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Veteran actress Maria Wasti has never been one to shy away from speaking from speaking her mind.

 Appearing as a guest on FHM Podcast with Adnan Faisal, she emphasized that the true meaning of the slogan Mera Jism Meri Marzi is often misunderstood and deliberately made controversial. 

 Maria Wasti explained that the slogan is often misinterpreted. She pointed out that while women use it to assert their autonomy, the term is intentionally sensationalized to make it controversial.

“The meaning is not what people think it is, it’s about freedom of thoughts and freedom of expression.”

The Mayi Ri actress also touched upon the significant issues of women’s rights in Pakistan, noting that despite making up 55 percent of the population, women are still considered a minority when it comes to receiving their due rights. “Women are not receiving their rights, and that’s why they are raising their voices,” she pointed out.

She highlighted the criticism of the word ‘body’ in the slogan, saying “During the struggle for women’s rights, the focus has shifted entirely to the slogan ‘My Body, My Choice’. Everyone is disturbed by the word ‘body,’ but if the same word were said in English, it would sound better.”

Maira Wasti further explained that there is nothing wrong with the slogan, comparing it to other personal belongings. “Just as everyone owns their home, everyone owns their thoughts and their body.”

She clarified that modernity isn’t about imitating the West but embracing freedom of thought and rights.

 “Modernity does not mean Westernization, and enlightenment does not mean wanting to become part of Western society. It’s all about freedom of thought and rights,” Maria said.

The Aik Sitam Aur actress pointed out an important contradiction in society’s perception. “If someone says ‘my kidney is mine,’ or ‘my eyes are mine,’ no one objects, but when it comes to ‘My Body, My Choice,’ people object without any valid reason,” she added.

The Dharkan actress  expressed her concerns about the long-standing lobbying and groupism in award shows.

“In our entertainment and fashion industry, everything revolves around award shows, determining who gets work, which production house is involved, and which channel is associated with it.” She acknowledged that the industry is the same everywhere. “When you have to justify a standard, your work is being seen globally. The screen doesn’t forgive; it reveals when someone is brought in based on recommendations,” Maria Wasti concluded.

Actress Hania Amir has revealed that her difficult childhood is the reason behind her confidence today.

In a recent interview with ‘Mishabal Middle East’, Hania spoke openly about her career and personal life.

“I was born in Rawalpindi and spent my childhood and youth in twin cities. My mother had a handy camera on which she used to record videos of me and my cousins. This sparked my interest in making videos on my mobile phone,” she said.

“I started making Dubsmash videos for TikTok and other social media platforms when I was at the university. One day, I auditioned for a film and was selected,” she said.

Recalling when she got the offer, Hania said she told her mother about going to do a film and then signed the contract. “I had no idea about anything, but the people who cast me were good and did not cheat me.”

On her childhood, she said she did not have a lot of happy memories because it was “terrible”. “I only remember playing with my cousins. My childhood memories are not very good.”

She acknowledged that her challenging childhood gave her the confidence she has today and it taught her to face difficult situations with a smile. “It is because of my terrible childhood that I am confident, successful and smiling today,” Hania said

“My difficult childhood is the reason I laugh all the time,” she added.

While Hania did not provide further details, she has mentioned in past interviews that her parents divorced when she was young and was raised by her single mother.

 As Ghair nears its end, fans are wondering what will happen to Tehreem, the villain played by Madiha Iftikhar. In an interview with Independent Urdu, the Baby Baji actress shares details about the drama’s final moments, promising a surprising conclusion. She also opened up about domestic violence and urges women to stand strong and become independent.

Talking about the ending of Ghair, Madiha Ifikhar said, “I would say that its end will be something similar, where you’ll see what the climax of evil looks like. Just like in Baby Baji where I ended up in jail, this one doesn’t end in jail, but the climax will still be something where you could say that every evil ends with evil.”

“Incidents of domestic violence are increasing significantly in Pakistan, what would you say about this,” Madiha was asked 

She replied, “Cases are delayed for so long in court, and the way things happen, our government should first focus on this specific issue, especially when it comes to domestic violence. They need to pass some rules that make these cases resolve quickly and ensure that any punishment is given accordingly.”

The Chand Tara actress also spoke directly to women enduring such struggles, stressing the importance of independence and self-sufficiency.

 Madiha said, “Many women, even in this modern era, are still enduring because they feel they can’t return to their parents’ home due to the shame. Even if there’s no shame, they think, how will they handle it? Financial issues often arise, and parents sometimes say, ‘You’re living there, manage it, because we can’t support you, especially if you have children.’” 

“I just want to tell women to make themselves capable, so that if, God forbid, something happens, it’s not just about domestic violence. Sometimes there are financial issues between a husband and wife, or sometimes there might be problems with in-laws. There might even be situations where, may Allah forgive, a husband passes away. If your parents aren’t around, where will the woman go? A woman doesn’t have a home. The reality is that she doesn’t,” she added. 

The Ghair actress emphasized the need for women to be educated, financially independent and to secure their futures.

“To create her own roof, it’s essential for her to be educated, to have a career, and to earn. She needs to create her own space and secure her future. After that, if there are domestic violence issues, at least she will know that she can leave. She will have a place to stay and won’t have to beg anyone,” Madiha Iftikhar concluded.