Prominent journalist and host Irshad Bhatti has responded to the recent controversy surrounding his podcast interview with actress Meera.
A few days ago, Bhatti interviewed Meera in connection with her upcoming film Psycho. Clips from the interview have since circulated widely on social media.
In the viral videos, Bhatti is seen asking Meera about her past relationships and controversies. This prompted criticism from several actors, who described the questions as inappropriate and unethical.
At the same time, Meera received praise for handling the situation with patience and composure.
Actress Zara Noor Abbas criticised the interview, calling it “completely wrong”. She said Meera had to face an uncomfortable situation despite wanting to talk about her film, adding that a man in a similar position might have reacted angrily.
Zara further questioned whether speaking to a woman in such a manner would be excused simply because she responded with a smile.
Several other actors and social media influencers also strongly criticised the journalist.
Responding to the backlash, Bhatti said the questions he asked during the podcast had already been raised multiple times on various platforms, and that the actress’s cases have also been discussed in courts.
He added that arranging the interview was difficult, as Meera had given several appointments but did not attend initially. He also clarified that Meera was paid for the interview, which he described as her right, noting that the discussion was not a promotional interview for her film but a personal one.
Bhatti further said that only short clips from the interview have gone viral on social media, and urged the public to watch the full podcast before forming an opinion.
