Actress Jia Ali has stirred controversy after making candid remarks about aging stars and their continued presence in lead roles.
During a recent podcast appearance, Jia stated that actors over the age of 40 playing romantic leads are part of the reason the Pakistani entertainment industry is stagnating.
Without naming anyone directly, her statements appeared to be aimed at Love Guru stars Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed, both of whom are in their 40s.
Jia aligned herself with film critic Umar Adil, who had previously questioned the casting choices in Love Guru. She praised Adil’s honesty, saying: “People dislike him because he speaks the truth, but his reviews are usually spot on.” According to Jia, refusing to accept industry flaws only invites decline.
She added: “Acceptance leads to solutions. Constant debate only makes things worse.”
Jia argued that excessive promotion often signals a weak product. Referring to Love Guru’s international publicity campaign, she said: “If a film is strong, it doesn’t need to be shouted about.”
When the podcast host mentioned that Mahira Khan had faced harassment during the film’s promotional event in London, Jia flatly said: “She shouldn’t have been there in the first place. If the film had been good, there would’ve been no need for aggressive promotion.” That comment quickly drew public criticism online. Many users accused Jia of victim-blaming and lacking empathy.
A user on X wrote: “Blaming a woman for being harassed, no matter the context, is deeply irresponsible.”
Another posted: “You can dislike a film without invalidating someone’s experience of abuse.”
Several voices from the entertainment world also weighed in. A few actors called her statement “tone-deaf”.
Others urged for more solidarity among women in the industry. Despite the backlash, Jia has not issued a clarification. She also claimed that casting older stars in romantic roles damages storytelling.
Jia said that it also harms the credibility of seasoned actors themselves. She added that even global icons like Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Tom Cruise have faced criticism for playing younger roles.
The actress stressed that the audience today expects realism, saying: “We need to be honest with ourselves. We can’t keep selling the same stories.”
The discussion has since gone viral, dividing opinion on whether Jia Ali’s blunt commentary was valid critique or unnecessary targeting.