Tag: Pakistani Drama

  • Four onscreen couples driving Pakistani drama fans crazy

    Four onscreen couples driving Pakistani drama fans crazy

    The classic story where a boy meets a girl but faces challenges along the way has been popular for ages, even back in Shakespeare’s time. Pakistani TV shows often use this storyline, and it’s a favorite among directors and producers, because it works really well. And when good-looking actors are part of the mix, fans seem to overlook any flaws in the show and just enjoy the romance.
    In Pakistan’s entertainment industry, there are lots of romantic couples on screen. And there are also many actors who are not only talented but also really good-looking. Pakistani drama fans everywhere are thrilled to see four pairs of actors who have amazing chemistry when they act together.

    Yumna Zaidi and Humayun Saeed in Gentleman

    The handsome Humayun Saeed shone in Netflix’s ‘The Crown’ as Dr. Hasnat Khan, and now he’s back on local TV screens after three years in ‘Gentleman,’ playing Iqbal. This time, he’s working with the very talented Yumna Zaidi, known for her role in ‘Tere Bin.’ Both actors are known for giving their all to their roles. Their teamwork is expected to be exciting, and fans are eagerly looking forward to it.

    Bilal Abbas and Durefishan Saleem in Ishq Murshid

    The final episode of ‘Ishq Murshid’ is about to hit theaters, and fans on social media are deeply invested. They’ve spent hours debating whether Bilal Abbas’s character, Shahmeer/Fazl, should be forgiven for lying to win over Durefishan’s Shibra. Despite some serious concerns about his character, Bilal’s amazing acting skills have won over even the toughest critics. And with Durefishan’s strong yet understated performance as Shibra, the two actors have carried the beloved drama from beginning to end.

    Sheheryar Munawar and Hiba Bukhari in Radd

    Sheheryar and Hiba are teaming up for the first time in the show ‘Radd.’ With only six episodes out, it’s already becoming a hit with viewers. Hiba plays Emaan, a woman who’s independent and not afraid to speak her mind, a character many admire. Sheheryar portrays Salaar, an artist who works in a simple shop and paints in his free time, a departure from typical TV heroes. Sheheryar’s subtle acting brings Salaar to life in a refreshing way. Though Emaan and Salaar face familiar domestic problems, the talented duo breathe new life into the classic story, keeping fans hooked with each episode.

    Faysal Qureshi and Durefishan Saleem in Khaie

    In an exciting tale of revenge, Durefishan’s character Zamda once again captures the hearts of her fans. This time, she stars alongside Faysal as Channar, the villain, for the first time. The story is not for those easily scared. It follows tribal men seeking vengeance by killing their enemies’ male descendants. Durefishan plays Zamda with skill, hiding her revenge plans behind innocent eyes. Contrasted with Channar’s pure evil, their chemistry is a testament to how unexpected connections can form.

  • Mannat Murad’s finale wins hearts: Fans celebrate memorable moments

    Mannat Murad’s finale wins hearts: Fans celebrate memorable moments

    Mannat Murad, the hit Pakistani drama aired on Har Pal Geo, concluded its journey with the final episode receiving widespread appreciation from fans.
    The last episode particularly stood out as Murad, portrayed by Talha Chahour, took a stand for his wife, earning admiration from viewers. Fans had eagerly waited for this moment, egging Murad on to speak up for his wife Mannat against his mother.

    Viewers also praised Mannat’s decision to arrange a match between her elder brother and Murad’s sister, Fazeelat. The happiness of the couples brought joy to fans, but many expressed sadness for Murad’s youngest sister, Niggi, whose story was left in limbo.

    While some fans criticized the ending, stating that an educated and independent girl like Mannat would not typically choose to save her marriage with someone like Murad, others celebrated the portrayal of love between the main characters. Despite varying opinions, Mannat Murad’s finale left a lasting impression on its audience, showcasing memorable moments that will be remembered by fans.

  • Breaking News is a new-age take on media and companionship with a desi tarka

    Breaking News is a new-age take on media and companionship with a desi tarka

    Green TV’s new serial ‘Breaking News’ is a rather fresh concept among the current lot of dramas currently running on television. True to the Green track record, the serial promises an out-of-the-box story. Two episodes have been released till the time this review is being written.

    The story revolves around Mishaal and Hussain, a pair in love (but not madly so), equally focused on their respective careers. The boy brought up in an urban and slightly privileged background, shows restraint in his countenance. Mishal, on the other hand, is a small-town girl, ambitious and a lot more expressive. She lives in a rented place where her landlady’s teenage son has an eye for her but she is traditional enough to not share it with Hussain even though he asks the reason for her discomfort multiple times.

    Mishal is played by Amar Khan and Hussain is played by ‘Fairytale’ star Hamza Sohail. They both look the part and the styling is on point for the strata they represent.

    There is a parallel story of Naveed Khan played by Ali Safina, the corrupt television anchor born to a journalist father who died a terrible death after reporting against a local politician. As a kid, he was beaten for the same crime his father committed. He is a masochist- inflicting pain on himself- and conducts a completely staged show against ethical norms, only to get the ratings. He is also lenient towards his content director Hussain’s idealism which in most instances is in clash with his desire to get views and ratings.

    Like other Kashif Nisar’s ventures, the drama is real and relatable but less bleak. That may prove to be wrong in the future as the teaser for the coming episode promises things turning topsy-turvy for the lead characters. The negative side of media and the risk journalists put themselves through has been shown in multiple projects including the recent ‘Ishq e Laa’, but a dedicated project to the modus operandi of media, the rat race of ratings and the rhetoric of “screen ki sage par jab sach lutta hai wo bikta hai”.

    Airing twice a week, the show is a window into the optics of news medium, the 24/7 media feed culture, and the dirty politics of breaking news keeping morality at bay. The tug-of-war that goes between anchors in this industry will provide insight into how they contribute to the industry with this crisply written script.

  • Zulm: A gripping tale of injustice and courage

    Zulm: A gripping tale of injustice and courage

    The drama serial Zulm, written by Rehana Aftab and directed by Ilyas Kashmiri, is produced by Momina Duraid’s MD Productions.
    Zulm is a new 2023 Pakistani drama series on Hum TV. The drama story revolves around issues of injustice and resilience. Faisal Quraishi, known for versatility in portraying different characters, will be taking on the role of a cruel and notorious man, along with remaining cast members Sahar Hashmi and Shahzad Sheikh in the lead roles.The plot explores the dark side of human behavior, where cruelty and resilience intersect.

    The drama revolves around a really menacing character who causes distress to everone around him. The story is a rollercoaster of emotions, and we hope that justice wins in the end!

    At the core of “Zulm” lies a thrilling saga, a continuous battle between good and evil, with criminal supremacy casting dark clouds over society. The audience is invited to tune in to Hum TV at 8 pm to witness the unfolding saga, eagerly anticipating each twist and turn in the fight for life and justice.

  • Khumar: Navigating Love Across Class Divides

    Khumar: Navigating Love Across Class Divides

    The Pakistani drama Khumar is a captivating series broadcast on Har Pal Geo. The drama focuses on the lives of two central characters, Hareem and Faiz, played by Neelam Muneer and Feroze Khan respectively. The plot revolves around the male and female protagonists, who fall for each other, but matters take unexpected turns.
    It’s the first time we get to see Feroz Khan and Neelam Muneer together on TV. Plus, Khan is making a comeback to the Pakistani television industry after taking a break.

    Khumar is a heartwarming tale that explores the challenges of love amongst social class differences. The story follows Faiz and Hareem, individuals from contrasting backgrounds whose lives become intertwined by destiny. Faiz, born into privilege, silently supports Hareem’s struggling family, creating a one-sided love affair.
    An ultimate love story will be shown, where status will not be an issue, but time will be a problem. The theme of the whole play can be put above that if your timing is not perfect, reveal your love and tell your partner that you really love him/her.

    The drama delves into the complexities of societal expectations and hurdles faced by Hareem, who strives to meet her family’s needs. Faiz’s love for Hareem remains a secret due to disapproval from his mother. However, an unexpected event shakes their lives, raising questions about the impact of societal gaps on their love.
    The drama’s first two episodes garnered tremendous support from fans, with the debut episode reaching over seven million views and the subsequent one crossing five million views.

    Will Faiz be able to persuade his mother to accept Hareem? Can the couple overcome their diverse backgrounds and create a joyful life together? This timeless love story unfolds against a backdrop of challenges, keeping audiences engaged in the pursuit of love across societal divides.

  • ‘Hadsa’ is back, Islamabad High Court reverses suspension

    ‘Hadsa’ is back, Islamabad High Court reverses suspension

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has released a judgement ordering the reversal of the suspension on the controversial drama ‘Hadsa’, a series banned by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) after the motorway rape survivor accused the show of capitalising on her trauma. Legal expert Reema Omar shared a clip of the judgement on her Twitter account, where it was highlighted that the regulation board had not listened to the drama makers before announcing the ban:

    “The inconvenience caused to the applicant/appellant side including their irreparable loss is visible, all these ingredients compel this Court to pass the injunctive order.”

    The judgement also ordered that the explicit scene in question- the controversial gang rape of Episode 5- may not be repeated or broadcasted in the upcoming episodes.

    The controversy surrounding ‘Hadsa’ began in August when journalist Fareeha Idress shared an account of her conversation with the survivor, who shared that she was not consulted by the show runners who aired the controversial scene, and requested help from authorities to take down the drama.

    “They have made a drama on my life,” Fereeha tweeted Z told her. “As if I am nothing, no one asked me, it’s same, they are showing the same things, oh my God! Why didn’t I die before reliving this again? You know , I didn’t sleep after the incident for many many nights and it’s all back now, I haven’t slept a wink since I saw this terrible, horrendous depiction of the most terrible moments of my life which I so want to forget. It’s unbearable, I start shivering every day at 5 pm because I know the drama is coming at 7 pm. Why are they doing this to me?”.

    READ MORE: ‘I asked is this related to the motorway incident’: Hadiqa Kiani on motorway rape survivor statement

    Hadiqa Kiani released a lengthy statement on her social media accounts addressing the accusation, saying that after consulting the script writer and the rest of the team, she was sure the drama was not based on the motorway rape survivor:

    “When I was asked to do the role of Taskeen for Hadsa my first question was ‘Is this related to the motorway incident?’ ‘Is this based off the true incident?’ – I made it clear that I would not do the project if it was based off anyone’s story. The team behind the project explicitly told me ‘No’. After many conversations with the team and only after reading the script I understood that Hadsa was not related to or based off on the motorway story.”

    Director Wajahat Rauf answered the criticism by saying the drama was not based on the life of the motorway survivor, and said the purpose of the screenplay was to raise awareness about the ordeal rape survivors go through:

    “The drama is not based on the motorway incident. The protagonist, her husband, her three children, the family dynamics, the police officers who investigate the crime, the reason behind the crime, and the trial are all fictional. The only thing common is the part that the incident occurred on a highway.”

    “The last thing we would want to do is be insensitive towards someone who has been a victim of this brutal crime. It is our opinion that it would be far more insensitive towards the victims if we did not adopt a condemnation tone; in that case, one might argue that we are not at all familiar with the trauma that a rape victim goes through.”

    “Our writer did speak to actual victims who were willing to talk about their trauma and how they eventually coped with it and that is what is reflected in the play. A character should be judged after seeing her entire role. Judgement shouldn’t be passed on the basis of a glimpse of social media posts. Writers and directors can show temporary weakness to show long term strength of a character that develops.”

    On August 31, PEMRA released a statement announcing a ban on ‘Hadsa’.

  • ‘Fairy Tale’ stars Hamza Sohail, Sehar Khan enthrall social media with sultry photoshoot

    ‘Fairy Tale’ stars Hamza Sohail, Sehar Khan enthrall social media with sultry photoshoot

    Looks like this isn’t the last of how ‘Fairy Tale’ actors Hamza Sohail and Sehar Khan will keep astonishing us, as the two’s recent photoshoot with Hello Pakistan has set social media on fire. The magazine describes the duo as ‘Gen Z powerhouses’, who quickly sky-rocketed to fame, garnering Indian and Bangladeshi fans for their roles as the enemies-to-lovers duo in the drama.

    Since the photoshoot went viral, social media users and celebs like Amar Khan and Mahira Khan were praising the stars.

    We can safely say none of know how to deal with this much hotness in one picture.

  • Hania Aamir reveals reason for dropping out of college

    Hania Aamir reveals reason for dropping out of college

    Hania Aamir is currently a hot favourite because of her stellar performance as Maheer in ‘Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha’. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the actress, who has spoken up about her personal struggles on screen.

    As a guest on the show ‘The Fourth Umpire’, Aamir was asked about education. The actress revealed that she was a college drop out:

    “I was a good student..I left because I started acting.”

    The actor explained that she had started making money from her career, and had to support her family:

    “I need money and I needed to manage my house since I was the breadwinner of my family. Luckily, acting came along and I was good at it.”

    Listen to the complete interview below:

  • ‘Kuch Ankahi’ is the fresh breath of air the entertainment industry needed

    ‘Kuch Ankahi’ is the fresh breath of air the entertainment industry needed

    It isn’t an easy task to find authentic representation of women’s stories in Pakistani dramas. Limited creative freedom to explore sensitive social issues and a refusal by most script writers to recognize that making stories interesting with misogynist tropes won’t work is to blame. But Kuch Ankahi is a wonderful welcome for audiences craving good story telling. A slice of life centered around a family in Karachi where three sisters navigate their way through body shaming, pressure to marry, career ambitions and supporting each other thick and thin. There are multiple reasons why you should include this drama in your to-watch list right away!

    1 The similarity to the golden age of PTV dramas

    Many users have praised the show’s use of warm tones and feminist narratives that reflect some of the 80s and 90s classics on PTV like Tanhaiyaan, Dhoop Kinaray and Ankahi, which were written by Haseena Moin and featured strong women with incredible stories.

    2. Rejecting traditional masculinity

    Unlike how recent Pakistani dramas have championed toxic masculinity by romanticizing abusive relationships and toxic men, Kuch Ankahi depicts a world where men and women can exist in harmony. Men are shown doing basic chores, developing close friendships with women and even motivating them to pursue their dreams without adding a romantic element to it, because yes men and women can be platonic friends. The most wholesome example of this has to be the father Agha Jee, who is more than a best friend to his daughters and is quick to remind any man that his daughters are stronger than him.

    3. The subtle, yet powerful way the drama champions original storytelling

    In an industry where the popularity of a drama depends on following a repeated formulae, and consistently re-using misogynist tropes like the virgin and the whore, the gold digger, or the shallow man-hating feminist, Kuch Ankahi has carved its own space by encouraging audiences, especially the entertainment industry, to respect original story telling, and stop shutting out marginalized voices who deserve platforms for representation. A powerful scene that had circulated widely on social media showed a poster of the film Joyland hanging on a wall. Joyland was censored and widely criticized among conservative critics for featuring a relationship between a transgender woman and a man, but in this moment the drama sent out a solidarity note to storytellers in Pakistan who wanted to bring different perspectives to the screen but were denied the right to do so.

    4 Tackling social issues like body shaming, marriage pressure or women’s access to social media

    In the past shows like Dil Na Umeed To Nahi were sent notices by PEMRA for changing their content material, as the show tackled the lives of child sex workers and human trafficking. Kuch Ankahi refuses to back away from highlighting the pressures and stigma women face and executes them in a gentle but brilliant manner. Take for instance Parmeesh, the daughter of the Hindu woman Meena, who loves making videos on Tik Tok but is barred from using a mobile phone after her mother discovers her videos. Or Saima, the eldest daughter, who is consistently pressurized by her mother to marry Saif-ur-Rehman.

    5 Side characters aren’t just props, but are fleshed out with their own storyline

    Pakistani dramas usually categorize characters as either black or white, and keep characters other than the main leads to the background. In Kuch Ankahi, each character is fleshed out with their own background and original purpose, rather than becoming just another prop to the main character’s journey. An interesting example of this could be Saif-ul-Rehman, the man Saima is suppose to marry. Like a lot of sons, he is being forced by his mother to marry of her choice when he actually wishes to marry someone else.

    Kuch Ankahi airs every Saturday on 8 pm on ARY digital.

  • Casting coup: Iqra Aziz set to star opposite Imran Ashraf and Feroze Khan in her comeback project

    Casting coup: Iqra Aziz set to star opposite Imran Ashraf and Feroze Khan in her comeback project

    Actor Iqra Aziz is returning to the television screens with a magnum opus project after taking a brief post-pregnancy break. The Raqeeb Se heroine will star opposite Imran Ashraf and Feroze Khan in Geo TV’s next project, Sanwal Yaar Piya. Written by Hashim Nadeem, this Wajahat Rauf directorial will be produced by Shazia Wajahat.

    The director took to Instagram and confirmed all speculations. Feroze Khan, Iqra Aziz, and Imran Ashraf are working in his forthcoming project Sanwal Yaar Piya which is written by renowned playwright Hashim Nadeem.

    “It gives me great pleasure to announce this labour of love called Sanwal Yaar Piya in association with Geo TV, featuring this dream cast Feroze Khan, Iqra Aziz, and Imran Ashraf along with some of the most talented actors in the country. It is an honour teaming up once again with the great Hashim Nadeem sb (after Raqse Bismil) who has given us this intense story!” he wrote.

    Wajahat also posted a picture of the first look of the drama with the three actors in it.

    While Aziz previously worked with Feroze in blockbuster drama Khuda Aur Muhabbat Season 3, while she collaborated with Imran Ashraf in Hum TV’s Ranjha Ranjha Kardi. 

    The filming will commence on September 12th. It is indeed a great cast which has never appeared together on screen.