It’s okay to slap a woman [on television], but a kiss is forbidden to show: Ayesha Omar

Ayesha Omar recently appeared on the FWhy Podcast to detail how she made a space for herself in the male-dominated entertainment industry. In a tense conversation, the Habs actor revealed that her path to triumph was muddled with hardships, abusive relationships, and suffering, many of which she had to face all alone.

“As a child, I was a very bright and cheery person but that all changed as I grew up,” began Omar, detailing her experience of working in showbiz. “The actual trauma I faced was in my teenage years, when I moved to another city to work in this industry alone, that’s was the real game changer. When you’re all alone in a world full of men, the softness in you has to disappear, or you’re taken as weak and they attack you.”

She further added, “I have many friends in the industry who still live with their families, and they are really soft. So, a woman can afford to be soft if her family is around because then she is not dealing with men every day all alone.”

The Zindagi Gulzar Hai star then shared how she had to become tough to deal with men in society. “I had to deal with all kinds of men alone and that required me to put up a hard front. The thing is, when you keep a distance from people, you are then called ‘difficult’ and ‘arrogant’.

“You’re either a bit*h or an sl**,” explained Omar, highlighting the hypocrisy in society. “If you’re too soft and friendly, especially if you live alone, you are a sl*t, and if you’re reserved, you are labelled the latter. There’s no middle ground.”

Continuing the discourse on men, Omar also highlighted how men believe women do everything to seek their validation. “If we really desired attention from Pakistani men, wouldn’t we be demurer and softer?” That’s what the men here prefer in a woman,” she said, while confessing that wanting “attention” from “certain” men is a normal thing. “And, yes, if I do want a ‘specific’ man’s attention in my life, what’s wrong with that? It can be anyone—your husband, friend, or present crush—and that’s normal.”

Treading to a different topic, Omar also revealed that she was in an abusive relationship for eight years and was almost married to that person as well. “I don’t want to talk about the relationship in detail because it took me so long to leave the person, as I always thought he would eventually change and become better or that I could fix him,” shared the actor.

“Even after eight years of going back and forth, the relationship was full of physical abuse and so much verbal abuse, so I left,” continued the Tanhai star. “He was so fond of swearing and even told me he cursed at me to show me affection. I mean, I use profanity too while sitting amongst friends, but not for publically demeaning someone.”

Omar then disclosed that she is still in contact with this partner. “I have a cordial relationship with him and consider him family as well. I hope he has resolved his issues, as I understand that every supposedly ‘crazy’ behaviour has mental and childhood trauma behind it. Unfortunately, some people just release that trauma in an abusive or physical manner, rather than dealing with it,” she said, adding that it’s also so common to see abuse on television. “It’s okay to slap a woman, even if the hand is touching her, but a kiss is forbidden to show?” Omar remarked.

Before concluding the talk, Omar also revealed that she has four films slated to premiere this year; Money Back Guarantee, Huey Tum Ajnabi, Dhai Chaal, and Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of A Serial Killer which is now titled Kukri.

“Four films are releasing; I don’t know how this has happened, but all the projects I was shooting for the past five years are now premiering all at once,” she happily stated!

“Javed Iqbal, which was banned for a year, is finally coming to the big screen,” she continued. “Dhai Chaal is shot in Quetta. It’s based on a true story in Balochistan. The film will also have an Indian spy and I will play a journalist who is the female lead. I can’t reveal more details as it will disclose the plot, we’re keeping it a bit hush-hush right now.”

In the end, Omar mentioned Money Back Guarantee and how the film is more than just an entertaining flick. “It is hilarious but not meaningless. It’s actually political satire and resonates with the current situation in Pakistan so aptly,” she concluded.

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Article source: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2411351/its-okay-to-slap-a-woman-on-television-but-a-kiss-is-forbidden-to-show-ayesha-omar-1