Pakistani actress Sanam Jung is all set to play the character of ‘Pyari Mona’ in her upcoming drama carrying the same name on HUM TV.
As the teaser for the upcoming show aired for the first time on social media, the actress made a statement to share with her fans and followers her two cents about her journey.
She shared that playing ‘Pyari Mona’ was indeed a challenge because the industry also has strict standards towards women, no one wants a healthy woman to play the lead as a heroine.
She shared:
Playing Pyari Mona was quite challenging, not only as an actor, but also because our industry has very stringent standards of how a woman should look, especially when she’s the lead. No one wants a fat woman as the heroine of the drama.
Taking up this role was a conscious decision. As an actor we have some social responsibility to start uncomfortable conversations. Body shaming ails every strata of our society. Sadly, women are being judged all the time for the appearance, particularly weight. They are subjected to unkind remarks like “Kitni moti ho gayee ho”. It’s very traumatic emotionally and mentally.
As a woman too, i feel it’s my responsibility to call out these vain and cosmetic standards of beauty. No one judges a man as harshly for his weight. External appearance is no barometer to know a person’s seerat. Draw a parallel between soorat and seerat.
Girls as young as in early teens are under so much pressure from parents, peers, society that they are always watching their weight. It’s ingrained in them from childhood “no one will marry you if you become fat.” Major health ramifications too—anorexia, mental health.
The idea is to make the subject of body shaming, mainstream conversation. People should be made aware how people who don’t fit in the pre-established norms of appearances, suffer and why it’s important to not be judgmental. “My body, my wish.”
Yours truly,
Pyari Mona
Jung’s message highlights how healthy women are frowned upon and face many complications throughout their lifetime, including when they try to fit in, get marriage proposals, are called out by people, being stared at as if they’re aliens, etc.
Many girls go through years of trauma and not even therapy can pull them out of it at times. Sometimes, these young girls go out of their way to take extreme measures, including starving themselves, vomiting on purpose, or turning towards self-harm.
We hope that the upcoming drama Pyari Mona can help spread a positive message and build awareness towards the audience and create empathy.