Tag: Kuch Ankahi

  • The Sajal Aly Five: Unforgettable roles that defined her career

    The Sajal Aly Five: Unforgettable roles that defined her career

    Sajal Aly is undoubtedly one of Pakistan’s most talented actresses today. She has also made her mark in international cinema with roles in Bollywood’s Mom and the British romantic comedy What’s Love Got to Do with It, written by Jemima Khan.

     

    Aly has received a number of awards, including the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz from the Government of Pakistan.

     

    Here are five of Sajal Aly’s most unforgettable performances:

     

    Meri Ladli (2010)

    Sajal Aly’s career took off after she played the role of a young girl in Meri Ladli, who faces numerous challenges in life. Her portrayal of a strong, independent character resonated with viewers and paved the way for her future success.

     The drama was written by Maha Malik and directed by Nadeem Siddique.

     

     

    Yakeen ka Safar (2019)

     

    Yakeen Ka Safar was one of Aly’s most recognized dramas. She portrayed Dr. Zubia, a kind and independent woman whose personal and professional growth captivated viewers.

     

     

    Aly earned two awards for her outstanding performance: Best Actress (Popular) and Best Onscreen Couple (Popular). The cast also included Ahad Raza Mir, Farhan Ali Agha, Hira Mani, Qazi Wajid, and Maryiam Nafess. The drama was written by Farhat Ishtiaq and directed by Shahzad Kashmiri.

    Kuch Ankahi (2023)

     

    Sajal Aly played the role of Aliya, a strong woman who battles against the odds to protect her family’s rights.

    Her portrayal of a woman confronting misogyny and asserting her place in the world highlighted her ability to capture attention and convey strength and determination.

     

    The cast includes Bilal Abbas Khan, Mira Sethi, Mohammed Ahmed, Irsa Ghazal, Asma Abbas, and Ali Safina. The drama was written by Mohammed Ahmed and directed by Nadeem Baig.

     

    Alif (2019)

     

    Aly played the role of Momina Sultan, delivering a masterclass in understated brilliance that showcased her versatility as an actress.   

    Her extensive and heartfelt performance depicted a character on a profound journey of faith and self-discovery.

     

    The cast includes Hamza Ali Abbasi, Manzar Sehbai, Pehlaaj Hassan, Osman Khalid Butt, Kubra Khan, and Sadaf Kanwal. Sajal Aly was nominated for two awards: Best Television Actress (Critics’ Choice) and Best Television (Viewer’s Choice). 

     The drama was written by Umera Ahmed and Haseeb Hassan. 

     

    Zard Patton ka Bunn (2024) 

     

    In her latest drama, Zard Patton Ka Bunn, Sajal Aly plays the role of Meenu. The talented cast includes Hamza Sohail, Ali Tahir, Samiya Mumtaz, and Rehan Sheikh. The drama explores themes of social justice, gender dynamics, and personal transformation. 

     

    The story centres on Meenu, a strong and determined woman who challenges societal norms and fights against injustices. 

     Zard Patton Ka Bunn is written by Mustafa Afridi and directed by Saife Hassan. 

     

  • Most awaited dramas of 2024

    Most awaited dramas of 2024

    Be it daily soaps or serials, Pakistani dramas have an enormous viewership around the globe. In 2023, we witnessed blockbuster gems like Tere Bin, Kuch Ankahi, Fairy Tale, and Mayi Ri, depicting unconventional stories that kept the audiences hooked to their screens.
    While 2023 was a good year for Pakistani television, 2024 seems to be even better with a good line-up of projects including a few fresh concepts and pairings.
    Here are the top TV shows that everyone is excited about this year:

    1: Tere Bin Season 2 Drama – Har Pal Geo TV

    On Dec 29, 2023, Abdullah Kadwani announced news about Tere Bin Season 2, exciting fans for Wahaj Ali and Yumna Zaidi’s return in a love story tackling social barriers. With Bushra Ansari and Sohail Sameer in supporting roles and the potential return of Sabeena Farooq, anticipation is high. The cast yet to be fully confirmed but may include Wahaj Ali, Yumna Zaidi, Bushra Ansari, Sabeena Farooq, and Sohail Sameer.

    2: Radd drama –Ary Digital

    Radd, made by Abdullah Seja and Jarjees Seja, stars Hiba Bukhari and Sheheryar Munawar in the main roles. Ahmad Bhatti directed the show, and Sanam Mehdi Zaryab wrote it. The first episode of the series will air on 19-4-2024 at 8:00 PM on ARY Digital, the official channel for the show.

    3: Fanna – Green TV

    Fanna promises a captivating journey of love, loyalty, and resilience, featuring powerful performances and emotional storytelling. Scheduled for release in
    26-2-2024 at 8 PM, the drama will be aired on GREEN TV.

    4: Dil Pe Dastak- Hum TV

    Dil Pe Dastak is a Pakistani drama produced by Momina Duraid, starring Khaqan Shahnawaz and Aena Khan in leading roles. It features many supporting actors and is produced by MD Production. Episode 1 will air on March 11, 2024, at 9:00 PM on HUM TV.

    5: Tum Bin Kesay Jiyen- ARY Digital

    Tum Bin Kesay Jiyen is a Pakistani drama on ARY Digital, centered around true friendships, genuine love, and keeping promises. Starring Junaid Jamshed Niazi, Saniya Shamshad, and Hammad Shoaib, this fresh take is written by Edison Idrees Masih and directed by Saqib Khan, produced by IDream Entertainment. Episode 1 airs on 25-2-2024 at 8:00 PM on ARY Digital.

  • Kuch Ankahi goes out with a bang, leaving audiences wanting more

    Kuch Ankahi goes out with a bang, leaving audiences wanting more

    The last episode of Kuch Ankahi aired on Saturday night, receiving high ratings from audiences for a satisfying wrap up to its gorgeous story telling and moving performances by Sajal Aly, Bilal Abbas and Qudsia Ali. The build up to this spectacular finale was besieged with questions about who would Aliya finally pick: Salman or Azfar? Would Sofia phupoo give in and marry uncle Thanvi? Would Samiya abandon her husband and his toxic mother to start being independent on her own? But in the final episode, Kuch Ankahi wrapped up all these questions, leaving all of us hoping that this is the show that should be getting a season 2.

    We finally see Aliya and Salman put aside their differences, a win for fans of the show who had shipped the cat-and-mouse duo from the very first episode. Many were left heart broken by how Azfar was rejected, despite the love he had for Aliya. But hopefully, there are better things in store for him?

    We also got a beautiful wedding as Sophia Phupoo and Uncle Thanvi wed, a satisfying resolution to her reluctance of letting go of her first love and husband who had passed away quickly. But then their heart tugging meeting at the train station, when Thanvi promises to prove his love to Sophia, just proved the show made a breakthrough by focusing on two aged people getting married.

    Clearly, we’re not over the episode, and neither is social media. As since yesterday, users sobbing over the ending of a gorgeous drama that gave us everything we’ve been asking Pakistani dramas to provide us.

  • Saying goodbye to ‘Kuch Ankahi’ with the five times it completely blew us away

    Saying goodbye to ‘Kuch Ankahi’ with the five times it completely blew us away

    From the moment it graced our screens, ‘Kuch Ankahi’- with its story of three sisters dealing with marriage pressure, workplace harassment, taking on a challenging careers- seared itself on the Pakistani entertainment industry as a cultural milestone that told a gorgeous story about the bond of sisterhood.

    Only 26 episodes long, ‘Kuch Ankahi’ won our hearts with its flawless story telling and brave portrayal of issues that today’s political climate would have prevented them from doing so.

    With the final episode coming up on Saturday, our hearts are heavy as we will no longer have to look forward to Shamoo Begum and Agha Jaan kay jhagray, Alia and Salman’s cat and mouse chase and the wholesome love between the three sisters. Let’s look back at the five moments where ‘Kuch Ankahi’ truly proved that it was a masterclass in good story telling.

    1 The men in the drama won our hearts.

    At a time when dramas today think a hit series needs a man slapping a woman or a girl being forcibly married without her consent, ‘Kuch Ankahi’ set the bar higher by proving that what audiences want is not violence, but well-written characters that are supportive of the women around them. The bond that the father Agha Jaan had with his daughters, and how he kept taking their side regardless of what society told him, moved us to tears. His defence of youngest daughter Tanya and her passion to become a filmmaker, or backing Samiya if she wanted to back out of her marriage at the last minute.

    2. When the show made a breakthrough by supporting Joyland

    In a scene in episode four that takes place in Tanya’s room, Aliya stands behind her wall of posters, among which is Saim Sadiq’s film ‘Joyland’, a love story between a transgender woman and a man. It was a small, but powerful display of support towards Pakistani filmmakers.

    3 The nikkah scene that defended the right to divorce clause and urged for women to be aware of their rights in the marriage contract

    The nikkah scene from episode 11 received praise on Twitter when Sofia phupoo (played by actress Vaneeza Ahmed) passionately urged the molvi sahab to not cut out the clauses from the nikkah where the woman writes down her demands, highlighting that these are essential for a woman’s safety in marriage, as Islam has rightfully granted them.

    4 Child sexual abuse

    With the story of Deepak, the son of the family’s Hindu house helper, the drama dwelled into the growing issue of child abuse, as he is raped by the tailor he works with. Later, when Sofia phupho and the family learn about the crime, they take in Deepak as a family member and enroll him in a good school so that he regains his confidence in a safe environment.

    5 Neha and her dream to become a tiktok star

    Any woman on screen who isn’t a gharelo good girl married off at the age of 20, is either an awaragard or too bold for society or someone who meets a tragic end. Especially so for women who are obsessed with using social media apps like TikTok . But ‘Kuch Ankahi’ debunks this mindset with the wholesome story of Neha, the daughter of a Hindu working class family, who loves using TikTok. However , she fears her father will beat her if her videos are found. But as the story progresses, Neha finds new-found courage with the support of Taniya to keep making videos, and soon she gets a job as an actress, with her father completely supporting her choice.

  • ‘I loved my character in Kuch Ankahi because she’s fearless’: Qudsia Ali

    Qudsia Ali has won accolades from audiences for her performance as Tania in ‘Kuch Ankahi’, where she plays the younger sister of the family. Speaking to BBC Urdu, Ali opened up about what drove her to the script and how she fell in love with her character:

    “When I read about Tania’s character, the first thing I loved about her was that she’s fearless. She isn’t afraid of anything. A lot of the times women in our families are scared of a lot of things like disapproval from their parents or even their families, especially my character who is scolded for eating. But she loves herself, she doesn’t mind if her mother calls her a ‘gama pelwan’ to which she responds ‘kya gama phelwan meri tarhaan cute tha?’”

    Ali also shared what set Taniya apart from other characters in Pakistani dramas is how she has male friends. It is still quite rare that a man and a woman are shown as just friends and not be romantically innvolved:

    “In the drama, Tania’s closest friend is a boy, which is a new thing for our industry to witness a boy and a girl being friends because in our society, we don’t believe in such things.”

    The ‘Betiyaan’ actress also raved about working next to actors like Sajal Aly and Bilal Abbass.

    “My first question had been ‘Who else has signed up for this drama?’ Then I was told that Sajal Aly and Bilal Abbas had, I was so overwhelmed and excited to become a part of this show.”

    On the fan-favorite moments of the drama involving her interaction with Shakeel, played by Samad Khan, Ali revealed that most of their moments weren’t scripted. Instead, they were improvised.

    “Our bond was based on how both of them are confident, despite their flaws. Shakeel fumbles while speaking but he owns it, while she is told she eats a lot but she doesn’t care. Which is why they have such a strong bond with each other.

    Watch the complete interview below:

  • Loving ‘Kuch Ankahi’? Then you should check out PTV drama ‘Tum Se Kehna Tha’

    Loving ‘Kuch Ankahi’? Then you should check out PTV drama ‘Tum Se Kehna Tha’

    ‘Kuch Ankahi’ has made an indelible mark on the Pakistani entertainment industry, for tackling sensitive issues like marriage pressure, body shaming, as well as infidelity. However, many audience members won’t know that the writer as well as the actor who plays the dad in the drama, Syed Mohammad Ahmed, has written countless scripts for film and television, including the iconic PTV drama ‘Tum Se Kehna Tha’ which was his debut effort.

    Directed by the brilliant Sahira Kazmi, the drama is an adaptation of the Hollywood rom-com ‘While You Were Sleeping’ which is about a young woman, who is accidently mistaken to be the fiancée of a man in a coma. The drama is incredibly funny, with powerful performances by actors Marina Khan and Ali Haider, and if our audiences are hung up on the fact that there are no good dramas out there that outshine the way ‘Kuch Ankahi’ did, here are some reasons why they should definitely check out this cult classic.

    1 The powerful chemistry between Hira (played by Khan) and Bilal (played by Haider)

    Hira and Bilal are feuding opposites in the beginning of the drama, because the family completely takes her in once they find out she was Saad’s (played by Farhan Ali Agha) fiancee, but Bilal opposes this because he suspects that she is telling a lie. As the episodes progress, their rivalry turns into friendship and then in to love, giving us a healthy and meaningful relationship.

    2 Powerful women lead the drama

    Powerful, witty Hira immediately captures the hearts of the audience, especially due to the exceptional acting shown by Marina Khan. Hira works in a travel agency under her boss who was her late father’s best friend, and is like father figure to her. She has everything that any woman would want: friends, an apartment and lots of wealth, but deep down, Hira longs for a family so she won’t remain alone. If fans of ‘Kuch Ankahi’ love the sisters and their fierce devotion and dedication to each other, then they will love the way Hira loves and defends her family members, helps her sister in law tackle with the grief from divorce, and especially how drama refuses to pit women against each other.

    3 Debunks the stereotype that divorced women can never find happiness

    ‘Kuch Ankahi’ has definately engaged Pakistani audiences with its refreshing script that provided us with complex female characters who refuse to be dictated around by patriarchal expectations, then they would also find ‘Tum Se Kehna Tha’ addictive because in the same manner, it engages with the societal disgrace that divorcees often face. Through the journey of Meher (played by Seemi Pasha), a divorced woman who is still recovering from the betrayal of her first marriage, she learns to empower herself through becoming friends with Hira, and forming a friendship with Sajjad, another divorcee who encourages her to keep living her best life.

    4 Humorous and engaging side characters

    A lot of times one of the biggest criticisms of Pakistani dramas has been that the side characters are incredibly dense, and limited to only showing up to push the main lead’s story forward. However the brilliance of Syed Mohammad Ahmed is that in his scripts, each character is interesting and keeps us engaged with the show. In ‘Kuch Ankahi’, fans are in love with the Tiktok star Neeha who is the househelp’s daughter, or Shakeel, the clumsy nephew. In a similar way, in ‘Tumse Ye Kehna Tha’ side characters like the neighbour Gringo or Buwa who add to the humor of the drama.

  • Dastaan, Kuch Ankahi: Drama OSTs Twitter users declare will remain top class

    It’s common knowledge that Pakistanis will disagree and kickstart phadda’s over every topic, but the one thing we can all agree on is that our drama OSTs will remain unmatched.

    When a new drama pops up on our screen, it might not manage to shake off the already established regressive stereotypes, but there is always a good chance that we get a fun new track to listen to for the next few weeks.

    Yesterday this Twitter user asked their followers about their favourite drama OST, and the responses were a like a tribute to our music industry.

    We’re adding these new recommendations to our listening list.

    Like always, we weren’t surprised to notice how the most popular response remained the Dastaan title track sung by Sohail Haider.

    Another popular verdict was the title track ‘Dildara’ sung by Azaan Sami Khan for ‘Kuch Ankahi’

    Another underrated but incredibly loved title song was from the drama ‘Mata-e-Jaan Hai Tu’ which was sung by Bilal Khan.

    Giving you serious flashbacks to every single wedding you attended since the moment this song dropped online.

  • ‘This is how I stand out from other people’: Qudsia Ali hits back at body shamers

    Qudsia Ali has been on a roll- with her spectacular performance in ‘Betiyan’ and now as Taniya in ‘Kuch Ankahi’, she has been recieving rave reviews for her performance as the headstrong, youngest daughter of the family who actively pursues her dream to become a filmmaker.

    Recently in a talk with Fuchsia Magazine, Ali opened up about how she struggles with criticism about her weight. She revealed that a lot of feedback she received at auditions was about her weight:

    “Whenever I would go for auditions, I was told directly if I wish to come on to the main screen, then I would have to lose weight. But if we look at international work, you see people with different skin tones and body types, no one cares about such things because it is your skills that matter. Then why is it so important here?”

    Ali revealed that she had recently started losing weight, but did it more for the sake of her health rather than to please the critics because she doesn’t want to change herself to prevent standing out, alluding to a remark made about her curly hair:

    “I will never lose weight because of someone’s criticism, but I started this journey because I cared about my own health, to stay fit and healthy. Not for work, industry or for anyone.

    People often tell me that I look overweight in scenes because of my hair, and I should get keratin treatment. No! This is how I stand out from other people. How many people do you know who have curly hair? If I’m going to find work based on my skills, then I will find it. I’m going to wait for that. I’m someone who can wait.”

    Ali opened up that in the beginning of her career, hearing such negative feedback sometimes took a toll, but eventually with a positive mindset, especially with the help of colleagues like Sajal Aly, she was able to let it go and keep doing what she liked:

    “In the beginning of my career, whenever I heard comments like these I had thought sometimes to listen and change my appearance. But what is the guarantee that after changing your appearance you will find work? You become slim and straighten your hair, whats the guarantee that you will find work?.. This was my own thought process. Ahmed saab and Sajal Aly would advice me a lot that I should do what makes me happy, rather than for others.”

    Watch the complete interview here:

  • Child actor Emaan Khan opens up about ‘being dark’ in the entertainment industry

    Child actor Emaan Khan opens up about ‘being dark’ in the entertainment industry

    Emaan Khan is currently winning hearts across Pakistan with her moving perforomance as Neha in the drama ‘Kuch Ankahi’.
    She was recently a guest on Fuchsia Magazine’s talk show where she opened up about being shamed for her skin color when she was in the early stages of her career.
    Khan recalled an instance when a director commented about her dark skin to her mother while she was auditioning.
    “When I came here I had to listen to a lot of hurtful comments about my complexion. My color is a bit dull. When I was young I had gone somewhere for an audition, so they called me in and then ask ‘Is this Eman?’ And my mother said ‘Yes’.
    “‘She’s so dark!’ they said right away. And I remember at that point tears came to my eyes.”
    Khan recalled that the people told her mother that they were looking for fair skinned people for this project, and didn’t want people like her.
    Khan further mentioned how her mother stood up for her at that point:
    ‘I went outside and stood there. From inside, I could hear my mother saying ‘From now onwards, Emaan will never work with you’. And this has happened. Recently, they called me again and my mother refused to allow them to work with me again.”
    Khan said that she will never be ashamed of her own skin color because she likes it so much. She also revealed how makeup artists will try to encourage her to lighten her skin for shoots.
    “They would say to me ‘Tum na thori white base use kya karo’ And I would simply tell them that this is my complexion and this is the base I will keep using. I don’t need any suggestions from you. I know what exactly I have to do here.”
    Khan said directors still do taunt her about not having fair skin, but she refuses to work in the same project and leaves, and finds better opportunities because of these insults.

    Listen to the complete interview here:

  • Kuch Ankahi breaking stereotypes, encouraging better family relations

    Kuch Ankahi breaking stereotypes, encouraging better family relations

    Our morbid fascination with domestic violence seems have become one of the essential tools required to make a hit drama. There aren’t many television dramas which depict healthy family relations, where women are accepted and loved without being told to lose their identity.
    Kuch Ankahi, therefore, is an anomaly, a breath of fresh air on our screens because it depicts a supportive family where the father isn’t holding back his daughters from their dreams, women aren’t constantly plotting to one-up each other and the male lead isn’t a toxic, triggering person. It proves that more dramas need to follow its lead and start portraying women in a positive light.
    On last night’s episode, we witnessed how the youngest sister, Tania, is openly dancing at her sister’s wedding event when a person behind her body shames her, forcing her neighbor to stand up for her.

    The moment resonated with viewers and clips of the scene are now being widely shared.

    https://twitter.com/koilak2/status/1629547537500901382?s=20

    What social media users have called the most touching moment in this episode is the scene between the father, Agha Jee, and the eldest daughter Samiya where he witnesses her unhappiness and reminds her that if she refuses, then he will call off the wedding. This kind of empowerment and kindness is rarely depicted in Pakistani dramas, and is teaching fathers to be more gentle to their daughters as Agha Jee assures Samiya that he will keep holding her hand regardless of whether she chooses to get married or not.

    This kind of warmth and support between the family members is not once-in-a-blue-moon, but a regular occurrence in this drama. Agha Jee never shies away from praising his daughters’ strengths and consistently empowers them to advance further in society. In several episodes, we witness Agha Jee doing his own chores while telling his daughters that they’re not responsible for household duties.

    This gentleness and respect towards women isn’t just prevalent in Agha Jee, but extends to all the men in the drama. The way they are completely the anti-thesis to the kind of male lead we have grown up watching is frankly shocking. Like the male lead Salman, who is time and again shown doing his own work. In one scene, he makes his own roti, an act we have only ever seen women perform.

    https://twitter.com/mawoxdeepxbillu/status/1626870264809263106?s=20