- Durefishan Saleem says playing Zaryab in Dar-e-Nijaat does not mean endorsing every decision the character makes.
- She describes Abu Bakr's gentleness as believable and not 'too good to be true'.
- On healing, she says letting go means not being defined by an experience, not erasing it.
- She criticises the control TV channels hold over creative decisions and the shrinking space for independent producers.
Actor Durefishan Saleem has spoken about the emotional choices of her character Zaryab in the popular drama Dar-e-Nijaat, saying that playing a role is not the same as approving everything it does. In a recent interview she also spoke about heartbreak, self-worth and the state of Pakistani television.
In this article
The drama has sparked lively debate among viewers about Zaryab's decisions and her bond with Abu Bakr, played by Sheheryar Munawar. Durefishan Saleem addressed that criticism directly.
Love should allow you to evolve, not require you to disappear.
Durefishan Saleem, actor
Why Durefishan Saleem's Zaryab divides viewers
Durefishan Saleem said she was drawn to the very human question of how a woman copes when someone she loves breaks her. In her view, such a woman may blame herself, lose sight of her own value or struggle to recognise who she has become. She stressed that the story is not endorsing that suffering but may simply be trying to understand it.
She also argued that an actor's task is to portray a character honestly, not to tell audiences what to think. According to her, viewers are not merely following Zaryab and Abu Bakr; they are "negotiating their own beliefs about love, pain, healing and what people deserve from one another".
Some viewers have questioned whether Abu Bakr, with his kindness and emotional maturity, is realistic. Durefishan rejected that view, saying he reflects a gentleness audiences rarely see, and that patience and maturity should not be treated as unrealistic.
Durefishan Saleem on love, independence and compromise
Speaking about independent women, the actor said such a woman is not necessarily searching for someone to complete her. Instead, she wants a partner with whom she can share the life she has already built.
She added that strength can be misleading. People who appear successful or capable may still need reassurance and tenderness, and Durefishan described the freedom to be vulnerable as perhaps the hardest thing to ask for.
On compromise, she drew a line between understanding a partner and surrendering one's identity. She said the key question is whether a compromise comes from understanding or from fear of losing someone, noting that adjusting expectations is different from abandoning values.
If a person keeps silencing herself or doubting her worth to hold a relationship together, Durefishan suggested it is worth asking what she is really holding on to.
Healing without forgetting
Durefishan Saleem also challenged the popular idea that healing means no longer caring about someone who mattered. She said a person can change you, and that experience can remain part of your story even after they have left your life.
In her words, "Letting go is less about forgetting someone and more about no longer allowing the experience to define you." She described healing as learning to look back without wanting to return.
A call for more freedom in television
Turning to her career, Durefishan Saleem acknowledged that Pakistani television offers wide reach and a loyal audience. However, she said opportunities to try different genres, complex characters and new storytelling formats are still developing.
She voiced frustration at the power channels hold over creative choices and the limited room for independent producers, saying: "Channels own everything, and the death of independent producers and the dictation by channels is frustrating as an actor for me."
She hopes to explore cinema and streaming platforms but said the aim is not to switch formats for its own sake. What she wants, she explained, is to find stories that demand something new from her.
Background: Durefishan Saleem and the Zaryab debate
Dar-e-Nijaat is a popular drama in which Durefishan Saleem plays Zaryab opposite Sheheryar Munawar, who plays Abu Bakr. Viewers have debated Zaryab's decisions and her bond with Abu Bakr, and the actor responded to that debate in a recent interview.
In the interview, she made it clear that an actor's job is to portray a character honestly. She does not see it as her role to tell audiences what to think. That is why, she suggested, playing Zaryab should not be read as approving every choice the character makes.
The conversation went beyond a single drama. She spoke about heartbreak, self-worth, love, compromise, healing and the state of Pakistani television. Each of those themes is covered in the sections of this article.
Explained: the main ideas in the interview
Portraying a character is not endorsing her
Durefishan Saleem's central point is that portraying a character is different from approving her decisions. The story, she said, is not endorsing Zaryab's suffering but may simply be trying to understand it. In her view, viewers are negotiating their own beliefs about love, pain, healing and what people deserve from one another.
Love should not require disappearing
Her quote that love should allow you to evolve, not require you to disappear, sums up her thinking on relationships. She said a compromise should be judged by whether it comes from understanding or from fear of losing someone. Adjusting expectations, she noted, is different from abandoning values.
Healing is not the same as erasing
She described healing as learning to look back without wanting to return. A person can change you, and the experience can remain part of your story after they have left your life. Letting go, in her words, means no longer allowing the experience to define you.
Television needs more room to experiment
She acknowledged the wide reach and loyal audience of Pakistani television, but said opportunities to try different genres, complex characters and new storytelling formats are still developing. She criticised the control channels hold over creative decisions and the limited room for independent producers. She hopes to explore cinema and streaming platforms, but her aim is to find stories that demand something new from her rather than to change formats for its own sake.
Questions and answers
Who does Durefishan Saleem play in Dar-e-Nijaat?
She plays Zaryab, a character whose decisions and relationship with Abu Bakr, played by Sheheryar Munawar, have drawn debate among viewers.
Does Durefishan Saleem agree with all of Zaryab's decisions?
She says portraying a character does not mean endorsing every choice. In her view, an actor should portray a role honestly and let audiences form their own opinions.
What does Durefishan Saleem want to change in Pakistani television?
She wants more room for experimentation in genres and storytelling, and she criticised channels' control over creative decisions and the decline of independent producers.
What does Durefishan Saleem say about healing?
She says healing does not mean forgetting someone who mattered. In her view, letting go means no longer allowing the experience to define you, and healing means learning to look back without wanting to return.
What does Durefishan Saleem say about independent women?
She says an independent woman is not necessarily searching for someone to complete her. She wants a partner with whom she can share the life she has already built, and she adds that capable people may still need reassurance and tenderness.
Is Abu Bakr realistic, according to the actor?
She rejects the view that he is unrealistic. She says he reflects a gentleness audiences rarely see, and that patience and maturity should not be treated as unrealistic.
