Pakistani actor Muneeb Butt has sparked debate with his candid views on modern dating culture, stating that he doesn’t understand the concept of dating and believes couples who like each other should involve their families and get married instead.
In an interview with Fuschia magazine, the Baandi actor shared his opinion that rather than dating, families should be involved, and a couple who like each other should get married. “Even with Aiman, I never called her my girlfriend. I find this humiliating if someone said ‘she’s my boyfriend,'” he stated, referring to his wife, actress Aiman Khan.
However, his comments drew criticism online, as many pointed out the irony in his stance. Muneeb himself admitted that he was in a relationship with his now-wife, revealing he met Aiman at a time when he was coming out of a break-up, and that she was the one to propose. The couple got married in November 2018 and now have three daughters, Amal (born 2019), Miral (2023), and Naimal (2025).
Critics noted that regardless of labels used, dating fundamentally refers to a period of courtship when two people get to know each other before marriage, exactly what Muneeb and Aiman experienced. In another interview on a Ramadan show, Muneeb emphasized the importance of early marriage, stating: “Nikkah is such a good deed and I have a firm belief that if you enter Nikkah today, God will open new paths of success for you”.
While Muneeb’s views reflect traditional values shared by many in Pakistani society, the disconnect between his personal experience and public statements highlights the ongoing tension between conservative ideals and contemporary relationship practices in modern Pakistan.
