Veteran actress Nadia Jamil has issued a clarification following the widespread circulation of a video in which she remarked that a wife should not be expected to take on the role of her husband’s mother.
The viral clip featured Nadia recounting a personal conversation involving her son and his fiancée. In the video, she emphasized the distinction between the roles of a mother and a wife, telling her son, “Your wife is not your mother.”
She explained that while a mother may tolerate certain emotional outbursts from her son, such behavior should not be imposed on a spouse.
The video sparked widespread debate online. Some praised her for challenging entrenched gender expectations in marriage, while others criticized the message, claiming it downplayed the nurturing aspect of marital relationships.
In response to the mixed reactions, Jamil took to Instagram to clarify her remarks, stating that her comments had been taken out of context, though she stood by the central theme.
“As a wife and a mother, my duties are different,” she wrote. “I love and care for my husband, but not the way I do for my children. A marriage should be built on **mutual love, respect, and partnership—not on parental-style protection or pride.”
Jamil further explained that the aim of her original message was to highlight a common but unhealthy dynamic in many relationships, where women are expected to shoulder emotional burdens as if they were caretakers, rather than equal partners.
“This is not about ridicule,” she said. “It’s about encouraging a shift toward more equitable, emotionally balanced relationships.” She underscored that while mothers offer a unique kind of nurturing, no spouse should be expected to replicate that role.
In her closing message, Jamil offered a powerful reminder to women:
“You don’t need to prove yourself as a mother in any relationship. Be an equal. Live with dignity.”
