Rubina Ashraf Defends Controversial Web Series “Barzakh”
She emphasized that television dramas reflect societal realities rather than encouraging or promoting unethical behaviors.
**Karachi (Monitoring Desk):** Senior actress Rubina Ashraf has come out in defense of the controversial web series “Barzakh.” In an interview with a private TV channel, Ashraf stated that the series highlights social issues prevalent in society, including homosexuality and child exploitation in Pakistan.
According to Ashraf, “Barzakh” deals with themes and issues that have been depicted in bold and provocative dramas before, such as “Udari” and “Meri Raqs e Bismil,” which were even more daring in their storylines than “Barzakh.” She emphasized that television dramas reflect societal realities rather than encouraging or promoting unethical behaviors. Instead, they aim to raise awareness and identify issues within society to prompt corrective action.
Ashraf further claimed that the content of “Barzakh” mirrors real-life occurrences. She mentioned that homosexuality has long existed in society and alleged that truck drivers across the country sometimes demand not only a hotel room but also a child for the night.
The web series “Barzakh,” directed by Pakistani filmmaker Asim Abbasi and featuring a Pakistani cast, includes characters depicting homosexual men. This portrayal has sparked significant backlash among Pakistani audiences.
The series, produced for the Indian streaming platform ZEE5, is also being released on the ZEE Zindagi YouTube channel. To date, five episodes of the series have been aired.
