Veteran film actress Jia Ali has stirred controversy with her recent remarks about aging actors and actresses continuing to play lead roles in the film industry. Without directly naming them, she appeared to take a dig at Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed, saying that actors over 40 taking on hero and heroine roles are contributing to the downfall of the industry.
Jia Ali made these comments during an appearance on Fiza Ali’s podcast, where she openly discussed various topics.
During the show, she praised film critic Umar Adil, stating that he speaks the truth, which is why some people dislike his reviews. She added that his analysis of films is usually spot-on. Umar Adil had previously criticized the film Love teacherfeaturing Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed, questioning the casting of older stars in romantic leads.
Jia Ali expressed her agreement with Umar Adil’s views, though she avoided naming any specific actors. She emphasized the importance of acknowledging flaws rather than arguing about them, stating that acceptance leads to solutions, while debate often leads to controversy.
When host Fiza Ali brought up that Mahira Khan was reportedly harassed during the film’s promotion in London, Jia responded bluntly, saying that Mahira shouldn’t have gone there in the first place. According to Jia, “If the film had been good, there would have been no need for aggressive promotion.”
She went on to argue that heavy promotion is usually a sign of a weak film, and truly good films don’t need excessive marketing.
Jia further stressed that the practice of casting actors above 40 in lead roles is not only damaging the industry but also harming the actors’ own careers.
She added that even global stars like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Hollywood’s Tom Cruise face similar criticism for continuing to play youthful leads well into their older years.
We welcome your contributions! Submit your blogs, opinion pieces, press releases, news story pitches, and news features to opinion@minutemirror.com.pk and minutemirrormail@gmail.com
