Actress Urwa Hocane opened up about the plight of Pakistani Television and the glorification of toxic masculinity in an interview with journalist Maliha Rehman. The Punjab Nahi Jaungi star said that PEMRA issued multiple notices to the producers of her drama Udaari for highlighting child abuse, which is a serious issue in the country.
She also agreed with the host’s stance that domestic violence and toxic masculinity are being romanticised in recent dramas, which is extremely problematic.
“We have romanticized domestic violence, domestic harassment, and martial rape we have romanticized all that and it’s wrong. Have you lost your mind?”. While she added, “And if a girl is silent we consider it as a heroine?”.
she added, “I’ve come up to the point that I end up singing on the script that is less problematic”.
“And I hope that I get to convince the director to make the story slightly better, there are full of angry heroes in stories until they pull your head and until they torture you, you can’t fall in love with them. Is it really good what we are portraying over television screens? Someone harassed you and later you fall in love with that man?”.
The Neeli Zinda Hai actress also shed light on her journey, “I started working as a VJ at the age of 17, but actually I the first time I started earning was the age of 14 when I started giving tuitions. I had a thought in my mind that we should never put a burden on our parents and I always wanted to be independent.”
Hocane shared her take on a man’s importance in a woman’s life, “What do you need a man for? You don’t need a man to live your life. I’m sure you would like to have one but it’s not compulsory. In my opinion, there’s no need of having a man in your life.”
Urwa was dragged into a controversy when actor Aijaz Aslam appeared with his wife Sabeen on The Couple Show hosted by Aagha Ali and Hina Altaf earlier this year.
On being asked about a leading lady who has attitude problems, unprofessional and needs to work on her behaviour, the Nand star gave a shocking answer.
Aijaz named Urwa Hocane and stated, “Although I haven’t worked with her but I have heard (from friends and colleagues) that it is Urwa, she gets very angry on the sets, quickly loses her temper and even instructs the director on creative aspects.”
The hosting duo kept nodding while Aslam was talking, however, Aagha mentioned later that he recently met the Tich Button diva at an event and felt that she was grounded.
Hocane then issued a statement, responding to the “baseless allegations” that were circulating about her. She explains that she is respectful of her seniors in the fraternity, and emphasizes that seniors too must be mindful of the responsibility they have towards younger actors, keeping in mind how their words can deeply impact the “image, mind, and even work” of these younger stars.
She called herself “creatively charged,” and states that she always indulges in “healthy discussions” with her directors and producers.
The Amanat star also stated that she is certain that the senior actor meant no harm, given that they do not know each other personally, nor have they ever starred together. However, she does state that “irresponsible statements leave us at a mercy of internet trolls, therefore everyone must watch what they say in public about someone else, especially when it’s mere hearsay.”
She concluded by thanking Aagha and Hina, who understood the gravity of the situation and did not become party to it.
