Actor Meera appeared on a podcast with journalist Irshad Bhatti to promote her upcoming film “Psycho” but the conversation took a turn that had little to do with cinema, and everything to do with her personal life. 

Bhatti spent much of the interview pressing her on past relationships and controversies. Meera deflected each time, redirecting the podcast to her film. Eventually, she removed her mic, stood up, and walked out. The clip has since sparked a wave of reactions online, with most of the internet siding firmly with the actor.

 

Bhatti's questions ran through a list of Meera's past, including veteran actor and director Sangeeta's claim that she had caught Meera and Saud "red-handed," rumours of marriage with Humayun Saeed, her relationships with Captain Naveed and Atiqur Rehman. 

 

To each, Meera's response was a variation of the same thing: "I don't know anything about what you're saying".

 

When Bhatti raised the matter of a hospital the actress had said she would build in her mother's name, asking how much money was collected and where it went, she replied this time with: "Just watch my film. Everyone go watch Psycho".

 

As she unclipped her mic and rose from her chair, Bhatti kept going asking whether things were over with Captain Naveed and Atiqur Rehman, and which of the two had hurt her more. "Leave all of this and watch my film," she replied before walking out. 

 

The clip spread like wildfire, triggering a massive wave of reactions on social media, with most people largely siding with Meera. 

 

Many users criticized Bhatti’s line of questioning as "filthy" and "below the belt".

 

"This is not journalism, this is pure filth. Learn some grace from Meera," one user commented, adding that she remained calm where others might have reacted physically. 

 

Another observer noted that the only question of public interest was about hospital funds, while the rest were "personal and vulgar."

Commenters pointed out the irony of the situation, noting that while Meera has often been the subject of memes in the past, her conduct in this interview showed "maturity" and "dignity". One viral post stated, "A man tried his best to trigger her... and Meera kept herself so composed". 

 

Prominent figures also joined the discourse. Maheen Ghani questioned the double standards in journalism, asking, "Wasn’t Irshad Bhatti the same 'journalist' lecturing everyone on dignity and respect during the iddat case? Apparently, dignity only applies to women who fit a certain script". Yasir Latif Hamdani echoed the thoughts, calling Meera’s dignity "phenomenal" while describing the interviewer as a "creep".

 

The backlash included calls to report and ban "so-called anchors" who prioritize ratings over decency. Some users expressed that the trend of podcasters and journalists acting as moral authorities over their guests needs to end. 

 

One critic remarked, "Meera Jee looking smarter in this interview than Irshad Bhatti. He looks like some random YouTuber who shoves a mic in people's faces."

 

Others reflected on the religious and social implications of the interview, suggesting that people should focus on covering the flaws of others rather than exposing them for views. "If Allah were to expose human shortcomings to one another, then what?" one user asked.

 

Despite the persistent questioning regarding her past, Meera’s exit from the set has been characterized by social media users as a "10/10" response to an attempt at "cheap fame".