Senior Pakistani performers Faryal Gohar and Jamal Shah have publicly shared the reasons behind their separation more than three decades after their divorce, offering rare insight into one of the entertainment industry’s most talked-about breakups.
Once regarded as an ideal couple in Pakistan’s showbiz circles, the pair’s split deeply disappointed fans and sparked long-standing speculation about what led to the end of their marriage.
Appearing together on a private television channel’s Ramadan transmission, both artists spoke candidly about their past relationship.
Despite their divorce in 1992, they emphasized that mutual respect has remained intact and that they never completely severed communication. Faryal Gohar later left Pakistan in 1995.
Addressing the primary cause of their separation, Faryal Gohar explained that Jamal Shah placed great importance on personal freedom and found it difficult to live within the constraints of married life — a reality she said she understood. Jamal Shah acknowledged this perspective, admitting that he was not well suited to marriage.
Faryal Gohar also stated that she does not subscribe to the notion that spouses “belong” to one another, adding that when one partner chooses to leave a relationship, that decision should be respected.
Jamal Shah further recounted a specific incident that contributed to tensions between them. He revealed that he had been working with a woman in Islamabad to establish an art institute. Although Faryal Gohar advised against the collaboration, he proceeded with the plan. According to Shah, even the woman’s aunt later advised him to distance himself from the project, which ultimately failed.
The couple formally divorced during that period, though they noted that marital difficulties had begun as early as 1987.
Their joint appearance and reflective remarks have renewed public interest in their personal and professional journeys, highlighting a relationship that, despite its end, continues to be defined by mutual respect.
