Kinza Hashmi is standing up for her Leader costar Ali Raza days after a video from a fan meet and greet in Karachi went viral where a man approaching her was picked up and put aside by her Raza.
Videos from the event show a man, presumably trying to meet Hashmi at the event on Sunday, walk up behind her and get close before being lifted up by Raza. The fan is seen grinning as he’s carried to the side. The move sparked a debate, with some calling the actor childish while others praised his sense of chivalry.
Hashmi stepped in to defend her costar on Thursday, saying that while the event was a meet and greet, “that does not mean anyone has the right to come extremely close to me or any female and make them uncomfortable”.
She said she had interacted with fans throughout the event, with many men asking to take pictures with her respectfully and while maintaining boundaries. This one fan, she said, “crossed that line”.
She said Raza’s actions were a direct response to her feeling uncomfortable with the developing situation. Hashmi acknowledged it could have been handled better, but said Raza’s reaction “came from a protective instinct to make me feel safe in that moment”.
