Acclaimed television actress Durefishan Saleem has firmly dismissed rumours of a secret marriage with fellow actor Bilal Abbas Khan, calling the claims baseless and criticising the increasing trend of unverified reporting in the Pakistani entertainment industry.

In a recent interview, Durefishan addressed the viral speculation for the first time. “These rumours are completely unfounded. If anything like this had really happened, pictures would have surfaced by now,” she said.

Durefishan, who rose to fame through popular dramas such as Ishq Murshid, explained that while she shares a warm professional rapport with Bilal Abbas Khan, there is no truth to reports of a hidden relationship.

“There was a good comfort level between us on set. We used to laugh a lot — we both find joy in small things,” she said, clarifying that their chemistry was limited to their on-screen roles.

The speculation gained momentum last year after a YouTuber claimed that Durefishan and Bilal Abbas had tied the knot secretly and were deliberately concealing their relationship. The rumour was largely fuelled by their on-screen pairing in Ishq Murshid and joint appearances during the show’s promotional events.

Without naming the content creators directly, Durefishan criticised the growing practice of publishing unverified personal stories in local media. “Marriage is a personal matter, but if such a significant life event had taken place, people would not hesitate to share it. No one hides such important moments,” she remarked.

She added, “Unfortunately, our media has started to resemble certain trends seen in Indian-style journalism, where speculation is often presented without any fact-checking.”

Speaking about her career, the actress expressed gratitude for the love and recognition she has received in just five years of working in the television industry. “It’s not a long time, but I consider myself lucky to have received so much appreciation. Sometimes, it even scares me,” she said, adding that the audience's expectations influence her choices in selecting future projects.