Actress Sanam Saeed has defended Durefishan Saleem against widespread criticism over her accent in Dar-e-Nijaat.
For several weeks, social media users have criticized Saleem’s English accent in the drama. The trolling has made her a frequent target of online discussions.
Saeed addressed the criticism through an Instagram story on Monday. She described the situation surrounding her colleague as “unsettling” and unnecessary.
The actress said people had become excessively focused on Saleem’s accent. She also described the widespread online criticism as “very lame”.
Sanam Saeed Calls Online Criticism Mean
Saeed said constant criticism of an actor’s accent was unfair and inconsiderate. She described the behaviour of online users as downright mean.
According to Saeed, social media pages continued targeting Saleem over her performance. She urged people to consider the impact such criticism could have.
The actress stepped forward to support her colleague amid growing online backlash. Her comments have drawn attention to the issue of trolling within Pakistan’s entertainment industry.
Meanwhile, Saleem plays Zaryab in the drama Dar-e-Nijaat. The character is the carefree younger daughter of a wealthy family.
Fans Question Accent’s Suitability For Character
Zaryab has attended elite schools and plans to pursue further education in the United States. She mostly speaks English with her sister, friends, and boyfriend Zamil.
However, several viewers questioned whether Saleem’s accent suited the character. Many social media users said the English accent felt unusual for Zaryab’s background.
The criticism soon developed into widespread trolling across several social media platforms. Consequently, Saleem’s performance became a major topic of online discussion.
Despite the criticism, Saeed strongly opposed the harsh personal attacks against Saleem. She emphasized that constant online bashing could hurt an actor’s feelings.
Her response has renewed discussions about criticism, trolling, and personal attacks against Pakistani actors online.
