The Source of the Controversy
The controversy began during Shah’s appearance on the talk show Zabardast on Neo TV, where he was asked to rank Mahira Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Alia Bhatt, and Mehwish Hayat based on their beauty and acting skills. Shah placed Mahira second for her looks but ranked her fourth in terms of acting.
Shah’s Initial Remarks
When discussing Mahira Khan’s acting abilities, Shah said, “I’m going to disagree with the popular opinion here a little bit, but I didn’t feel that there is a lot of expertise.” However, he also mentioned that he hadn’t followed Mahira’s work closely and referred to her performance in The Legend of Maula Jatt, stating that it didn’t resonate with him. He explained, “Her work didn’t fascinate me much.”
Clarification of His Intentions
Shah made it clear that his comments were not meant to undermine Mahira’s overall talent or career but were based on his limited exposure to her work. He emphasized that his observation was personal and not a general critique of her abilities. Shah also praised Hamza Ali Abbasi’s performance in the same film, calling it “top-notch.”
Addressing the Misquote on Social Media
Taking to his Instagram story, Shah directly addressed the misquote, urging his followers not to trust the sensationalist headlines. He wrote: “Lo jee, baich lo stories sab [Go on, sell your stories now]. Please Mahira, don’t trust the clickbait media. Rather trust me. Main aisa soch bhi nahi sakta [I can’t even think of something like this].”
Social Media Backlash
Despite Shah’s clarification, the backlash on social media has been harsh, with many criticizing him for his comments. On the media outlet’s Instagram post, the majority of the comments expressed disapproval, ranging from dismissive remarks like “Who is he?” to accusations of seeking attention, such as “He just wants fame” and “Muzammil sahab and his yellow journalism.”
