Emmad Irfani is widely known for his charming personality, remarkable acting skills, and impressive fashion sense. Before stepping into the acting world, he made a name for himself in the modeling industry, where he quickly became one of the most recognizable faces. Over time, Emmad successfully transitioned to television and proved his talent with powerful performances in popular dramas.

The actor has appeared in several well-known projects including Jalan, Cheekh, Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, and Kafeel. His on-screen presence and calm demeanor have earned him a loyal fan following. However, fans recently got to see a different side of the actor when he appeared on television alongside his wife, Maryam Shafaat, for the very first time. During the appearance, the couple opened up about their love story, giving viewers a rare glimpse into their personal life.

A Love Story That Began at 16

Emmad Irfani and Maryam Shafaat’s journey together started long before fame entered their lives. The two first met at a mutual friend’s birthday party when they were just 16 years old. Even at that young age, they felt an instant connection.

Maryam was drawn to Emmad’s quiet and reserved personality, while Emmad admired her confidence and outgoing nature. Their personalities complemented each other, which naturally strengthened their bond and soon turned into a strong friendship. Instead of rushing into a relationship, the two remained close friends for more than a decade. Interestingly, Maryam was the one who initially approached Emmad and took the first step toward building their friendship, mainly because he was extremely shy and introverted.

The Shy Boy Who Couldn’t Propose

While the two clearly liked each other, Emmad Irfani admitted that his shy personality made it very difficult for him to express his feelings openly. Despite spending years as friends and having a strong connection, he never gathered the courage to directly propose marriage to Maryam; that’s when his mother stepped in and played a crucial role in their love story.

According to Emmad, his mother was already aware of their feelings for each other. One day she casually asked him whether she should approach Maryam’s family with a marriage proposal. Her support made things easier for the actor, and the proposal eventually reached Maryam’s family.

At the time, Emmad had not yet established himself professionally. His career was still uncertain, but Maryam’s family trusted her judgment and agreed to the marriage. Their faith in the relationship turned out to be the start of a long and successful journey together.

The Woman Behind His Career

Another interesting revelation from the interview was Maryam Shafaat’s role in shaping Emmad’s career. She was the one who encouraged him to pursue modeling and acting, believing that he had the potential to succeed in the entertainment industry.

Her encouragement became the push Emmad needed to step into showbiz, a decision that ultimately transformed him into one of Pakistan’s most recognized television stars.

However, Maryam also admitted that watching her husband work closely with many beautiful actresses sometimes made her feel a little insecure. Despite these feelings, she shared that her faith plays a big role in maintaining trust within their relationship.

Maryam explained that she first places her trust in Allah and then in Emmad, which has helped keep their marriage strong over the years.

Read more: Emmad Irfani Calls Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum a Career Milestone

The holy month of Ramzan ul Mubarak is traditionally associated with prayer, reflection, and spiritual growth for Muslims around the world. However, in Pakistan, many critics believe that the spirit of the month has gradually been overshadowed by entertainment-driven television transmissions and social media trends. This year, alond with several controversies, model and actor Areeba Habib also became part of this conversation after a social media post stirred controversy.

Areeba Habib’s Prayer Photo Sparks Debate

Areeba Habib recently shared a photo of herself offering prayer during Ramadan. In the picture, the actor appeared dressed modestly in a white hijab while standing on her prayer mat. However, what caught everyone’s attention was the LED skincare face mask she was wearing while performing her namaz.

Along with the picture, she wrote a caption expressing gratitude and saying that her priorities were clear. While the post may have been intended as a light or casual moment from her daily routine, it quickly turned into a heated topic online.

Social Media Reacts Strongly

The image sparked mixed reactions, but a large number of social media users expressed disappointment and criticism. Many believed that combining skincare routines with an act of worship appeared inappropriate, especially during the sacred month of Ramadan.

Some users mocked the unusual look of the LED mask during prayer, jokingly comparing it to a science-fiction character. Others questioned the idea of blending personal grooming with religious rituals. A few critics argued that acts of worship should be performed with full focus and respect, rather than alongside everyday activities.

One user commented that the actor may have been trying to appear trendy but instead invited unnecessary trolling. Another remarked that the post felt like an attempt to mix modern lifestyle content with a deeply spiritual moment.

Read more: Sania Mirza Emphasizes Importance of Namaz at Ramadan Expo

Ramadan transmissions in Pakistan often bring lighthearted entertainment alongside spiritual programming, but sometimes they also become the center of unexpected celebrity debates. This year, a heated discussion between two major showbiz personalities, Fahad Mustafa and Atiqa Odho, became one of the most talked-about controversies of the season.

The controversy began after Atiqa Odho appeared on a talk show hosted by Tabish Hashmi, where she suggested that Fahad Mustafa should consider working with actresses closer to his own age. The remark quickly caught the attention of viewers and sparked debate across social media.

Fahad Mustafa’s Response

Soon after the comment went viral, Fahad Mustafa addressed the situation during his Ramadan game show Jeeto Pakistan. While responding on air, the actor jokingly remarked that he would be willing to work with Atiqa Odho but only after she underwent “two or three surgeries.”

The statement immediately fueled further controversy, with many fans and industry figures discussing whether the response crossed the line. The back-and-forth quickly became one of the hottest entertainment topics circulating online during Ramadan.

Aijaz Aslam Shares His Perspective

The debate recently resurfaced when Aijaz Aslam appeared as a guest on Faysal Quraishi’s Ramadan show Bahar-e-Ramadan. During the discussion, Aijaz Aslam shared his thoughts about the controversy and the larger conversation around actors’ ages.

According to him, audiences often have different standards when it comes to local and international entertainment industries. He pointed out that people rarely criticize Hollywood or Bollywood actors for appearing alongside much younger actresses, yet the same situation becomes controversial when it happens in Pakistani dramas or films.

Aijaz also expressed that the topic itself might not have needed to start in the first place. In his opinion, certain questions asked during talk shows can unintentionally put guests in uncomfortable positions and lead to unnecessary disputes. He felt that the original remark about age might have triggered the entire situation, even though the issue has now mostly cooled down.

Faysal Quraishi on “Screen Age”

Faysal Quraishi also weighed in on the matter, emphasizing that what truly matters in acting is screen presence rather than a person’s actual age. According to him, if actors convincingly portray their characters and the audience accepts them in the role, then age should not become a reason for criticism.

He shared that throughout his own career he has worked with both younger and older actresses, and viewers still enjoyed those performances. In his view, casting decisions depend largely on the story and the characters rather than the real-life ages of the actors.

Faysal also acknowledged that Fahad Mustafa’s reply might have sounded a bit harsh, but noted that the actor later tried to calm the situation and move on from the controversy.

Read more: Fahad Mustafa Apologises to Atiqa Odho After Viral Celebrity Feud