Actor Durrab Khalil, son of controversial writer and director Khalilur Rehman Qamar, has said that he asked his father to soften his public statements, but only to the extent that he felt he could.

Appearing on a private television channel, Khalil was asked by the host whether he had ever told his father to ease up on his harsh statements. “I did tell him, but not too much, only as much as I could say. And now I see he has changed. His interviews have also reduced compared to before,” he said.

When asked in a separate interview whether the controversies surrounding Qamar had affected his own career in the entertainment industry, Khalil said that they had not. 

“When I first started, there were people in the industry who already knew about this and it didn’t really affect me,” he said, adding, “Of course people have problems but it doesn’t really bother me or make me worry that something negative will happen.”

Khalil maintained that his father and his own career are two separate entities. “I don’t touch on these topics. I don’t discuss these things,” he said.

The actor spoke warmly about his father’s craft while drawing a clear line at his controversies. 

“There are a lot of things about my father I like a lot; he is a very good writer, he writes really good dialogue. I think he’s the best,” he said. “When he does something besides this, I don’t really talk to him about it because if I say something negative to him, it’s disrespectful and wrong.”

Khalil also said that he avoids reading comments on the subject altogether. “Why would I do this? He has his own profession in which he is doing well. I have nothing to do with his interactions. I also have to focus on my own work.”

He concluded on a measured note, saying that people still hold affection for Qamar. “I think people still love him and want to work with him but some people do talk and of course it hurts, so he’s stopped a little.”

Qamar is known for writing hit dramas Tum Meray Pass Ho (2019) and the more recent Main Manto Nahi Hoon (2025), which features Khalil in the role of Mikaal. Over the years, the screenwriter has drawn controversy for his views on women, feminism, and gender roles. His most widely discussed controversy involved a live television debate with activist Marvi Sirmed in 2020.