Why is Dur-e-Fishan Saleem facing Backlash from Danish Taimoor Fans?

Dur-e-Fishan Saleem has stirred strong reactions online after openly acknowledging that her debut drama Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi glorified toxic masculinity.

The actor made this admission during an interview on Haute Talk with Amna Isani, reflecting on the impact and flaws of the show.

When asked directly about the problematic portrayal of the male lead, Dur-e-Fishan responded:

“It did romanticise toxicity. That was a script issue.

“The good thing was that he was changing himself. The girl wasn’t changing him.

“I believe a person should change for themselves, and I liked that.

“Normal people are flawed. There are red flags and green flags, and I agree it wasn’t that great a drama.

“The script had loopholes. But now, I have a say. Now I speak up when a character doesn’t resonate with me.”

While her comments were candid and seemingly self-critical, they sparked an immediate backlash from Danish Taimoor’s loyal fanbase.

Several fans accused her of hypocrisy, especially since the same drama had catapulted her to mainstream fame almost overnight.

One user wrote: “What about the script of Ishq Murshid? Which father allows a stranger to live in his house with his daughters?”

Another added: “Look at how shameless this Dure aunty is.”

Mocking Dur-e-Fishan’s intentions, a third said:

“She’s just trying to please feminist aunties.”

Some labelled Dur-e-Fishan “ungrateful” for criticising a project that played a significant role in shaping her career.

Others predicted that her upcoming drama with Feroze Khan would be the true test of her staying power.

However, not all the responses were negative. Some viewers echoed Dur-e-Fishan’s concerns about the romanticising of toxic relationships on television.

Particular attention has turned to Danish’s repeated choice of roles that depict possessive or violent men, such as in Sher.

Critics argue this pattern reinforces unhealthy behaviour as desirable or aspirational for younger audiences.

The criticism isn’t limited to fans alone. Alina Abbas Shah previously condemned Danish Taimoor’s trajectory.

She said: “Danish needs to rethink his whole career. If you’re bringing toxic stories to the screen and calling them romance just because they sell, it’s wrong.

“A society that idolises such people is wrong.”

Many people on social media have supported her sentiment, demanding more responsibility from creators and actors alike.

A comment read: “You have a daughter too. Take some responsibility.”

One commented: “Stop normalising this in our society. What kind of mindset is this?”

The debate surrounding toxicity in Pakistani television drama is far from over.

But Dur-e-Fishan Saleem’s recent statement has clearly reopened a necessary conversation about the kind of narratives being presented on screens.