Pakistani actresses react to 'patriarchal' reports about pregnant Alia Bhatt: 'I thought only Pakistan thinks like this...'

Actress Alia Bhatt, who is expecting her first child with husband Ranbir Kapoor, recently slammed "patriarchal" reports about her planned pregnancy. Reacting to a news article which stated that Ranbir would be flying down to the UK "to pick up" his wife, Alia had written, "I am a woman, not a parcel!"

Pakistani actresses Zara Noor Abbas and Durefishan Saleem have reacted to the same and come out in Alia's support. Taking to their Instagram handles, they shared the Gangubai Kathiawadi actress's post and opened up about going through similar experiences in their country.

Zara wrote, "I thought only Pakistan thinks like this, especially when brands wanted to drop me, when they got know I was expecting. Becoming pregnant and being an actress makes the society feel you are not good for work anymore. Well, guess what, women are good enough for everything and anything and it's time the dictators realise so. We don't have to prove our motherhood and craft to any patriarchy."

Meanwhile, Durefishan said that people need to stop telling married women what to do. "We can get married/make babies and still be kick*** fab. Marriage is a part of life, not a halt. Stop telling women that their career goals don't align well with that," she wrote.

For those unversed, a recent report said that Alia, who has several films in her kitty, planned her pregnancy in such a way that her professional commitments are not affected. The report also stated that Ranbir would be flying to London to "bring his wife home."

Reacting to the story, Alia wrote, "Meanwhile we still live in some people's heads we still live in some patriarchal world.. FYI. Nothing has gotten delayed!!!! No one needs to PICK anyone up. I am a woman, not a parcel!!!!! I do not need to REST at all but good to know you'll have a doctors certification as well :) This is 2022. Can we pls get out of this archaic way of thinking! Now if you would excuse me.. my shot is ready."

The 29-year-old actress, who married Ranbir in April 2022, announced her pregnancy on Monday (June 27).