Recently, harjeena and Rubab from Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum have become extremely popular. I hear my mother talking about them with my aunts when I get home. When I go to work, I hear women talk about them, especially how Rubab retaliated against her pretentious, liar, and cheating husband.
It is safe to say that the two characters, played by Naeema Butt and Hania Aamir, have rekindled the debate between good girls and bad girls. And for the first time in a long time, Pakistani viewers are siding with Rubab, a “bad girl” according to textbooks. Nevertheless, I believe we are all coming to conclusions too quickly.
Is Sharjeena in fact a “crybaby”?
While Rubab is praised on social media and Sharjeena is referred to as a “crybaby,” I would like everyone to consider everything Sharjeena has endured; Despite having sacrificed her entire lifestyle for him, experiencing a miscarriage, and now suffering from postpartum depression—yes, you can suffer from PPD even after a pregnancy loss—she felt abandoned by her husband when she needed him most. Additionally, I would advise against comparing the two women.
This comparison, in my opinion, undermines the essence of feminism because, while we celebrate Rubab, our “feminist icon,” we fail to remember that the fundamental idea of feminism is to empower women rather than pit them against one another.
Additionally, let’s investigate the setting in which these comparisons are being made. Due to its stellar cast and straightforward yet captivating plot, Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum has achieved considerable notoriety. Sharjeena and Rubab are rivals in the show because Rubab marries Adeel, who was Sharjeena’s first love interest.
After that, Sharjeena weds Mustafa, Adeel’s younger brother. To put it mildly, Mustafa is a man child in his late twenties who spends his days lounging around and playing games. We continue to romanticize the trope that Sharjeena assumes the role of “fixing” him because she portrays the ideal middle-class wife.
Because she has been distraught by everything that has been going on in her life, including going from riches to rags, being ignored by her husband (everyone’s favorite Mustafa, played by Fahad Mustafa), and losing her child, viewers have favored Rubab over Sharjeena in the last couple of episodes. In addition, while she was attempting to conceive, Mustafa informed her that he did not want a child in the first place.
Throughout the entire time she was making these sacrifices, he also did not reassure her in any way, not even a single sentence. On the contrary, she has always been there for him, encouraging him to pursue his goals.
Is Rubab truly nothing but claps?
Regarding Rubab, it’s important to remember that this character operates from a position of privilege. Even though privilege isn’t always a bad thing, remember that entitlement is at play here. This character acts like a spoiled, entitled, and manipulative child who wants what she wants, supported by her father’s never-ending wealth. She is self-assured, but is she really someone we should strive to emulate? I’ll try to break it down, but Sad Double Roti here would disagree.
