In Conversation With Komal Meer & Feroz Kadri aka Zarnab & Ahmed From Goonj!

Zarnab & Ahmed (Komal Meer & Feroz Kadri) from Goonj in an exclusive interview at FUCHSIA!

Some stories stay with you. Some touch your heart. And in some, you see a reflection of yourself.

If you’re a girl or woman who has ever worked in a male-dominated workplace, or in an environment where you have to deal with a person undermining your hard-earned credits, putting you down, or harassing you just because you’re achieving more than them, then Goonj is a drama you might want to tune into (if you haven’t already). Starring Komal Meer, Feroz Kadri, and Mirza Gohar Rasheed, Goonj is striking a chord with audiences for its powerful theme and relatable narrative.

Today, Komal Meer and Feroz Kadri join us for an exclusive conversation about the drama, its underlying themes, and much more.

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Did Goonj Leave An Impact On Komal & Feroz?

For Feroz Kadri, working on Goonj brought back memories of his own time in advertising, where he had seen glimpses of the same corporate culture shown in the drama. While not exactly the same, he recalled being around conversations that often targeted women in positions of power and were passed off as harmless office talk. He admitted he wasn’t an active participant, but simply being present in those situations made him reflect later on what he could have done differently.

The script made him realize that silence isn’t enough – walking away or speaking up, like his character Ahmed does, is the right way forward. Feroz believes that your values shape how you deal with such moments, and Goonj underlined how crucial it is to stand by them, especially when others dismiss offensive behavior as “just a joke.”

For Komal Meer, the Goonj script was an eye-opener. Since she has never worked in a corporate office, the drama gave her a window into that world and the kind of verbal harassment women often face. She reflected on how confusing it can be to tell whether a remark is just a joke or crosses the line into harassment. That uncertainty often leads women to doubt themselves – wondering if they’re overreacting or creating drama where there is none. Reading the script helped her see that many of those “grey areas” are actually wrong, and they deserve to be called out.

Komal believes the story has given validation to many women, herself included, by reminding them that it’s necessary to recognize and name inappropriate behavior for what it is. Ignoring it as harmless only allows it to continue. For her, Goonj reinforces how important it is to set healthy boundaries – not just at work but in every space of life – because that’s what stops harmful patterns from repeating.

Do We Still Struggle With Women’s Consent?

Komal agreed that even today, women’s consent isn’t always taken seriously – even in educated or elite circles. She pointed out how a girl’s “no” is often seen as a challenge rather than a boundary, with boys questioning why she refused instead of respecting it.

She also highlighted how many girls aren’t taught to say no firmly. From childhood, society conditions them to be people-pleasers – to soften their refusal, to say it “nicely” so the other person doesn’t feel bad. This makes it harder for women to assert themselves. Komal feels the younger generation is slowly learning to unlearn this conditioning and create boundaries, but it will take time. The positive part is: change has started.

Are Men Also Harassed At Work?

Feroz shared that harassment at the workplace is ultimately about power dynamics, so yes, men can face it too – especially in situations where a senior holds authority over a junior. However, he noted that the way women experience harassment is very different, largely because society still sees them as weaker, which tilts the balance of power against them. Komal added that she has also witnessed men harassing other men within the industry, showing that these issues aren’t confined to women alone but are tied to how power is used and misused.

Want to hear more? Stay tuned for full conversation coming out soon on FUCHSIA’s YouTube channel!

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