A resurfaced interview of veteran actor Javeria Abbasi has reignited public interest due to a revelation about her unusual family and marital history. During a candid conversation with TV host Nida Yasir, Javeria opened up about how her ex-husband, actor Shamoon Abbasi, was also her step-brother.
The interview began with Javeria detailing her early entry into the entertainment industry. She recalled attending Express Talent as a member of the audience, where she approached the late Nayla Jaffrey for an autograph. Instead, she was encouraged to audition. That moment marked the beginning of her acting career, and she soon earned her first award for a PTV drama directed by Nida Yasir’s father.
When asked if she was married at the time, Javeria revealed she had just gotten engaged to Shamoon. The host then shared that the couple’s unique family dynamic was the inspiration behind drama serial Hum Tum, which starred Atiqa Odho, Sajid Hassan, Aamina Sheikh, and Mohib Mirza.
Clarifying the family ties, Nida explained, “Javeria’s mother and Shamoon’s father married, making them step-siblings.” Javeria confirmed this, adding, “People often get confused by our family setup. The rest of our siblings are from our respective parents. That’s why there’s always confusion about whether Anoushey Abbasi is my sister or Shamoon’s, she’s both.”
Nida light-heartedly addressed the controversy surrounding Javeria and Shamoon’s relationship, saying, “So take your mind out of the gutter.” Javeria responded with humor, “He was the first man I saw, so I thought I’d just hold onto him,” she laughed, before adding, “It was more about bringing the family together under one roof. It made sense and worked for a while.”
The actor shared that her wedding took place at her maternal uncle’s house, despite the rukhsati leading her back to her family home. The couple, who tied the knot in 1997, when Javeria was just 17 and Shamoon was 22, were married for over a decade and co-parent their daughter Anzala. They officially divorced in 2009.
Reflecting on her marriage, Javeria noted that being married to someone within the family didn’t exempt her from the traditional “saas-bahu” struggles. In fact, she claimed it was harder. “My mother was determined to prove that her daughter was the best. While working 12-hour shifts, I still had to manage all the household chores.”
Following her divorce, Javeria moved back in with her mother. In a happy turn of events, she found love again and married businessman Adeel Haider on March 15, 2024. The couple’s relationship began as love at first sight for Haider, who reportedly spent three years convincing Javeria to marry him.
However, social media users were amazed to hear the story and have mixed opinions about it. One netizen said, “It might be allowed in Islam.” While many badmouthed the actors and questioned whether they could not find someone else to marry. Another user wrote: “This is Pakistan, anything can happen here.”
