Kubra Khan breaks silence on Dr Bahu criticism

Pakistani actress Kubra Khan has addressed the criticism she faced for her role in the hit drama Dr Bahu, revealing that the negative comments surrounding her appearance and on-screen pairing with co-star Shuja Asad deeply affected her.

Dr Bahu, which is approaching its finale on ARY Digital, has remained one of the most talked-about dramas of the season. Written by Sanam Mehdi Zaryab and directed by renowned filmmaker Mehreen Jabbar, the serial is produced by Humayun Saeed and Shahzad Nasib. Kubra Khan plays the lead role, while Shuja Asad stars opposite her.

Although the drama has received praise for its storytelling and performances, it also sparked widespread debate online. Many social media users criticized the casting of Kubra Khan and Shuja Asad, with some claiming that the actress appeared older than her co-star. The criticism soon expanded beyond the pairing, with users also commenting on Kubra’s hairstyle, clothing, and weight.

Speaking during a recent appearance on journalist Maliha Rehman’s YouTube show, Kubra Khan shared how the online backlash impacted her emotionally despite her decision to remain silent.

She admitted that the criticism did hurt her, explaining that choosing not to respond publicly did not mean she was unaffected by the comments. According to the actress, people often assume silence means indifference, but that was never the case for her.

Kubra also spoke about the unrealistic beauty standards that women in the entertainment industry are expected to meet. She said there is a narrow definition of beauty that expects women to be extremely slim, tall, and fair-skinned, making it difficult for many actresses to fit into those expectations.

The actress pointed out that she does not consider herself to fit those conventional standards and has dealt with such judgments for years. She added that seeing people criticize her weight simply because it became a trending topic was upsetting.

Rather than engaging with online trolls, Kubra chose to stay quiet because she believed responding would not change anyone’s mindset. She said it felt like “talking to a wall,” making it pointless to defend herself against endless criticism.

Kubra further revealed that social media users also targeted her hairstyle and wardrobe during the drama’s initial episodes. She said such things could easily be changed, but she questioned why people were so focused on minor details while far more important issues were taking place in the world.

The actress also clarified the story behind her much-discussed hairstyle. She explained that the haircut was inspired by the voluminous hairstyles that were popular during the 1990s. According to Kubra, she had already been sporting bangs before they became a viral topic online, but the look unexpectedly drew widespread attention after the drama premiered.

Despite the criticism, Kubra Khan has continued to focus on her work, with many viewers praising her performance in Dr Bahu as the serial heads toward its final episodes. Her comments have also reignited conversations about body shaming, unrealistic beauty standards, and the pressure female actors face in the entertainment industry.