No talk of past loves at the family dinner table

Express Tribune

22-04-2025

Veteran Pakistani actor Nayyer Ejaz, often dubbed the man with a thousand faces, recently peeled back the curtain on his personal life during an appearance on Wasi Shah's talk show. Known for his chameleonic performances across television and film, Ejaz revealed a softer, more reflective side — one rooted in deep respect for his wife and the sanctity of marriage.
Though he admits to being a romantic at heart - "I fell in love many times," he confessed with a laugh — Ejaz never let fleeting emotions steer him into impulsive decisions. "I was sensible enough to not marry them because I knew I wouldn't be able to fulfill their needs after marriage." His candor wasn't without cheek, though. When asked if his wife ever taunted him about his past, he grinned and said, "No, she knows I've changed since our marriage ... though I haven't."
Ejaz's marriage was arranged — he had neither seen nor met his wife before the wedding. "I told my mother, I'm a colourful man," he said playfully. "If the woman you choose is dull, I'll make a run for it." Luckily, he didn't have to. Today, he beams with pride and affection when speaking of his wife: "She's such a good life partner. I have a great wife."
Despite his playful charm and storied past, Ejaz emphasised that he has never disrespected his wife. "I never hurt my wife by my words or actions," he said seriously, adding that when a man is blessed with a loving, caring woman, he should reciprocate in full.
Speaking on the topic of men discussing past relationships in front of their wives, Ejaz was firm: "It is disrespectful." He believes in being emotionally intelligent and sensitive - particularly in shared social spaces. "I am a happily married man now," he said. "And I'm conscious of what I say. I won't speak about my past in front of our friends or families."
Perhaps most notably, Ejaz flipped the narrative when he said he wouldn't mind if his wife had loved someone before him. "A woman also has the ability to fall in love," he said simply.
Ejaz started his acting career in the early 1990s and has appeared in television dramas such as Laag, Dhuwan, and Mor Mahal. He has also acted in films including Na Maloom Afraad, Maalik, and The Legend of Maula Jatt.