Makeup artist Babar Zaheer has spoken about the online backlash following actor Mahira Khan’s appearance during the Neelofar press tour, saying he received abusive messages after the look went viral.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by Muhammad Fahad Abid, Zaheer said, “People were sending me messages telling me to die or saying I had ruined someone’s face.”
He said that the look in question was created for a film music launch event featuring Mahira and Fawad, adding that the reaction online was based on assumptions.
“I’m going to talk about bullies… actually how they’ve bullied Mahira and me,” he said. “If you remember that picture, what I did was stretch Mahira’s hair to give her a more ‘snatched’ look. It’s a technique that’s commonly used internationally.”
Zaheer said that many people believed the actor had undergone cosmetic procedures.
“People assumed she had Botox or fillers done. No, it was purely a look we wanted to create. Yes, I take responsibility for that look, but that doesn’t justify the level of hate that followed,” he said, adding that the backlash had an impact on him, especially at a time when he had recently stopped taking antidepressants.
“People will always talk… that’s their job. But the intensity of it can be damaging.”
Durign the podcast, Zaheer also spoke about his experience working in the beauty industry, saying that public visibility often brings scrutiny. He also said that working with actors like Mahira Khan and Hania Aamir had contributed to his professional growth.
