Let’s discuss the six times the creator of Boota from Toba Tek Singh shocked the world with his next-level thinking and didn’t care what others had to say.
By Omair Alavi Created: 27 February 2020
His last film Kaaf Kangana was quite bad, but ace writer Khalil ur Rehman Qamar’s comments on social media are shocking. For a writer who pens down dialogues that become viral, creates characters that become immortal and has been in the business for over 2 decades, he doesn’t seem to have a stopper in his mind. It can be a good thing if you speak well but not if you don’t and for the past few years, the audience has found the conversations with KRQ uncomfortable for various reasons. Let’s discuss the six times the creator of Boota From Toba Tek Singh shocked the world with his next-level thinking, and didn’t care what others had to say.
1. Urwa Hocane Made Me Take Anti-Depressants
After his first film as a director Kaaf Kangana got the green signal, his search for the leading lady took him to different actresses. There was Sohai Ali Abro of Motorcycle Girl fame followed by Urwa Hocane who was impressive in Punjab Nahi Jaungi, also penned by KRQ. However, he fired Urwa after three weeks and termed the last 7 days of that period as the most difficult of his career. In fact, he even went onto say that she ‘caused him great distress’ with her unprofessionalism. He was also quoted saying that he had taken 7 Lexotanols in his life but in those 7 days, he had to take the anti-depressants 7 times to keep himself calm. For someone you refer to as your choti behen (younger sister) that’s way too much insulting, isn’t it?
2. Saba Hameed, Mehmood Aslam Are Dishonest People
Then there was the interview on national Television that revived Khalil ur Rehman Qamar, the over-the-top thinker. While talking to Nadia Khan in her show that also featured his film’s cast, KRQ blasted Saba Hameed and Mehmood Aslam who are far more senior to him in the industry. He not only called them unprofessional people and used the same words he did for Urwa – people who are dishonest with their work. He then disclosed that while Mehmood Aslam took 1 lakh rupees more than others, when it came to shooting, he couldn’t find a window from his busy schedule. Then came the iconic ‘Maafi De De’ and ‘Nauzobillah’ lines as if he is something as big as God and his words sacred, which clearly isn’t the truth. Otherwise, his film as a director would have done well, right?
3. Women Should Gang-Rape Men To Prove Equality
And then there was the shocking interview where he announced the solution to all world problems. His suggestion to ‘women getting kidnapped by men’ was ‘women should gang-rape men’ and if that doesn’t seem awkward to you, I don’t think what will. Using words like Haya and Wafa and differentiating between Good women and Bad ones wasn’t enough that he went onto coin a new term – Non-Women – for those who are either mistresses or the second wife. His ‘I am fighting for the good women’ and ‘No one is a bigger feminist than me’ didn’t go down well after that. Dude, we all have stoppers in the brain, and if that’s not there, in the tongue that stops us from saying things that are cringe-worthy. But the man with the Golden pen doesn’t seem to have it and was righty criticized for saying that ‘I give equal rights to women’, but who gives you those rights?
4. Roomi Was Based On Young Khalil!
The character of Roomi played by Shees Sajjad Gul was quite popular because he acted well, meant well and above all, spoke well. The writer, however, stunned the world by disclosing that Sheez was actually playing Khalil ur Rehman Qamar’s own childhood, because that’s exactly how he was when young. People used to look at him not because he was a kid saying big things but because of the mature things he was saying, as a kid. (Was he talking about Sheldon Cooper?). That’s a surprise considering he was also Khalil from Sadqay Tumhare and if that kid was his childhood, it is hard to imagine what might have happened on the way that he ended up as Khalo.
5. Feminism Is An Evil!
Most of the things Khalil ur Rehman Qamar said in this interview were spot on, regarding the respect of a woman. However, at the beginning he blasted feminism which didn’t sit well with the viewers, and a stunned Saleem Safi beside him was truly frozen as to what to do next. There are many men who don’t believe in Mera Jism Meri Marzi tagline but while they can disagree with the logic, they can’t say much with authority, without even knowing the basics of feminism. How else can someone use the word Bazar e Husn and women’s respect in the same breath on national television and expect the audience to clap, which they did but with fear in their eyes!
6. Sonya Hussyn Was Never Offered A Role in MPTH
And when the biggest feminist around criticizes one of the better actresses of today for speaking her mind, all we can say is ‘are you for real’? Sonya Hussyn who in recent years have given multiple hit dramas revealed that she was approached for the role of Mehwish in the mega hit Mere Paas Tum Ho but declined it as it painted women in a bad way. However, the writer of the play announced that she was never in his book to play the title role, as she hasn’t reached the caliber of being worthy for a Khalil ur Rehman Qamar script, insulting her as well as the other writers who have cast her in their plays. However, in the same interview, he disclosed that Sonya rejected the role (that wasn’t offered to her in the first place) because she didn’t want to play heroine to Humayun Saeed, who was cast much later (and risk the chance of what, exactly). Duh!
