No matter how much Pakistani filmmakers, actors, and producers talk about empowering women in the country, our drama makers never leave a chance in glorying toxic male leads in the dramas.
It’s ironic how creators and writers despite living in 2022 leave no chance in glorying ‘toxic hero culture’ and they don’t find anything wrong in it. The misogynistic norms are not only heavily supported, defended, and backed up in Pakistani culture but also in the dramas as well.
Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi
Recently a drama titled ‘Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi’ featuring A-listers such as Nauman Ijaz, Atiqa Odho, and Danish Taimoor has been facing backlash over the same reason.
In the latest episode of ‘Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi’, we recently we witnessed Shamsher, played by Taimoor from ‘Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi creating the most cringe-worthy scene in which the male lead who is arrogant, rude, proud, and what not can be seen enjoying hurting the female lead.
Whenever she calls him by his name during a phone call, he seems happy to hear it and somehow enjoys it. This single has invited a massive backlash over social media over the weirdest conversion of both the characters.
Condemnation
Most of the viewers have made of fun of the scene and many of them demanded that PEMRA review the drama plot once again. They were surprised that how regulatory authorities can allow such scenes to air on TV.
Then there were people who pointed out the same typical pattern used by makers in glorying toxic masculinity culture. Many social media users pointed how they are fed up of same characters being portrayed in the drama serials
The famous toxic pattern
It funny and sad that how Pakistani drama makers’ favourite plots are: ‘A wealthy and handsome playboy keeps pursuing a middle-class girl. He kidnaps her, stalks her, abuses her, he shouts at her, physically assaults her but he is still the hero, In the end, and somehow after all the torture the hero wins over the girl.’
Similar plots
While talking about toxic masculinity, if we say Feroze Khan is one of the pioneers in portraying such toxic roles then it is wrong. Khan is famous for portraying an angry young man who is unable to control his anger and seek revenge.
Role of actors
Acting is a profession and it is indeed not an actor’s job to educate us as he/she entertains us. But an actor can still avoid portraying such characters especially being the prominent face of the showbiz industry, one should reconsider twice before choosing a role.
Impact on women
Such toxic lead roles normalise that women should remain silent about the abuse they suffer in their homes. Toxic men on screens further justify the growing gender inequality.
Moreover, cases of abuse and violence against women in Pakistan are consistently becoming more frequent as the men become insecure watching women become independent enough to stand up for their rights and be vocal about them.
The curious case of makers
It might be possible the audience gets attracted to these kinds of stories. One reason can be, that makers after watching some dramas getting popular, offer the same kind of script just to stay in the limelight.
