Actor Kinza Hashmi has spoken candidly about the pervasive fear of living in Pakistan, urging every woman to be mindful of whom she trusts amid a surge in news stories involving violence against women. In a recent interview, she discussed her personal safety concerns and the constant possibility of something happening to her.
Trust No One, Not Even Those Closest
Reflecting on recent incidents, Hashmi cautioned that women cannot always rely on even those closest to them. "People don’t know that the people closest to them, who make them feel safe, can take their lives. So I would say that you should be afraid of everyone and save yourself," she said. She further urged women to heed their instincts: "If you notice a small concern, then keep watching it rather than ignoring it. Women have good instincts. The problem is that women have to be afraid, and if we do speak up, an army comes after you. You can’t even support another woman or they will say the same thing should happen to you that happened to them."
Fear as a Tool for Vigilance
Hashmi clarified that much of her fear stems from watching the news and seeing the increasing number of cases involving violence against women in Pakistan. "I think we should be scared, especially seeing the news every day and what’s going on. When you live in this kind of country, you should be scared rather than tell people not to be and that everything will be okay," she stated. According to the actor, fear in this context can encourage vigilance. "There’s no harm in having fear and being serious about it," she added, stressing, "It’s only if you are living in the safest country that you would be able to do a meet and greet and welcome people but if you are in a place where people are throwing acid, raping women, then how won’t you be scared?"
Controversy with Co-Star Ali Raza
Hashmi also addressed the recent controversy surrounding her Leader co-star Ali Raza after he was seen protecting her from a man during an event. "It’s not Ali’s fault. When we were going there, I was already worried. I said this in a previous interview too, that I had a scary fan experience outside a shoot once so when we were on the way here, I told them I was worried and if they could be attentive," she said. She emphasized that such incidents often have a larger context: "It's not just about someone getting close, there is always a backstory."
Public Response and Social Media Caution
Hashmi expressed concern over the public response to crimes against women, calling the biggest shock reading comments under such news stories. "How can people have this mentality and who are they?" she questioned. She further highlighted the importance of remaining cautious on social media, revealing she has changed her own online habits. "I don’t go out a lot. I used to put stories somewhere in a restaurant but now I post them 10 days after," she explained, stressing the importance of not sharing one's live location to the public.
Hashmi currently stars as Rubab in Leader, a drama that follows the story of a strong-willed woman navigating the world of student politics amid class divisions.
