New Delhi: Pakistani actor Hania Aamir was awarded the Star of Pakistan recognition by the UK government at the House of Parliament during an event, and Pakistanis are wondering why. They think she is overrated and ‘hasn’t made any contribution to the Pakistan entertainment industry’.
The award was presented by UK Labour Party MP Afzal Khan on Monday.
Social media has been rife with criticism, with some pointing out that her fame is based on her social media presence and “pretty privilege” rather than any groundbreaking acting chops.
“Hania Amir isn’t even one of the best actresses in ptv, while she has a cool personality she’s famous because of pretty privilege and because she knows how to use social media right. She ain’t even a lil close to being a good actor plus her script choice is kinda lame,” one Pakistani X user posted, while another Instagram user sarcastically predicted that her next honour would be the prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, a civilian award in Pakistan.
Also read: Hania Aamir wears bindi, wishes her fans on Holi. Pakistanis call it un-Islamic
Hania’s rise to fame
Starting with her breakthrough role as Rumaisa Siddique in the drama series Ishqiya in 2020, Aamir quickly made her mark in the Pakistan entertainment industry. In 2024, she won accolades for her portrayal of Sharjeena in Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, which earned her positive reviews.
Beyond her acting career, Aamir has become a force on the fashion and brand collaboration front. She’s the most-followed Pakistani celebrity on Instagram. She also has a lot of Indian fan following.
In October last year, Aamir attended Diljit Dosanjh’s concert in London, where the singer and actor invited her on stage and serenaded her with his hit song Lover.
When asked about the concert and the news of her new collaboration with Dosanjh, Aamir said, “Art is art and whatever be the differences, political or otherwise should not come in between humanity”.
Despite the public adoration, not everyone is sold on Aamir’s popularity.
Maisoon Zamir, a concerned Instagram user, questioned why legends like Anwar Maqsood, Firdos Jamal, and Saniya Saeed were overlooked in favour of a more recent face.
“Haven’t they done any contribution to the entertainment industry?” he asked.
Aamir, however, is no stranger to criticism.
Last week, the actor was deemed an unfaithful follower of Islam for wearing a bindi and wishing her followers a happy Holi on Instagram.
Upon receiving the honour in the UK, Aamir, however, was clearly touched.
“It’s a true honor to be here, and it means so much to me,” she said, acknowledging the strength of the Pakistani community and hoping for continued success in entertaining and making Pakistan proud.
Pakistanis, meanwhile, are now questioning the credibility of such awards.
“Why are celebrities and actors getting awards just for fame, while doctors, engineers, and other skilled professionals spend their entire lives proving themselves?” asked Pakistani user Ramsha Hassan on Instagram.
“Contributions for having zero talent! The real talent is often ignored which is a shame,” another disgruntled user joined in.