Actress Sarwat Gilani is in no mood to hold back on her opinion about toxic male television characters. 

 

In a recent appearance on the Let’s Be Real show, the outspoken star called out fellow actor Feroze Khan for consistently portraying violent and toxic characters in drama serials, accusing him of promoting harmful behavior on national airwaves. 

 

Sarwat didn’t mince her words. She said, “In his dramas, mostly, he has been shown beating up the woman and treating her cruelly. The same woman later ends up falling in love with him. This toxic behaviour is glorified on national television.”

 

She believes these repeated storylines send the wrong message to viewers, especially in a society where such portrayals can normalize abuse and manipulation.

 

“Feroze Khan, you’re encouraging toxicity on national television, and then you have a problem with someone taking your story and presenting it on various platforms,” she remarked, pointing towards the larger cultural consequences of glorifying abusive behavior.

 

Sarwat also brought up the controversial moment when Feroze Khan leaked the personal phone numbers of several female celebrities, including herself, during his public divorce battle.

“There used to be an actor, but now you don’t see him much. Feroze Khan. He had leaked the phone numbers of five or six people. I was there. Sharmeen, Mera Sethi, and me. These types of characters they used to do. Slapping, kicking, shoes, talking disrespectfully. Zero values. And in the end, the girl falls in love with him. This is the problem,” she added.

She emphasized the responsibility that actors, writers, and producers carry when creating content for a wide audience. Dramas like Khaani and Ishqiya, where Feroze plays emotionally abusive and aggressive men, have been both popular and controversial, admired for their performances, yet heavily criticized for romanticizing toxic masculinity.

 

Sarwat wrapped up her thoughts by sharing a powerful statement made by a police officer she once heard, “Incidents like these should not discourage our daughters, but we should discourage our boys, that they should have a better environment, better upbringing, and better set of values.”