Known for his versatile performances over the decades, acclaimed actor Faysal Quraishi has faced criticism from fans following the release of teasers for his latest drama, Raaja Rani.
Directed by Amin Iqbal and penned by Sana Zafar, the drama is a joint production by BJ Productions and Momina Duraid.
However, instead of praise, the drama’s teasers have triggered widespread public backlash, mainly due to Faysal Quraishi’s pairing with much-younger co-star Hina Afridi and his clean-shaven, funky new avatar. Social media users are not buying into the romantic chemistry between the lead pair. Many pointed out the visible age gap and criticised the industry’s tendency to cast middle-aged male actors opposite significantly younger female leads.
Some of the harsh reactions include: “Faysal Quraishi and Hina look like father and daughter.” “He should stop doing roles where he appears more like an uncle than the main lead hero.”
“Please cast age-appropriate actors. He’s a legend but not a college boy!”
Adding fuel to the fire was Faysal Quraishi’s Bollywood-inspired dance sequence in the teaser, which fans felt was completely out of character for an actor of his stature.
“This looks more like a comedy series.”
“Faysal Quraishi should be doing roles like Chinnar Khan, not this.”
“When you order a Bollywood song, ‘Gerua,’ from Daraz.”
The criticism suggests that fans expected a more mature, content-rich narrative from the seasoned actor rather than what appears to be a flashy, youthful romance.
While the show is yet to air, the initial response from fans has been lukewarm at best and brutally honest at worst.