Industry Stands Up Against Misogyny and Ageism
Theatre actor Ruby Anum has come under fire from fellow celebrities and fans alike after making a series of ageist and disrespectful remarks about veteran actor Bushra Ansari during her appearance on Sabih Sumair’s podcast. What started as a lighthearted segment took a problematic turn as Anum commented on various women in the entertainment industry—offering unsolicited opinions that many have since condemned as offensive and out of line.
During the conversation, Anum made casual remarks about stars like Sajal Aly, Mehwish Hayat, and Hania Aamir—praising Aly’s looks, joking about marrying her into the family, criticizing Hayat for alleged cosmetic work, and calling Aamir “the pride of Pakistan.” But when the host mentioned senior artists like Bushra Ansari and her sister Asma Abbas, Anum’s tone shifted from flippant to outright disparaging.
Anum shockingly said that Ansari should “rest at this age,” and criticized her for continuing to act and vlog, adding, “She is older than our mothers,” and should “fear Allah” for staying in the limelight. She dismissed Ansari’s online presence as inappropriate and even went so far as to say the star “wasn’t beautiful enough” to continue working—a comment widely viewed as both cruel and irrelevant.
Asma Abbas didn’t escape judgment either. Anum questioned why she still acts, and even why she shops for clothes and shoes—as though self-care and self-expression have an expiration date.
Celebrities Respond: ‘Out of Line and Disrespectful’
Unsurprisingly, Anum’s remarks sparked immediate backlash. Actress Zhalay Sarhadi called her out directly on social media:
“Incredibly out of line, intrusive, rude, and disrespectful. Why must such people spew needless opinions? To get viral? Such a disgrace.”
Ghana Ali added succinctly, “Ok, I found her extremely rude, period!”
Mishi Khan shared a video statement expressing her disappointment and defending Bushra Ansari’s right to work and age on her own terms:
“It’s entirely Bushra Ansari’s call that she’s acting and vlogging at whatever age. She has maintained herself so well. But using such language, and then saying you like her? That’s not okay.”
Mishi further questioned the hypocrisy of Anum accepting respect and invitations from Asma Abbas while publicly tearing her down. She asked the critical question many echoed:
“If someone else is interested in keeping themselves fit and updated, what is your issue?”
A Need for Solidarity, Not Scrutiny
Ruby Anum’s comments have reignited a broader conversation about ageism and misogyny in the entertainment industry. In a space already saturated with harmful beauty standards and unrealistic expectations, tearing down women—especially those who’ve paved the way for others—only deepens the divide.
Rather than criticizing successful women for aging, staying active, or embracing new platforms like vlogging, public figures should be fostering an environment of respect and empowerment.
