An old video of actor Sajal Aly has resurfaced online, sparking a wave of backlash against the user who shared it to mock her English speaking skills.
The clip originates from the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where Sajal promoted her film What’s Love Got To Do With It. The movie went on to release in cinemas on January 27, 2023.
An Indian user posted a clip from that event showing Sajal speaking in English. Sharing it on X, the account wrote, “Her English is so painfully awkward that watching her speak gives second-hand embarrassment. Her interviews, characters, howling, eyelashes are pure comedy. Someone please introduce her to versatility, subtlety, crying without howling & a diction coach.”
The comment did not sit well with users on either side of the border.
Both Indian and Pakistanis came to her defence, with the account facing far more criticism than the actor did.
One social media user wrote, “She has held her own against co-stars like Sridevi, Emma Thompson & Shabana Azmi & worked in Lollywood, Hollywood, Bollywood. English isn’t her first language & she’s great at her job. She isn’t appearing for an IELTS exam; she plays South Asian characters & that’s what matters.”
Another commented, “These same people love Korean actors who can’t utter a word of English either. It’s not her native tongue, stop this colonial outdated mindset in 2026.”
One person declared, “Wohi dakiyanoosi jahalat se bhari soch [That same backward, ignorant mindset]. Have you ever heard Europeans speak English? Kanon se khoon niklay [your ears would bleed]. Nobody needs to respect this language and the fact that she’s at TIFF and you’re in your pajamas in your mom’s basement is really saying something.”
Another opined, “You can troll her english, her family background all you want but the fact is she went to that level, worked with the best actors from other industries with nothing but her sheer talent! other actors with perfect english and degree can’t even act properly.”
One comment read: “She’s still a superstar giving an interview at TIFF being loved by millions of people and you’re just sitting on Twitter being a petty loser.”
Another stated, “English isn’t our first language for God sake and if you judge her for speaking another language then you’re a bigger loser.”
One user wrote, “She is an actress, absolutely brilliant in her craft, that’s what matters the most! English is not her first language, she uses it to communicate and her English is just fine! What are you trying to prove here! Like it’s so silly!”
Sajal Aly remains one of Pakistan’s most prominent actors, with a career spanning Lollywood, Bollywood and Hollywood. She currently stars in the Hum TV drama Zanjeerain, playing the role of Rabiya opposite Ahsan Khan and Danyal Zafar.
Written by Farhat Ishtiaq and directed by Shahzad Kashmiri, the drama has drawn strong viewer response for its performances since it began airing in April 2026.
