Pakistan, July 23 -- Actress Jia Ali has stirred controversy after making candid remarks about aging stars and their continued presence in lead roles.

During a recent podcast appearance, Jia stated that actors over the age of 40 playing romantic leads are part of the reason the Pakistani entertainment industry is stagnating.

Without naming anyone directly, her statements appeared to be aimed at Love Guru stars Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed, both of whom are in their 40s.

Jia aligned herself with film critic Umar Adil, who had previously questioned the casting choices in Love Guru. She praised Adil's honesty, saying: "People dislike him because he speaks the truth, but his reviews are usually spot on." According to Jia, refusing to acce...