Mani Says Supporting Wife Hira Is Not a Weakness

Pakistani actor and host Salman Saqib Sheikh, also known as Mani, has said that people call him “zan mureed” (a man who listens too much to his wife) because he supports his wife, actress Hira Mani—but he sees nothing wrong with it.

Mani said on the podcast, “If I had a daughter, I’d want her to be strong and independent too.” He believes women should be supported if they have talent.

Mani added that there is more peace and less financial stress in countries where women work equally with men. He also said that the traditional family system in South Asia, where everyone is forced to live together, creates problems.

He shared that his father supported his sister in acting, and he wants to continue that support for any woman in his family with talent. Mani said, “It’s not about being Western. It’s about giving women a fair chance.”