Veteran Pakistani actress Bushra Ansari has launched a significant critique of the contemporary broadcast interview and podcast culture, labeling it exploitative and ethically bankrupt.
In a recent video shared on YouTube, the prolific artist expressed deep frustration with the prevailing media trend, arguing that television hosts frequently invite senior figures only to “dig up old graves” (unearth past controversies) solely for the purpose of generating sensational reactions and boosting viewership metrics.
Ansari focused particularly on the irresponsible use of highly destructive emotional language, condemning the casual deployment of the word “hatred.” While she did not name names, her commentary clearly targeted senior screenwriter and director Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar, who recently stated he “hated” actor Nauman Ijaz.
Ansari distinguished between temporary “anger” and profound “hatred,” defining the latter as a severe and negative emotion often misused merely as a synonym for intense frustration. She pondered the nature of true malice, questioning how one could harbor such intense hatred unless the subject had committed grievous acts like murder or theft. She also noted the irony that the same writer had previously nominated Ijaz for a role in his drama.
Explaining her own perspective, Ansari stated that while a person’s behavior might invoke severe dislike, she could never escalate that feeling to genuine hatred.
The actress also took aim at specific, unnamed media personalities who repeatedly appear on air despite displaying deeply flawed and negative conduct. She described one female personality who “tells lies on media” and appears “psychotic,” yet is continuously invited back to shows. Ansari also spoke of a male figure whose face reflects “revulsion, hatred, and boredom,” suggesting that his toxic presence is repeatedly platformed for content generation.
Ansari’s pointed remarks concerning media ethics and the sensationalizing of conflict have sparked a renewed debate across social media platforms regarding the responsibilities of anchors and production houses.
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### Industry Roundup:
In related entertainment news, Bollywood figures faced legal and travel complications. Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari were remanded to judicial custody following the rejection of their interim medical bail application in an alleged 300 million rupee fraud case. Meanwhile, actor Anupam Kher shared his unique experience of traveling by train after missing a connecting Indigo flight from Varanasi to Khajuraho. Actress Sonakshi Sinha publicly criticized Air India after her flight was delayed by six hours, a critique she later deleted.
On the cultural front, the Arts Council of Pakistan (Karachi) held a press conference to announce the forthcoming 18th International Urdu Conference 2025, which will be celebrated as “Jashn-e-Pakistan,” with briefings provided by President Muhammad Ahmed Shah, Munawar Saeed, and other notable cultural figures.
Other celebrity updates included actor Armeena Rana Khan revealing she is currently battling multiple health issues, and Bollywood superstar Salman Khan stating he does not consider himself a “great actor.” Internationally, Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi’s ongoing visit to India has generated widespread interest, with videos of his meetings with Indian personalities going viral. Separately, acclaimed Pakistani singer Atif Aslam’s scheduled concert in Dhaka was abruptly canceled, leading to fan disappointment.
