Nadia Afgan defends Dar-e-Nijaat characters with her own family story

Pakistani actor Nadia Afgan has weighed in on criticism of Dar-e-Nijaat’s unusually compassionate characters, drawing on her own marriage to argue that supportive families exist beyond television. In an Instagram post, she compared her initial surprise at her husband’s family’s kindness with the experience of the drama’s protagonist, Zaryab.

Afgan described the warmth she received after marrying her husband, known as Jodi, and said his relatives had continued to treat her with affection and consideration. She recalled finding their gentle behaviour so unfamiliar that she questioned whether they were really that agreeable and why disagreements did not appear to dominate their relationships. Her account centred on how that welcome challenged her expectations of married life.

She also spoke about her close relationship with her mother-in-law, explaining that their bond had developed into one resembling the affection between a mother and daughter. The comparison was offered as a personal example supporting her view of the fictional family. Rather than treating the characters’ patience as impossible, Afgan said her own experience helped her understand Zaryab’s astonishment at receiving such treatment.

The discussion concerns Abu Bakar and his mother Khushbakht, played by Sheheryar Munawar and Sania Saeed. Their considerate treatment of Zaryab, portrayed by Dur-e-Fishan Saleem, has prompted questions from some viewers about whether their behaviour is believable. Afgan’s response defended the possibility of such relationships without claiming that every household resembles the one presented in the serial.

Writer Umera Ahmed had earlier addressed similar criticism, questioning why audiences found morally generous characters difficult to accept. Her response focused on whether compassion, forgiveness and tolerance of other people’s shortcomings had become so unfamiliar that their depiction on screen seemed artificial. Afgan’s family recollection added a personal perspective to that existing conversation about the drama’s characterisation.

The broadcaster presents Dar-e-Nijaat as a story involving love, loss and forgiveness. Its listed ensemble includes Munawar, Saleem, Sania Saeed, Afgan, Saba Hameed, Faran Tahir and Romaisa Khan. Those themes provide the setting for the debate: viewers are assessing both the characters’ responses to difficult circumstances and whether the family relationships depicted feel convincing.

Afgan’s intervention offers a clear position within that discussion. For her, the kindness shown by Abu Bakar and Khushbakht has a recognisable counterpart in her own family life, giving her a personal reason to defend their portrayal.