Veteran actress Rina Khan has criticised actress Pori Moni over her confrontation with a journalist at a court premises in Dhaka on November 5, saying the incident has tarnished the image of the entire acting community.

Pori Moni visited the court on Thursday to appear in a case filed by businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmud over an alleged assault. During the visit, she accused a journalist of inappropriate touching before verbally abusing and threatening him, triggering a commotion at the court and widespread public debate.

The incident drew criticism from many, with several people expressing support for the journalist. Rina Khan has now joined the discussion, urging artistes to remain mindful of their behaviour in public.

“People may use abusive language when they lose their temper, but that is not right. We become known through the media. Our reputation also reaches people through the media, and so does our disrepute. We should never say or do anything that reflects badly on artistes,” she said.

Calling the incident a stain on the entire acting community, Rina questioned why an artiste would use offensive language in front of thousands of people.

“This is not just a matter concerning one artiste; it brings shame on the entire fraternity. What happened was wrong. I saw the news yesterday. Artistes should not abuse others like this. I am speaking about the entire community. If you have a grievance against someone, you can call that person aside and discuss it privately,” she added.