Actor Haider Sultan, the son of legendary Pakistani film icon Sultan Rahi, has strongly criticised veteran actor Firdous Jamal over his recent comments about his late father. The controversy began after Firdous Jamal appeared on Public Demand and questioned Sultan Rahi’s acting abilities, prompting Haider to respond through a video shared on his TikTok account. Sultan Rahi remains one of Pakistan’s most celebrated film stars, having appeared in more than 800 Punjabi films during his illustrious career. He dominated both Punjabi and Urdu cinema for decades before his tragic death in 1996, when he was killed by unidentified assailants. His son, Haider Sultan, later followed in his footsteps by pursuing a career in television and film. In his TikTok video, Haider expressed anger over Firdous Jamal’s remarks and questioned why the veteran actor had spoken about his father in such a manner. He said, “Unnecessary things were said about my father. Firdous Jamal, you are a senior, a so-called TV artist, but who are you to speak about my father?” Continuing his criticism, Haider alleged that Jamal’s personal habits had affected his judgement. He stated, “Pride has ruined your life and your Hereafter. Your brain cells are dead because of consuming alcohol all the time. Before speaking about legends, you should first look at yourself. You have lost your senses.” Defending his father’s legacy, Haider described Sultan Rahi as both an exceptional artist and a remarkable person. He said, “Sultan Rahi was a great actor and a wonderful human being. The whole world acknowledges his contributions. Your ranting will not make him any less of a legend or an artist.” Haider also credited his father with playing a major role in sustaining Pakistan’s film industry during its most successful years. He remarked, “He kept the film industry alive, worked hard on his own, and elevated Pakistani cinema. You should be ashamed of yourself.” He further added, “Even your family has disowned you.” The actor did not limit his criticism to Firdous Jamal alone. He also criticised Public Demand producer Tahir Sarwat Mir for allowing the comments to be broadcast. Haider said, “I also have complaints against the show’s producer, Tahir Sarwat Mir, for allowing such obnoxious remarks to be aired about the person who treated him as his son.” He concluded his response by saying, “People may laugh at these comments, but everyone is condemning you. Who are you? ARY or Geo News? No, you are just a cheap Media group.” The dispute began after Firdous Jamal stated on Public Demand that Sultan Rahi “didn’t have any craft” and described him as “just a loud actor with a lot of energy.” His remarks quickly sparked debate online, with many fans defending Sultan Rahi’s legacy and criticising the veteran actor’s assessment. Haider Sultan’s emotional response has since gone viral on social media, where supporters have praised him for standing up for his father’s contribution to Pakistani cinema.
