Iqra Aziz Starts Debate About Issues Of Marital Abuse And Consent Raised In Ranjha Ranjha Kardi

Iqra took to Instagram highlighting the issue of marital abuse and consent, saying the drama shows how marital abuse affects women physically, mentally and emotionally.

Islamabad (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 18th April, 2019) Ranjha Ranjha Kardi, starring Iqra Aziz and Imran Ashraf in lead roles, is surely the highest grossing drama these days.

The drama which shows actress Iqra Aziz (Noorie) married to mentally challenged boy (Imran Ashraf aka Bhola), has raised the issue of marital rape and consent.

In the drama, Bhola has so far twice raped his wife while Noorie could not say anything for it was her husband. The drama even got criticised for normalising marital rape but according to Iqra, it is aimed at highlighting this pressing issue.

Thus, Iqra took to Instagram highlighting the issue of marital abuse and consent, saying the drama shows how marital abuse affects women physically, mentally and emotionally.

“One of the most pressing issues today, that we don’t talk about is #maritalabuse
Through #ranjharanjhakardi we have tried to highlight this issue, how it affects women physically, mentally and emotionally. They have to fight constantly for their consent. We think of marriage as a binding contract to anything and everything, but marriage is based on trust and love and consent. Consent to live, to breathe, to be able to say ‘NO’,” the actress wrote while sharing an image and clip of the scene from the drama.

Responding to her post, fellow actor Imran Ashraf, who acts as Bhola in the drama, contended that Bhola raped his wife in the drama, being mentally ill and under the influence of medicine.

The actor however asserted that the play will be quite impactful as it portrays marital rape which, he said, is the ugliest act of out and every society.

Iqra Aziz’s rumoured boyfriend Yasir Hussain then came out to oppose Imran Ashraf’s view, emphasizing that it's not about how Bhola does it or what the reasons were.

“It's about a normal girl who got raped. And there are lots of girls who are victims of this,” he said.

“Marriage does not mean buying a woman. And rape is rape, whether done by a normal person or a mentally ill person,” Yasir said.

He then lauded Iqra for talking about the issue and commended Imran Ashraf for his acting.

Other people also shared mixed views on the post.