Imagine an actress who has spent decades perfecting her art. She knows the stage, the camera, and the rhythm of storytelling better than most. Yet, the moment she grows older, the very industry she helped build grows afraid of her. Now it might be difficult to digest for a mass audience.
We see men way past their “prime age,” nearing retirement, playing roles of love interests, and young women enjoying the luxuries a predominantly patriarchal industry brings. Meanwhile, the women who put on their shoes are always subject to criticism and public scrutiny. Now the question arises, who’s afraid of an ageing actress?
Everyone, or so it seems.
The Pakistan entertainment industry is deeply rooted in a misogynistic and shallow perception of beauty. One of the prime examples is middle-aged women like Saima Noor being restricted to roles as elderly family members of the main lead and being replaced by much younger actresses. Meanwhile, actors like Faisal Qureshi still continue to play the lead role without a single comment being passed about their age. This incident goes to show the bias embedded in the showbiz industry when it comes to casting women. The industry is afraid of an ageing, thriving actress shining with her full potential, because the very image of her goes against its inherent structure.
This ageism isn’t unique to Pakistan — Hollywood too often sidelines actresses after a certain age while celebrating older male stars like George Clooney or Leonardo DiCaprio. Yet, women like Meryl Streep and Viola Davis prove that talent and longevity can outshine shallow standards of youth.
Bound to buy what is sold, the audience subconsciously creates a similar aversion to ageing actresses. Moreover, the audience creates a symbiotic relationship with the industry, reinforcing the demand for youthful actresses due to societal and cultural idealisations of beauty. For example, the newly released Pakistani movie “Love Guru” received mixed reactions, with criticism levelled against Mahira Khan simply for her age. So, is an ageing actress only a threat to the showbiz industry or to the audience as well?
In Pakistan, too, there are exceptions. Bushra Ansari, Samina Peerzada, and Atiqa Odho continue to hold strong screen presence and admiration, reminding us that an actress’s worth lies in her art, not her age.
We, as the ever-evolving generation, need to understand that beauty is beyond blinding lights, a glamorous vanity, and a youthful face and is actually about the art that an actress has showcased and polished over the years. To challenge this bias, the industry must redefine beauty as skill, depth, and authenticity rather than youth. Audiences, too, have a role to play in celebrating women for their craft instead of their age. Only then can ageing actresses reclaim the space they have already earned.
