Sanam Saeed defends actress Durefishan Saleem amid online backlash over Dar-e-Nijat performance

Pakistani actress Durefishan Saleem has become the center of a growing controversy on social media, sparking a national debate regarding the limits of public criticism versus personal harassment. The scrutiny stems from her performance in the currently airing television serial “Dar-e-Nijat,” where her delivery of English dialogue drew significant negative attention, eventually devolving into personal attacks against the actress.

Prominent actress Sanam Saeed has publicly defended her colleague, labeling the online backlash as both unreasonable and unsettling. In a social media post, Saeed condemned the targeted harassment directed at Saleem across various platforms, describing the behavior of critics as cruel and insensitive.

In “Dar-e-Nijat,” Saleem portrays the character Zaryab, a woman from an elite background who is preparing for higher education in the United States. According to the production’s context, the character’s blend of Urdu and English dialogue is intended to reflect this narrative arc.

However, a significant portion of the audience argues that the controversy is misplaced. Many viewers contend that the criticism should be directed at the show’s weak script and dialogue writing rather than the actress’s performance. Some viewers noted that even the most talented actors struggle to make a character believable when the writing lacks depth, suggesting that pointing out structural flaws in a screenplay should be viewed as constructive criticism rather than an attack on the performer.

The discourse has prompted a wider discussion within the Pakistani entertainment industry regarding the threshold of acceptable feedback. Sanam Saeed’s intervention has highlighted the tension between evaluating an artist’s work and the vitriolic nature of modern digital commentary.

Durefishan Saleem rose to prominence following her lead role alongside Bilal Abbas Khan in the popular drama “Ishq Murshid.” More recently, she appeared as the character Zeb in the series “Khaie.”