Pakistani actress and model Hira Mani, best known for her roles in dramas like Do Bol, Kashf, and Mere Paas Tum Ho, recently shared a raw and unfiltered glimpse into her family life, but not all fans were kind towards her.
In a casual Facebook video, Hira and her husband, comedian Salman Saqib Sheikh, are seen in a relatable parenting moment. Mani playfully scolds one of their sons for not completing homework while Hira films the scene.
Both appeared makeup-free, dressed in relaxed home clothing, portraying an authentic, everyday family scene. While some fans appreciated the realness, others had issues with Hira’s appearance, sparking unnecessary criticism.
The comments were, “Without makeup, Mani looks better than Hira.” Or “This is how she looks without makeup? That’s strange. “I require all actresses to appear with makeup—we can’t bear natural looks.” One user even claimed, “I’m more beautiful than you without makeup.”
The backlash showed the double standards female celebrities face. They are praised for their glamorous on-screen personas but criticised when they dare to appear as their natural selves.
Hira, a mother of two and a successful actress with an Instagram following of 8.4 million, was always open about her life beyond the spotlight. Still, this incident proved how harshly society judges women for simply being real.
Amid all the negativity, many fans defended Hira, calling out the hypocrites with affirmations like, “Why are people shocked? She’s a human, she’s a mannequin.” This is what real life looks like—not every moment is filtered. “She’s a mom and a hardworking actress. Let her breathe.”
Hira’s video was seen as a refreshing break from social media’s perfect media standards. Yet, the criticism reminded us of the unrealistic expectations placed on women, especially public figures, to always look “camera-ready.”
If a confident, successful woman like Hira Mani can get trolled for going makeup-free at home, what does that say about our beauty standards? It’s time to normalize real faces over filters.