Pakistani actress and social media personality Dananeer Mobeen, of ‘Pawri ho rahi hai’ fame has landed herself in a social media storm after publicly dismissing the 2002 Bollywood classic ‘Devdas’ as overrated during a recent interview.
Dananeer appeared on Mashion Pakistan’s short chit-chat session, where she was asked to name a classic film that she believes does not deserve the level of fame it enjoys. Without hesitation, she picked ‘Devdas’, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
She said, “‘Devdas’, it’s so overrated. What is the story? Guys, can somebody break it down? Does it make any sense? The guy is an alcoholic, there is a woman who has no self-respect, there is a shameless dad, there is another woman who is forced upon another man, there is another man who is forced upon a woman. What is happening? Why is it a classic? Why is everyone going gaga over it?”
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While she criticised the storyline, she did praise the film’s larger-than-life visuals, lavish sets, and grand production design, admitting that the cinematic scale was exceptional. She added, “Yes, I get the grandeur, the jewelry, the dresses, the vibe, and the grand sets, but sorry, there is no story in it.”
About ‘Devdas’, the film she criticised
‘Devdas’ is a 2002 Indian Hindi-language period romantic drama film by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It stars Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Madhuri Dixit in lead roles. Based on the Bengali-language 1917 novel of the same name by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, the film narrates the story of ‘Devdas’ Mukherjee, a wealthy law graduate who returns from London to marry his childhood friend Paro.
However, the rejection of their marriage by his own family sparks his descent into alcoholism, ultimately leading to his emotional deterioration.
The film received a nomination for Best Film Not in the English Language from the 56th British Academy Film Awards. At the 50th National Film Awards, it won five trophies, including Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. The film won eleven awards at the 48th Filmfare Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress.
Upon its release, ‘Devdas’ turned out to be the highest-grossing film of 2002, garnering around 68.19 crore rupees gross at the Indian box office, with worldwide earnings crossing 115 crore rupees.
Social media erupts
Her remarks quickly went viral across Instagram, Threads, and Facebook, triggering intense backlash from Bollywood fans and admirers of Shah Rukh Khan.
One furious user wrote, “Said the one who was playing the role of a clueless girl running after her boss.” Another commented, “When you don’t know what art and literature really is, you can say something like this. ‘Devdas’ is a marvel of Bollywood and South Asian cinema.”
Several users also dragged her latest release Mera Lyari into the debate, with one person writing, “After giving a historical flop, she is questioning Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.” Another fan defended the film, writing, “People should stop talking rubbish without understanding the plot.”
Who is Dananeer Mobeen?
Dananeer Mobeen has carved a significant niche for herself in the Pakistani entertainment industry. Beyond her viral ‘Pawri Ho Rahi Hai’ moment, she has showcased her acting prowess in acclaimed dramas such as ‘Sinf-e-Aahan’, ‘Mohabbat Gumshuda Meri’, ‘Meem Se Mohabbat’, and ‘Very Filmy’.
The actress came into the spotlight in India when she featured in the recently released film ‘Mera Lyari’, the movie said to be Pakistan’s reply to India’s ‘Dhurandhar’. Though the film failed to make a mark at the Pakistani box office, the actress is trending.