Durefishan Saleem Trolled for Her Acting in Dar-e-Nijaat—Sanam Saeed Comes To Her Defense

Is the problem really the acting, or does Durefishan Saleem simply not look like the character viewers expected? After the first two episodes of Dar-e-Nijaat, fans have been questioning her casting and her accent and dialogue delivery have also become major talking points. ” Now the real debate is whether viewers are judging the performance too quickly or if the criticism is actually justified’?

The first few episodes of a new drama usually bring excitement, theories and plenty of opinions. But Dar-e-Nijaat has entered the conversation for a slightly different reason.Durefishan Saleem's performance has become one of the biggest talk of the town questioning whether she fits the role of zaryab and A-Levels student. And then there is the accent debate, which has basically taken over social media.

Fans Question Whether She Fits the Character

One of the biggest criticisms coming from viewers is not just about acting. It is about the overall appearance and personality of the character. In Dar-e-Nijaat, Durefishan plays a character who is presented as an A-Level student. However, some viewers feel that she does not visually give the impression of a young college student.

This criticism is subjective, of course. There is no single “look” that defines an A-Level student. Still, viewers have certain expectations when they see a character introduced with a particular age, background and lifestyle.

For some fans, the styling and overall presentation do not create that youthful student vibe. Instead viewers feel she looks more mature than her character Zaryab. And once the audience notices something like this the actor faces heavy trolling until they fits the standards.

Durefishan’s Expressions Are Also Being Discussed

The second major criticism is about her expressions. Some viewers feel that her facial expressions remain too still during emotional scenes. Instead of showing clear changes in mood, they believe her face often looks blank or emotionless.

For an actor, this can be a big issue because expressions play a huge role in making a character believable. A sad scene needs more than sad dialogue. A shocked moment needs the audience to feel the shock. Even silence needs some emotion behind it.

According to the online criticism, some viewers are not getting that emotional connection from Durefishan's performance yet. That does not necessarily mean she cannot deliver it. It could simply mean the character has not given her enough opportunities to show a wider emotional range.

Then There Is the Accent Debate

The accent has become another major issue. Several social media users have criticised the way Durefishan Saleem delivers her English and Urdu dialogues. Some viewers feel that her pronunciation sounds unnatural, while others believe the accent does not match the character they imagined.This criticism has become so repetitive that it has now created a second debate: when does performance criticism become unnecessary trolling? That question became even more important after Sanam Saeed spoke about the situation.

Sanam Saeed Defends Durefishan Against the Trolling

Sanam Saeed recently addressed the online criticism surrounding Durefishan's accent and said the constant bashing was “unsettling” and “very lame.” She also called the repeated mocking “mean and inconsiderate,” pointing out that social media pages were continuously targeting an actor over the way she speaks. Her comments have added another layer to the conversation. Sanam is not necessarily saying that viewers have to love every performance. Instead, her message focuses on how criticism is being delivered. And there is an important difference. Saying that an actor's expressions feel flat is criticism. Saying that a particular scene did not work is criticism. But repeatedly making fun of someone's accent across social media can quickly become personal.

What Makes Dar-e-Nijaat Different?

The expectations around the drama were already high before it premiered.Dar-e-Nijaat is written by Umera Ahmed and directed by Saqib Khan. The cast includes Sheheryar Munawar, Durefishan Saleem, Nameer Khan, Sahar Hashmi, Romaisa Khan, Sania Saeed and Saba Hameed.With such a strong team behind the project, viewers naturally expected the performances to match the hype. The story also explores emotional relationships, destiny, heartbreak and redemption, giving the actors plenty of room for layered performances. That means there is still a lot of story left before anyone can make a final judgement.

Maybe Zaryab’s Character Needs Time

Sometimes an actor's performance makes sense only after the character's background becomes clearer. A character may appear emotionally distant in the beginning because the story has not yet revealed what is happening beneath the surface.

Similarly, the styling may not immediately convince every viewer. That is why the upcoming episodes could change the conversation completely. Durefishan could settle into the role, her expressions could become stronger and the character could eventually feel more believable. Or viewers may continue to feel that she was miscast. Either way, the drama needs time to answer that question.

The Internet Has Already Picked a Side

For now, social media remains divided.One side believes the criticism is justified and that the actress does not fit the image of an A-Level student. They also feel her expressions are too blank and that her dialogue delivery needs work. The other side believes the criticism has become excessive and that she deserves time before being judged so harshly. Then there is Sanam Saeed defending Durefishan. According to her, people always need something to talk about and now Durefishan is under their hitlist.And honestly, both conversations can exist together.Viewers can question the casting and performance while still keeping the discussion respectful.

So, Is Durefishan the Wrong Choice?

That is still up for debate.The concerns about the character's appearance, expressions and accent are clearly being discussed by viewers, but the drama has only just begun.Maybe the role will eventually fit her better.

Maybe the character will develop in a way that changes everyone's opinion.Or maybe fans will continue to feel that someone else would have suited the part more naturally. For now, the verdict is definitely not final. But one thing is already clear: Dar-e-Nijaat has managed to get people talking, and Durefishan's performance has become one of its biggest discussion points.

With Sanam Saeed calling out the relentless trolling, the conversation is no longer simply about whether the acting works. It is also about how we criticise actors online and whether a performance should be judged after just two episodes. And knowing Pakistani drama Twitter, this debate is probably nowhere near over.