Director Mehreen Jabbar has broken her silence after Dr. Younis Butt’s satirical review of Dr Bahu went viral, saying everyone has the right to express their opinion.
By MediaBites Entertainment Desk
KARACHI: Acclaimed director Mehreen Jabbar has responded for the first time to the viral criticism of her hit drama Dr Bahu by renowned humorist and writer Dr. Muhammad Younis Butt, choosing a measured and graceful approach instead of engaging in a public debate.
Speaking during an appearance on Rise & Shine, hosted by Nadia Khan and Zohaib Hassan, Jabbar was asked to respond to Dr. Younis Butt’s remarks, in which he criticized the performances of lead actors Kubra Khan and Shuja Asad and described the drama as unnecessarily stretched.
“I won’t say anything about this criticism,” Jabbar said.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and it is not my place to comment on such opinions. I have no interest in reacting to criticism. Critics and audiences have every right to express their views—that is what freedom of speech and freedom of thought are all about.”
She added that it is impossible for any drama to satisfy every viewer.
“As a drama maker, you cannot create a project that pleases everyone. I believe the best approach is to accept differing opinions and move on,” she said.
Dr. Younis Butt’s review sparked debate
The controversy began after Dr. Younis Butt posted a satirical review of Dr Bahu on his YouTube channel, where he sharply criticized the lead cast and direction.
Commenting on Kubra Khan’s performance, Butt joked that she portrays every emotion with the same facial expression.
“You can’t even tell if she is really crying or if Face ID isn’t recognizing her,” he quipped.
He also mocked her dialogue delivery, saying her lengthy pauses stretched the drama from “26 episodes to 32 episodes” and claimed, “every scene deserves subtitles.”
Butt further joked that Kubra Khan’s strongest qualities were “staring and crying with perfect eyeliner.”
Turning to Shuja Asad, who plays Kubra Khan’s husband, Butt compared his acting to “weak Wi-Fi signals where reactions come late,” saying the actor maintained nearly the same expression in every scene.
The veteran writer also took aim at Mehreen Jabbar’s direction, claiming she can turn a fast-paced story into a slow, prolonged drama.
Dr Bahu remains popular
Despite the criticism, Dr Bahu continues to enjoy strong television ratings and online viewership. Starring Kubra Khan in the lead role, the drama is written by Sanam Mehdi Zaryab and produced by Six Sigma Plus.
While many viewers continue to praise the performances and storytelling, others have echoed concerns on social media that the drama has become unnecessarily prolonged in its recent episodes.
Mehreen Jabbar’s restrained response has also drawn attention online, with many praising the veteran director for respecting differing opinions rather than engaging in a public exchange.
