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KARACHI: Actress Durefishan Saleem has addressed the growing online debate around her character Zaryab in the drama Dar-e-Nijaat.
The discussion intensified after the latest episode showed Zaryab dealing with the collapse of her long-term relationship.
Zaryab had once been willing to give up her admission to Harvard University to comfort Zamil, played by Nameer Khan. She later discovers that her childhood sweetheart has married another woman without telling her.
The revelation leaves Zaryab devastated and triggers an emotional breakdown.
Abu Bakr, played by Sheheryar Munawar, arrives during the scene and helps her regain her balance. The moment prompted some viewers to question whether the drama suggests that a woman needs another man to recover from a painful relationship.
Durefishan addressed the discussion through her Instagram Stories.
She encouraged women to focus on healing, self-worth and rediscovering themselves after difficult relationships.
The actress said finding oneself can become an important part of a personal journey.
She also cautioned viewers against assuming that their own idea of what is right represents the only valid interpretation.
According to Durefishan, the storyline is not about telling women that they cannot heal independently.
Instead, she said the drama explores what she described as a double standard around redemption.
Her comments focused on how society can give men opportunities to make mistakes, seek forgiveness and start again. Women, she suggested, are often expected to carry the consequences of their choices for much longer.
The latest episode generated strong reactions among viewers.
Many fans praised Durefishan’s performance and described the emotional scenes as convincing.
Several viewers said her expressions captured Zaryab’s pain without requiring extensive dialogue.
Other comments focused on Zamil’s actions and the way he handled the end of his relationship with Zaryab.
Some viewers described his behaviour as a warning about emotional manipulation and the consequences of breaking another person’s trust.
The discussion has also attracted support from fellow actors.
Hira Mani, Zara Noor Abbas and Meerub Ali praised Durefishan’s performance in the comments section of her post about the drama.
Influencers Momina Munir and Ayla Nusrat Raza also expressed appreciation for the actress’s work.
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Durefishan also asked viewers to approach the drama as a story about human experiences.
She argued that audiences do not have to agree with every decision made by a character to understand that character’s emotions.
“Human beings are complicated,” she said.
The actress added that stories should be able to explore that complexity without always fitting into a straightforward moral framework.
Her comments have shifted part of the discussion from whether Zaryab should rely on Abu Bakr to the broader themes behind her character’s journey.
The storyline raises questions about heartbreak, personal choice, redemption and the expectations placed on men and women.
Nameer Khan has also used the storyline to discuss the treatment of women in relationships.
The actor previously reflected on Zamil’s behaviour through social media after the character’s troubled arc attracted criticism.
“Zamil is Zalim,” Khan wrote, adding a red flag emoji.
He said he had witnessed similar behaviour while growing up.
According to Khan, some men objectify women, enter relationships without serious intentions and later take pride in hurting their partners.
The actor urged men to take greater responsibility for their actions.
He warned that attempts to appear like a “hero” or “playboy” can leave lasting emotional damage on someone else.
Khan ended his message with three reminders: respect women, be honest and become better men.
The debate around Dar-e-Nijaat now extends beyond Zaryab and Zamil’s relationship. Durefishan’s comments suggest that the drama also aims to examine how society views healing, redemption and personal choices differently.
