A resurfaced video clip of veteran actress Rubina Ashraf criticising fellow actor Alizeh Shah has sparked a fresh round of backlash on social media, with users accusing the senior artist of harbouring a personal grudge.
The clip, taken from a talk show aired during Eid festivities, features Rubina Ashraf reviewing Alizeh Shah’s performance in the telefilm Chand Raat Aur Chandni. In the segment, Ashraf dismisses Shah’s acting abilities altogether, stating: “She is zero. Not just in this drama, but in every drama.” Ashraf went on to argue that any praise for Shah should go to the director and writer and remarked that the actress only contributed with “her makeup, her curled hair, her lipstick and her look,” adding that Shah appears the same in every production.
The segment also included a heated exchange between Ashraf and her co-panelists Atiqa Odho and Nadia Jamil, both of whom appeared to take issue with the harshness of the critique.
The video, though not new, has gone viral again in the wake of Alizeh Shah’s recent statements about the challenges she has faced in the entertainment industry. Shah has spoken openly about her mental health struggles, industry isolation, and alleged harassment by senior figures, including artists and producers.
Social media users have been quick to defend Shah, calling Ashraf’s comment “petty,” “vindictive,” and reflective of a wider problem in the industry where younger female artists are subjected to personal attacks under the guise of professional criticism.
One user wrote, “Rubina Ashraf has a personal problem with Alizeh Shah. If women wearing makeup get zero marks, then you’ll have to write off half the industry.”
Another commented, “If makeup disqualifies her, then should we judge male actors the same way? This is just another example of internalised misogyny in the entertainment sector.”
One post, now widely shared, read: “This woman is jealous of Alizeh Shah’s beauty because her own daughter is very ordinary looking.” Many have also pointed out the timing of the video’s resurgence, with several suggesting that it contributes to the broader pattern of public harassment Shah has claimed to endure.
“This isn’t just criticism anymore. It’s bullying,” another user posted. “Senior artists need to stop targeting Alizeh Shah. She’s already been open about facing depression.”
Shah has yet to respond to the viral video, though in recent weeks she has shared emotional accounts of feeling sidelined in the industry. In a recent video statement, she named multiple senior figures – including singer Shazia Manzoor – alleging repeated attempts to “humiliate” her.
“I will not step back,” Shah said. “I’ve stayed silent long enough. Now I will expose everyone.”