instagram stories for leaking his private number to the public in a now-deleted tweet. Khan had shared a list of celebrities on Twitter, mentioning that he was sending them defamation notices. Hussain shared a screenshot of a man who was consistently spamming his messages with requests to be cast in TV serials. He criticized Feroze Khan for the breach of private data.
“A stupid man had first beat up his wife and then leaked our numbers to the public. Because of this now this child is asking me to cast him in some drama, or otherwise he wants Rs 1 lac. Now tell me what I should do.”
In the next post, he shared the list of messages the person had sent him, but pointed out that he refused to defame him by sharing his number, the way Feroze Khan had.
Hussain also shared a screenshot of Meesha Shafi’s Instagram post where she sent her solidarity and support to the ten actresses sent defamation notices by Feroze Khan, saying that she could empathize having also been in the same place.
“Having suffered the most malifide defamation case…I just want to tell anyone who might be stressing about this stupid case that he’s going to lose in every way in the end. Karma is real. All my solidarity to each and everyone of you, especially Alizeh.”
Hussain put up a screenshot of his messages where the spammer had apologized, stating he was a big fan of actor Falak Shabir and wanted Hussain to help him reach out to him.
‘Moron’, ‘Stupid’, ‘Despicable’; Celebs slam Feroze Khan for phone numbers leak
A growing chorus of disgruntled celebrities slamming Feroze Khan has now been joined by Sarwat Gillani and Mira Sethi. Khan had posted on Twitter the private phone numbers of 10 celebrities including Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Osman Khalid Butt and Minal Khan.
Actor Sarwat Gilani has slammed Feroze Khan in an Instagram post by sharing a screenshot of the numerous spam calls she had received since the leak, and in the caption she warned Khan that his illegal actions will now severely backfire on him
“It is bizarre and despicable that private information, including phone numbers, of various famous individuals has been publicly shared on the absurd pretext of issuing legal notice to them by @ferozekhan Not only are such actions clearly illegal but also demonstrates the total lack of maturity to handle matters in a civilized way.
Two days ago @ferozekhan had one ex wife and her lawyer now he will have to face 10 celebrities and their lawyers after him. Good luck!”
Oscar winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy had responded in the comment section, by writing that she had faced the same issue of numerous spam calls.
‘Wait till you see mine,” she wrote.
Actress and writer Mira Sethi has also responded to the leak by sharing Gilani’s post in her Instagram stories, and clarifying that she will continue to stand behind survivors of domestic violence despite the threat
“Echoing what Sarwat says here about leaked numbers. Unbelievable. My lawyer will respond to the notice, and I will continue standing with Alizeh Sultan.”
Actor Minal Khan has uploaded a post on her Instagram page, where she critcized Feroze Khan’s ‘shameful act” for breaching her privacy and putting her family’s life in danger.
“Yesterday my private information including my personal phone number was leaked on social media. it was an utterly shameful act which was carried out intentionally by Feroze Khan on the absurd pretext of a legal notice.
This action of his has has caused me severe mental distress as I have been receiving hundreds of calls and messages. My personal security has been breached & out at risk as I have been mentally harassed, tortured & threatened by multiple numbers. Me and my family’s life has been put in danger.
Such actions are illegal- This being said I will be taking very strict legal action against Feroze Khan for leaking my private information on social media along with multiple other famous individuals.”
Pakistani and Indian celebrities had a wholesome interaction at a party held on Monday night. Pakistani actresses attended a party where Bollywood screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar and his daughter filmmaker Zoya Akhtar were also in attendance. Sarwat Gillani posted pictures of the interaction, thanking Fauzai Kehar for hosting the event.
“Had the pleasure to meet the Master, Javed Akhtar Sahab and his brilliant filmmaker daughter Zoya Akhtar.
Thank you @fauzia_kehar for opening your heart and home to us, you’re a wonderful host to say the least.”
The government of Pakistan banned Saim Sadiq’s Oscar contender “Joyland” for containing “highly objectionable” material, earlier this month.
An order dated Nov. 11 from Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting says that the country’s censor board had granted a censor certificate to the film on Aug. 17. But it has since reversed the decision.
“Written complaints were received that the film contains highly objectionable material which do not conform with the social values and moral standards of our society and is clearly repugnant to the norms of ‘decency and morality’ as laid down in Section 9 of the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979,” the order states. “Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 9(2) (a) of the said Ordinance and after conducting a comprehensive inquiry, the Federal Government declares the feature film titled ‘Joyland’ as an uncertified film for the whole of Pakistan in the cinemas which fall under the jurisdiction of CBFC with immediate effect.”
Head of Prime Minister of Pakistan’s Strategic Reforms, Salman Sufi publicly requested the current federal minister of Information & Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb to review the ban and meet the film’s team.
PM @CMShehbaz has constituted a high level committee to assess #Joyland and review its ban.
The committee will assess the complaints as well as merits to decide on its release in Pakistan.
— Salman Sufi (Get New Covid Booster Today) (@SalmanSufi7) November 14, 2022
Sufi later revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a committee to assess Joyland and review its ban.
Latest Update (Ban Reversed)
The globally acclaimed and multiple award-winning Pakistani film Joyland has been given green signal by the censor board of Pakistan after reviewing it on the Prime Minister’s directions.
The full board has allowed the local screening of Joyland after deleting some parts. The film was initially set to have a commercial release in Pakistan on November 18.
PM Shehbaz Sharif formed a cabinet committee to look into the matter after some schools of thought had objected to the movie.
Release Stopped By Punjab Government
Following yesterday’s clearance by the censor board, Joyland’s theatrical release has once again been halted, this time by the government of Punjab.
The Government of Punjab has retracted its No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued to the movie Joyland. The notification issued by Information and Culture Department reads that Punjab government, in the wake of complaints, has decided to ‘recall’ the movie by “exercising powers conferred under Section-9 (1 and 2) Motion Pictures Ordinance, 1979.” “You are therefore directed not to exhibit above titled film in the jurisdiction of Punjab province till further orders of the Govt,” reads the notification.
Reactions On The Ban
Saim and his team members raised their voices against the ban imposed by the government. Terming the ban a “grave injustice,” Sadiq, in an Instagram post, says that the ban is “absolutely unconstitutional and illegal” and has urged the country’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to review the decision.
Apart from the film’s team, A-list celebrities and media personalities also reacted to the news and expressed their support for the film.
#ReleaseJoyland ! There is no reason not to. Be proud of the work that our artists create not afraid! Give your own people the respect they get in foreign lands. Support us, stand by us and we as Pakistani artists will make this country proud! https://t.co/6jQizg0Xbx
Set in Lahore, the film revolves around Haider, the youngest son of the middle-class, patriarchal Rana family. As the Ranas yearn for the birth of a baby boy, Haider secretly joins an erotic dance theater and finds himself falling for a fiercely ambitious trans starlet. Their love story illuminates the secrets and desires of the entire Rana family.
The film debuted at the Un Certain Regard strand at Cannes earlier this year, where it won the jury prize. Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai later joined the project as an executive producer. It is Pakistan’s entry in the Oscars’ international feature category.
Recently it also won the Asia Pacific Screen Awards’ young cinema award, given in partnership with critics’ association NETPAC and the Griffith Film School.
After hearing of the ban, APSA said in a written statement: “ ‘Joyland’ represents a significant new cinematic talent in Saim Sadiq from Pakistan, who has crafted a moving and entertaining drama about family in his debut feature film. The Young Cinema Award Jury commends Saim Sadiq for his brave and joyous celebration of community diversity and the universality of love.”
A 10-minutes standing ovation, pride, and tears of joy are what the world witnessed, as team Joyland stood tall amongst the august audience at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Joyland left its viewers beaming with joy as they revelled in the world of Saim Sadiq’s creation. A young director/writer, who with his innate creative aesthetic and passion has given a reason to people back home something to celebrate. Joyland will definitely serve as an opportunity for many to learn and aspire towards bringing the change. Pakistani cinema was in need of a moment like Joyland.
Written and directed by Saim Sadiq, Joyland represented Pakistan at Cannes. Joyland is the first Pakistani feature film to make the official selection at the festival. The film has been selected for the Un Certain Regard category. Cannes only takes in a limited number of 14 films in the category and it is a moment of immense pride for the Pakistani film industry.
Saim’s feature film is a star-studded ensemble, starring Sarwat Gilani, Salman Peerzada, Sania Saeed, Ali Junejo, Alina Khan, and Rasti Farooq. The film is produced by Sarmad Khoosat, Apoorva Guru Charan, and Lauren Mann.
Team Joyland
The Current reached out to the director Saim Sadiq, producer Sarmad Khoosat and female actor Sarwat Gilani and asked them about how they felt representing Pakistan, their work, and the journey of Joyland.
Saim, who is currently abroad, has a message for his people back home. Speaking to The Current, Saim said, “I hope people back home do watch Joyland and respond to it in the same way with love and appreciation, just like we received at Cannes.”
Saim Sadiq- Director Joyland
A creative genius when it comes to dramas and films, Sarmad Khoosat, who is the producer of Joyland, told The Current how “proud, overwhelmed, and emotional” these past few days have been for the team and him.
Khoosat while talking about Saim said, “This is Saim’s film. It is from his heart and his soul. It is many years that he has spent with this story. Right from the day he shared the story, I knew that there was a connection and truth to it which is exceptional and special.”
Selfie of Sarmad Khoosat and Saim Sadiq
Talking about his role as a producer, Khoosat said that he had not produced in a while and the journey on the other side of the camera was a little unnerving initially. But the joy he seemed to witness as the journey unfolded and seeing everything stamped on camera was rather fulfilling for Khoosat.
“It feels like a dream”, is what Khoosat said about Cannes. “I am very proud of this ensemble cast. They are truly special and what gifted actors, they are people made of dreams.”
Pakistan’s much-adored actress Sarwat Gilani spoke her heart out in her conversation with The Current. “Joyland for me means revolution for Pakistani cinema for sure. It talks about a lot of issues we hide away or feel shy to talk about.” Speaking about her director, Gilani said, “Saim is a very intelligent and a detailed-oriented person. He knew exactly what he wanted. The strings he wanted to pull in his audience’s heart, and well he was successful in doing that. I loved working with him and would look forward to working with him again. He made Joyland with a lot of responsibility and sensitivity.”
Talking about Cannes, Gilani said that it was a magical time for the team of Joyland.
Sarwat Gilani at Cannes
“It was an absolute honour to be there and represent Pakistan. And we are delighted to make history. The reception we got was unbelievable. Joyland received a 10-minute standing ovation and that in itself was a fulfilling reward for all of us,” said Gilani.
“Joyland is a call for empathy”, says Saim Sadiq. His debut film has received an overwhelming response from renowned world critics as well.
Anupama Chopra, an Indian film critic writing about Saim said that “he is keenly observant of the deep-set biases we carry and the harshness with which we judge each other”.
“Joyland remains a thoughtful, well performed and engrossing drama set in a culture that’s shifting, and not always with ease,” writes Deadline.
We only hope and wish that Joyland is given its due credit back home and people reciprocate the same love and appreciation it has given to Pakistan. We all look forward to experiencing the joy and charm of Joyland on our screens, back home in Pakistan.
