Makeup artist Babar Zaheer has firmly denounced the wave of online hate targeting actor Mahira Khan during the Neelofar press tour, sparked by claims she underwent Botox.
In a recent podcast with Muhammad Fahad Abid, Zaheer spoke openly about cosmetic treatments, online trolling, and the controversy around Khan’s viral appearance. He also reflected on his career, noting that while working with top female stars has been rewarding, the public attention they receive often brings intense and unfair scrutiny.
Addressing the topic of online bullying, Zaheer revisited the Mahira Khan controversy that once dominated social media discourse. He explained that the look in question was created during a film music launch event for Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan's film, Neelofar.
“I’m going to talk about bullies actually—how they’ve bullied Mahira and me,” he said. “If you remember that picture, what I did was stretch Mahira’s hair to give her a more ‘snatched’ look. It’s a technique that’s commonly used internationally, though maybe not as much here.”
He went on to clarify the misunderstanding that followed: “People assumed she had Botox or fillers done. No—it was purely a look we wanted to create. Yes, I take responsibility for that look, but that doesn’t justify the level of hate that followed. People were sending me messages telling me to die or saying I had ruined someone’s face.”
Zaheer also opened up about how deeply the backlash affected his mental health. He revealed that he had recently stopped taking antidepressants at the time, which made the situation even more overwhelming.
“People will always talk—that’s their job,” he said. “But the intensity of it can be damaging.”
Despite the negativity, Zaheer emphasized the value of his professional experiences. Working with strong, career-driven women like Mahira Khan and Hania Aamir, he said, has been a source of inspiration and growth.
