One of the most popular dramas on television right now Ranjha Ranjha Kardi has grasped everyone’s attention and rightly so. Its compelling storytelling has made it both, a critics and fan favourite, however the recent shift in the play’s narrative has left many viewers uncomfortable. Noori’s character (Iqra Aziz) has been in a constant dilemma since episode 20 as her mentally challenged husband Bhola (Imran Ashraf) began violating her physically. The matter has been a point of debate ever since and Iqra has finally commented on the matter.
In a recent Instagram post, Iqra has shed light on what her character in the play is going through and how pertinent it is to respect an individual’s consent even if they are your lawfully wedded husband.
“One of the most pressing issues today, that we don’t talk about is marital abuse. Through Ranjha Ranjha Kardi 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’,” she wrote.
Read: Did Ranjha Ranjha Kardi just normalize marital rape?Â
Episode 20 ended with the suggestion that Bhola had overdosed on his meds and riled up by his trouble-making friends, he took out his frustration on his wife, apparently attacking and raping her. The episode ended with a suggestion of what may have happened but anything left to the imagination was then clarified in the next few episodes when Noori is shown dealing with this change in Bhola’s character. As the play reaches its culmination, we hope that Noori’s inner turmoil and suffering ends and the drama effectively addresses the subject of marital abuse.
