Director Sohail Javed has called out television critics, telling them to “get a real job.”
In a post shared online, Javed accused drama reviewers of being “shopkeepers” who do more harm than good. He said many reviewers cross the line from criticism into “straight-up bashing.”
Javed has directed You Me Us and the feature Sorry, and television projects like Ghamandi and Wonderland. He is better known for directing some of Pakistan’s most prominent commercials and has worked with major music artists including Junoon, Vital Signs, Fuzon, Sajjad Ali, Ali Haider, and Hadiqa Kiani.
Sohail Javed has turned his outrage into headlines before. Earlier, he dragged filmmaker Jami Mahmood to court over a defamation claim, and now he’s set his sights on television critics.
In his post, Javed said that most reviewers lack journalistic training or experience. “At best, some of you used to be fashion reporters,” he wrote. “Take a moment and reflect.” He argued that being friendly with celebrities does not make anyone a journalist.
He also said poor television content is not the fault of creative professionals who are doing their jobs. According to him, the responsibility lies with TV channels and production houses that decide what is broadcast. “No director, writer, or producer needs to redeem themselves,” he said. “It is the channels and their content departments who need to rethink what they are putting out.”
Javed urged reviewers to be careful with their words. He said that in the current climate of “Instagram casting,” careless or harsh comments can harm people’s livelihoods. “Every project has a story that has to reach its full circle before it ends,” he wrote. “Your immature observations while the show is still picking up are mostly noise.”
He requests empathy from reviewers while dismissing their credibility. “Please be kinder with your comments,” he said. “It might just affect somebody’s bread and butter.”
Javed’s frustration echoes a wider sentiment in the television industry. Humayun Saeed and Zanjabeel Asim Shah have both questioned the credibility of drama reviewers. They argue that many online critics lack the understanding needed to evaluate storytelling, performance, or production value.
The filmmaker’s statement has drawn attention not only because of its tone but also because of his own history of public confrontation. In 2018, he filed a defamation case against filmmaker Jami Mahmood, a move that sparked strong reactions within the industry. His latest comments continue that pattern of directness, aimed this time at media critics and entertainment reporters.
The director ended his post with a final message that captured his bluntly:
“If the above seems too much to ask for, get a real job.”
