Dananeer Mobeen feels overwhelmed by the response she’s been receiving from fans for playing Hurmat in the new eponymous drama on HUM TV. But she also feels sad about it.
In an Instagram story posted on Tuesday, the actor thanked viewers for their appreciation but also opened up about one comment that hit particularly hard.
While going through feedback, she came across a viewer who wrote, “Our father painted our windows so that we couldn’t look outside.”
Mobeen said this remark left her in a strange position actors often find themselves in — feeling pleased that a character has resonated with audiences, yet troubled by the reasons behind that connection.
“Do you see the conundrum, like I’m so happy that you are connecting but also really, really sad that this is the reason why you’re connecting to my character,” she said, before thanking her fans for tuning in.
In Hurmat, Mobeen plays the role of a young woman living under the authoritarian rule of her ultra-conservative father who dictates almost every single moment of her life.
It’s a particularly important story for Pakistani women, many of whom still face severe restrictions on their education, basic autonomy and personal choices.
In just the first two episodes, Hurmat has successfully been able to shed light on the kind of challenges women face if they’re not allowed to make their own decisions. Mobeen’s character, despite getting good grades, is unable to attend university because her tyrant father doesn’t deem it appropriate for women to go outside ‘needlessly’. As a result, Hurmat feels helpless and suffers from a severe lack of self-confidence.
It’s not every day that a drama role sparks such a personal response. For Mobeen, the experience has clearly been one of gratitude mixed with reflection — and a reminder that television can sometimes strike closer to home than expected.
