Summers are here and for the next six months or so all we will be wearing would be lawn…the fabric we all love, it is cool and comes in many styles and prints. For the past few years the lawn fever has completely gripped the female population and the competition between the different designers and even the wanna-be designer lawns is getting tougher by the day. Lawn is no longer just any fabric that you wear to feel cooler and more comfortable in the heat of summer but it is more of a fashion statement now. Printed lawn suits are just as expensive as silks and chiffons – the formal wear clothes which we once used to wear only for special occasions or on formal functions. The trend started with only a couple of designers stepping in to design prints for the brands that have existed for so many years now like Gul Ahmed and Alkaram. Gradually the designers figured out that this could prove to be a very lucrative business and now there are more than ten top designers who are taking a very active part in this competition.

Every year women wait impatiently for these designer lawns to surface in the outlets and when they are finally launched women run to the outlets as early as possible and even on the first day the suits sell like hot dogs. The passion with which the women go to shop for these fabrics is unmatched; you will never see such enthusiasm for winter clothes. One of the reasons also is that most women want to grab that very first prints and designs that come out because they are very often not repeated and that gives them the opportunity to flaunt for the rest of the season that they have the print that very few people have. There have even been incidents when women actually got into physical fights in order to get a certain print because there were only one or two suits left and there were too many women who wanted it! Talk about too many women chasing after too few lawn prints!

The competition does not end here, lately there is also the competition between the designers as to who manages to bag the best model and many of them had to “import” models from across the border in order to stand out. This time around some of the designers have also hired British models and the latest trend is that Indian designers have also designed some of the prints.

Are you one of those women who must be at the launch of every new designer Lawn? I know women whose main focus is attending all these launches all through the summer season- something interesting to keep them busy. Collecting the catalogues and of course the most rare prints is another very common “hobby” in summers. No wonder the prices are sky high, which is actually sad too because than most of the people cannot afford to buy the fabric that is worn the most in summers.

Ayesha Ahmed.

It is  difficult to analyse whether it is Hum TV or ARY  Digital that would take up the market this year. Both the channels are known for the quality dramas going on air through their platform and this year, both of them seems to have their strategies clear. It has been lately noticed that Hum TV has come up with some great dramas that are expected to enjoy a good business and ratings like Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Humnasheen, Tanhai, etc, while on the other hand, its ARY trying real hard to maintain its pace with serials like Silvatien, Siskiyaan and Parchaiyaan. It is  interesting to find that in this race of winning TRPs, Geo TV and Express entertainment seems no more interested and have decided to follow their own path.

2012 has recently come to an end, leaving the drama industry with some golden stars and again much of them belong to the two channels stated above. Now that people have started loving their own dramas in Pakistan, the channels and production houses are coming up with dramas that let people link to them. Taking a closer look of the strategy been adopted by ARY  and HUM TV this year, it can be  seen that both of them are all set to come up with reality shows, highlighting the talent of Pakistan. ARY, which has always been coming up with such shows like Nach Baliye, madventures and if not local, then the neighboring Big Boss has now again introduced the star talent hunt show, similar to that of Indian Idol, while  Hum TV has also got the Indian reality dance shows to keep your weekends occupied. Moreover, Hum TV’s new efforts of paying a tribute to its hits of last year, Hum TV Awards are again one of the opportunities to bring more popularity to the channel.

It was seen few months back that the foreign content, namely the Turkish Dramas kept the showbiz industry busy with controversies against few channels. Many programs were conducted where  the Pakistani Celebrities condemn the channels for promoting foreign content, leaving the rights and interests of the local artists, neglected. However, it seems like just like the common citizens of the nation, the Celebrities of this country has no say in their domain as the Turkish Dramas are still on air on Geo, It was only Noor previously, but the next Turkish Drama to go on air is leaked through its promo and is known under the label Rafta Rafta. Although Geo is  also offering local dramas like Viraasat, Ghao, Cindrella, etc, the channel has lost its charm in general.

Coming back the two channels that are high in the viewers choice, Hum and ARY are more or less following the same line where same actors are seen on both of the channels. 2013 can be  predicted as a lucky year for Adeel  Hussain, Azfer Rehman, Ayesha Omer, Ayza Khan, Sajjal and Adnan Siddiqui as all of these actors are seen in every next project going on air either on Hum TV or ARY-Good Enough!

Let us wait and watch that which of the two actually wins the race, There is one thing for sure that the audience is loving the the work been produced by the stated channels and want to see more.

Best Wishes

Nida Zaidi

Makeovers are very important for any actor or actress. They need to keep experimenting with their look to look fresh on screen as people get tired of seeing them in the same look over and over again. Many actors have attempted to change their appearance by changing their hairstyle, hair color, makeup and even weight if the script demands it. The change has suited many people as they are able to carry it but it has even turned into a disaster at times.

Here is a list of people who have been able to look good with the change:

First in my list is Syra Yousuf. She is the popular actress of shows like Mera Naseeb and the recently ended Tanhaiyaan- Naye Silsilay. She has experimented with her hair style and now can been seen sporting short hair and I must say it suits her immensely. The short hairdo is all the rage nowadays but few people are able to carry it. Syra has the most innocent and charming face and this haircut makes her look even younger. (She already looks so young!)

Second in my list would be Amna Sheikh. The popular actress who is seen in many hit shows like Main Abdul Qadir Hoon, Daam and Maat as is currently seen in the show, Mirat Ul Uroos. She was also seen with a new hairstyle which suited her a lot. The bangs and the change in her hair color did wonders to her face and her face looked fresher on screen. The bangs suit her a lot because she has a wide forehead and the bangs complement it as they hide it completely.

The third in my list would be Nadia Khan, the actor and the long time morning host. She is back with a bang this year as is seen as a host on Geo TV on weekends. She is now seen sporting a shorter hairstyle which suits her immensely. She has just the right face cut to carry off this hairstyle and she looks even younger now. Everyone has appreciated her new hairstyle so far.

The fourth in my list is Sarwat Gilani. She is seen in shows like Malaal, Tishnagi and Mata e Jaan and is currently seen in the show Dil e Muzter. I always found her curly looks to be pretty but I was tired of seeing in the same curly hair look. She is now seen in straight hair and usually with plaited hair which suits her a lot. Her straight hair look in Mere Dard Ko Zuban Mile and Mata e Jaan suited her a lot. Her face is petite and the straight hair adds a new dimension to her face. I would love to see her with fringes sometime as I personally think it will suit her a lot. We have already seen her with bangs which complemented her face.

The fifth person in my list is Saba Hameed. Saba is seen in shows like Aik Tamanna Lahasil Si, Aks and The Baraat Series. I always thought she needed a makeover as she sported the same look in almost all her serials. But her new look in her currently airing show Dil e Muzter changed my opinion. She has been given a complete makeover which is suiting her a lot. The new hairstyle and cut has decreased at least 10 years from her age. The new hairstyle with the right amount of makeup is making her look extremely young and fresh.

The sixth person in my list would be Faisal Qureshi. Faisal Qureshi is seen in hit shows like Meri Zaat Zara e Benishaan, Qaid e Tanhai and Mere Pehla Pyar. Faisal Qureshi is one actor who keeps on experimenting with his look. He changes his appearance according to what the script demands. He was seen in three completely different looks in his show Meri Unsuni Kahani. I still wonder how he managed to change his weight for each look! He is one dedicated actor.

Here are a few people who looked disastrous with the changes:

Sanam Baloch who was seen in shows like Dastaan, Akhbari Asghari and Dur e Shahwar would be the first person in my list. Sanam’s hairstyle in her show Kuch Pyaar Ka Pagal Pan Bhi Tha was the worst hairstyle ever! Her beautiful hair was plaited completely into small plaits. It made me wonder how long it must have taken the hairstylist to make so many plaits as Sanam’s hair are pretty long and thick. She even sported fringes in Akhbari Asghari which did suit her but I personally like her more in bangs with her long straight hair. If she really wants to change her hairstyle, she can opt for curls in any of her upcoming serials.

The second in my list is Ayesha Khan. She was seen in serials like Vasl, Kaafir and Maney Na Yeh Dil. Her look in Kaafir did not suit her at all. Her hair color made me cringe and even her clothes in the initial episodes were not suiting her. I would really like to see her in curls in future.

The third actor in my list would be Mohib Mirza. He was seen in shows like Shehr e Zaat and Mere Dard Ko Zuba Mile and is currently seen in Kaash Aisa Ho. His hairstyle in his new show Kaash Aisa Ho is not suiting him at all. When I saw the promo of the show, the first thing which I noticed was his long straightened hair. He has been given this look so that he would look more like the artist he is shown in the serial which is acceptable, but I still do not approve of his hairstyle. Well, this is my personal preference!

Few actors are seen experimenting with their look in fear of being criticized, but it is always pleasant to see actors in a new look from time to time.

Mariam Shafiq.

I am sure A & B Productions house needs absolutely no introduction. It is one of the biggest production houses in the country which has given us many memorable plays. I am sure many of you have noticed that there are some artists who work excessively with this production house and now whenever I see one of these artists’ upcoming plays promo it does not take much for me to guess that this must be a play from A & B Productions. Also, many of the plays from this production house follow more or less the same pattern, they start off on a very interesting note but gradually the story loses focus and it becomes tedious to sit through most of the plays. But one cannot ignore the fact that A & B productions has also given us some very outstanding plays like Qaid-e-Tanhai, Roag, Mein Abdul Qadir Hoon , Aik Nayee Cinderella and many others. Anyway, since this article is about actors who like to work with A & B productions, I am going to talk about actors who have been associated with A & B productions for a very long time and they somehow prefer working with this production house.

Faisal Qureshi:

Faisal Qureshi has worked with Babar Javed a lot even before he started his own production house. He acted in many dramas which were directed by Babar Javed and I think that is why the two have a strong bond and we see Faisal Qureshi in many A & B productions’ plays whether they are serious ones or comedies. The list of A & B dramas he has worked in is almost never-ending but to mention a few; Roag, Qaid-e-Tanhai, Yariyan, Tishnagi, Mera Yakeen, Kis Din Mera Viyah Howega, Sabz Pari laal Kabooter, Jahez, Topi Drama, Ek Hatheli pe Hina Ek Hatheli Pe Lahu, Mera Pehla Pyaar …well like I said the list is never-ending. I think Faisal Qureshi prefers working with one production house more than many because before he started working excessively with      A & B productions , he used to work for Evernew Studios a lot.

Faisal Qureshi of course is a very talented actor and a true asset for our industry and A & B Productions has given him some very good characters to play too. His upcoming plays “Adhoori Aurat” and “Virasat” have been produced by A & B too.

Sami Khan:

Sami Khan is another actor who is fast becoming the face of A & B Productions; even right now he is acting in three different dramas produced by A & B Productions namely Teri Rah Mei Rul Gaye, Ghao and Mei Gunahagar Nahi. Previously also he has worked in many A & B projects and has given some very good performances. His next venture “Harjaye” and “Meri Dulari” are from the same production house too.

Saba Qamar:

Saba Qamar may not have worked in as many A & B dramas as Sami Khan and Faisal Qureshi but I have a feeling that she will be seen in A & B productions very often now too. She has been part of many A & B ventures like Jo Chalay Tu Jaan Se Guzar Gaye, Mein Chand Si, Thakan, Kash Aisa Ho. The good thing about Saba Qamar is that she keeps on working with other production houses as well quite often.

Samiya Mumtaz:

Samiya Mumtaz is one of those actresses who are very choosy about their roles and therefore we do not get to see her on-screen often enough. Most of Samiya’s work on television has been with A & B productions and even right now the only drama she is acting in is from A & B productions. It seems like artists who do not work very often too prefer A & B productions over other production houses. What can be the reason for that?

Saba Hameed:

Saba Hameed is very talented but not only is she seen in many A & B productions dramas lately but also seems to be opting for the same kind of roles over and over again even if she is working with some other production house. The list of A & B plays that Saba has worked in is long too, some of them which were very popular are Qaid-e-Tanhai, Mein Abdul Qadir Hoon, Kaala Jadoo, Aks and Ek Naye Cinderella. We will be seeing Saba Hameed in “Meri Dulari” next, which is also a drama by A & B Productions.

Yumna Zaidi:

Yumna Zaidi is another very talented, young, budding artist who started her career with A & B productions and has since then worked in many of their dramas. Her most recent project is with the same production house too. She acted in Thakan, Khushi Aik Roag and now we will see her in “Meri Dulari” very soon, another serial by the same production house.

Savera Nadeem:

I must say that most of the actors who prefer working with A & B productions are very gifted and Savera Nadeem is another name on the list. Savera Nadeem is very selective about her work and that is the reason we don’t see her on-screen very often. For the past few years now we have seen Savera Nadeem working in A & B productions serials more than any other. She worked in Qaid-e-Tanhai, Mera Saeein, Diya Jaley, Mera Yakeen and a few other plays from the same production house and her next project “Virasat” is an A & B productions play too.

There are many other actors who we are seeing in A & B production plays often enough now like Mohib Mirza, Ayza Khan, Aijaz Aslam, Shahood Alvi, Nimra Bucha and Waseem Abbas.A & B productions house is undoubtedly one of the biggest production houses in the country which is working hard day and night to give us good quality dramas. Maybe this could be the reason why these artists prefer working with this production house. Can you think of any actors who prefer working with A & B productions, the faces that instantly make you guess that this must be an A & B production play?

Fatima Awan.

There was a time when every other drama was being shot abroad. It had become a trend which was started by Momina Duraid Production on Hum TV and followed by different production houses which aired their shows on channels like ARY Digital and Geo TV. But now we rarely see shows that are being shot abroad. Are the economical conditions the reason for shows no longer being shot abroad? Well, that’s what I think. Producers are seen cutting down on budget by shooting shows in the local areas. The reason is that the actors and directors have increased their fees; an OST has become a must, and there a thousand other things that increases the cost of a show. Inflation has doubled in the past decade which has also led to the shrinking of the budget.

The list is very long but here are some of the popular shows that had been shot abroad:

Vasl: Vasl is one of the popular dramas of Hum TV that had been shot abroad. It was shot primarily in Panama City, Florida. We got to see some beautiful scenes like the ones on the white sand beaches. It features stars like Ayesha Khan, Adnan Siddiqui, Faisal Rehman, Imran Abbas and Tooba Siddiqui. The story revolves around a woman who goes through several tough stages of life, where different men come in her life, and try to mold her life according to them without paying heed to her wishes.

Manay Na Yeh Dil: Manay Na Yeh Dil is another popular show of Hum TV. It has stars like Ayesha Khan, Faisal Qureshi and Faisal Rehman as the leads. It had a different story which the audiences thoroughly enjoyed. Half of this serial was shot in Australia in eye catching locations. It is a beautiful love story revolving around a couple who meet and get separated and then life makes them confront each other yet again.

Malaal: Another hit show shot in the beautiful city of New York. It was shot during the winters so we did not get to see much other than snow but overall the places where the scenes were shot looked beautiful. We saw a lot of scenes with the subways and central parks. It was directed by Mehreen Jabbar and the cast included Deepti, Faisal Rehman, Imran Abbas, and Sarwat Gillani. The story, direction, screenplay and acting were all brilliant and this show was one of the hits of 2010. The story revolves around a man who leaves the one woman who loves him the most and ends up getting married to a young, immature girl due to family pressures.

Ishq Junoon Deewangi: Ishq Junoon Deewangi was shot in the beautiful city of Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town is one of the prettiest cities and we got to see some very beautiful locations. It has stars like Humayun Saeed, Umaima Abbasi, Deepti and Adnan Siddiqui. The place where Humayun sees Umaima for the first time was a natural scenic beauty and a treat for the eye. It was another hit story which won the hearts of the viewers. The story revolved around a man whose dream turns into an obsession and makes him completely oblivious to his loving wife and he ends up destroying his marriage.

Qaid e Tanhai: Another beautiful show shot abroad. Its stars celebrities like Faisal Qureshi and Sawera Nadeem as the leads. The story revolves around a man who leaves his family to go abroad and earn and the hardships that he and his wife faces due to the separation. It is written by Umera Ahmad and beautifully directed by Babar Javed.

Main Abdul Qadir Hoon: Mein Abdul Qadir Hoon is a unique story of a boy with a heart of gold whose life goes through many twists and turns because of people around him trying to influence him. It is the story of a journey of self discovery of a man. Few of its episodes were shot in Turkey and I must say all the scenes were beautiful. Turkey is one of the most beautiful places for me. It stars Fahad Mustafa, Amna Sheikh and Alishba Yousuf as the leads. Fahad Mustafa has given one of his best performances in this drama.

Parsa: Another show dramatized abroad. We got to see beautiful outdoor locations in this show especially the lavish houses in which the show was shot in. This show stars Ayesha Khan, Adnan Siddiqui, and Ahsan Khan. It is based on a love story of a Muslim girl and a Christian boy who faces a lot of problems in the future due to their differences in religion.

The Ghost: This show is written by Umera Ahmed. It was shot in the beautiful backdrop of Scotland. I think it was the first time a show was shot in Scotland and all the places shown were just beautiful. The old traditional brick buildings of Scotland were definitely a treat for the eye. It stars Faisal Qureshi, Sania Saeed and Samira Peerzada.

Neeyat: Neeyat is another show shot in the beautiful city of New York. Mehreen Jabbar has directed the show in brilliant locations that leaves you in awe of the scenes. The sky scrapper buildings, time square, central parks and the subways all are beautifully shown in the serial. The cast includes Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed, Ahsan Khan, and Deepti.

Mata e Jaan: Mata e Jaan was the last serial of Hum TV which was shot abroad. It was shot primarily in New York. The story revolves around a couple Haniya and Ibad who meet while studying in the same university abroad. They fall in love and get married despite Ibad’s family disapproval. I especially loved the beautiful places where Haniya and Ibad visited after their marriage.

I do not mind dramas being shot in our own country as Pakistan itself is very beautiful. But it is always refreshing to see different locations in dramas. I really hope to see more dramas being dramatized abroad as it is always pleasant to watch the scenes enacted in beautiful locations.

Mariam Shafiq.

There are always a few shows that are on air that makes you wonder ‘who watches these shows?’ They have stories that make absolutely no sense, the acting is awful and they have nothing new to offer but they still run for years. Why?

It is because it is watched by masses. I once spoke to a senior representative of Geo TV and the first question I asked him was about the long running show, Yeh Zindagi Hai. Why is it still on air? Who watches this pathetic show and the answer I got from him is ‘Masses’. He explained that we cannot count ourselves as a part of the masses as the majority of the people in Pakistan are still illiterate or semi literate. The lower class families like to watch these kinds of shows and surprisingly, Yeh Zindagi Hai is one of the highest watched dramas of Geo TV. If it was a show which was not giving good ratings then it would have been pulled off air long ago. It does not seem like they have any intention to end the show anytime soon as it increases the viewership of their channel.

Yeh Zindagi Hai started in the year 2008 and aired its 237th episode last week! That’s a lot of episodes!! Its story revolves around two sisters from a middle class family and the problems they face in their lives. That is how the story started but now they have shown a second generation just like a typical Indian drama! The cast includes Javeria Saud, Saud, Alyy khan, Sahir Lodhi, Salma Zafar, Parveen Akbar and many more. Many actors have done roles in this show in the past 6 years like Behroz Sabzwani, Beenish Chauhan, Momal Sheikh, Shehroze Sabzwari, and Hina Dilpazeer.

Bulbulay is another show which has been running for a long time. It is one of the few sitcoms that have gained immense popularity. Usually comedy shows of Pakistan fail to leave the audiences impressed as the script as well as the acting is not up to the mark. Bulbulay is the only long running sitcoms of Pakistan and has been airing since 2009. It initially starred Nabeel, Ayesha Omer and Mehmood Aslam. Hina Dilpazeer later joined the cast and is famous for her character Momo. I personally see Bulbulay for the character of Momo, she is the highlight of the show for me. Why is the show still running? It is because it is liked and watched by masses. People of all ages watch this show and it is one of the highest rated dramas of ARY Digital.

Another drama which ran for years was Tere Pehlu Mein. It started in 2006 an ended in 2011. It was not a bad show in the beginning but the story was ruined when it was dragged for so long. This show had a complete Indian look as it aired at the time when Pakistan had started to copy Indian shows. That was a phase that came and went by and the originality of Pakistani shows was restored. A big Thanks to Hum TV for that as it was the only channel that did not let its shows be affected by Indian dramas. The cast of this show included Sara Chaudhary, Sami Khan, Deeba Begum, Jamal Shah, Laila Zuberi, and Navaid Rana. The reason why it aired for so long is the same reason that I have mentioned above. It was giving good rating to the channel as it was liked and watched by many people.

Kaash Mein Teri Beti Na Hoti is another serial which ran for about a whole year. It started in 2011 and ended in 2012 and aired around 210+ episodes. Kaash Mein Teri Beti Na Hoti looked like a very promising show and it did not disappoint us in the beginning but it did become boring when it started to get dragged. I still remember when I saw the promos, I was intrigued and did watch the initial episodes. The cast includes Fatima Effendi, Danish Tehmoor, Shahid Naqvi, Javeria Abbasi, Salma Zafar, Saleem Mairaj, Ismat Zaidi. Fatima Effendi gave her best performance in this show and it was the first time I actually appreciated her as an actress. Saleem Mairaj was also brilliant in this show. He is a very versatile actor and can do all kinds of roles. It was another highest rated daily soap of Geo TV.

If we get to see shows like Yeh Zindagi Hai and Kaash Mein Teri Beti Na Hoti then we also get to see quality dramas like Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Maat, Humsafar, Daam and Dastaan . There will always be some drama that would seem a waste of time for many of us but there will be many viewers who would be watching it daily. Its a weird fact but it is true!

Mariam Shafiq

Audiences of our Television industry have grown in the past decades. Pakistani shows are not only watched in Pakistan but by Pakistanis and other nationalities living all over the world. They have won everyone’s heart because of their quality story, beautiful direction and realistic acting. But as they became more popular many preconceived or stereotypical notions developed among the audiences. These notions are infectious and they spread among the audiences like wild fire. They change the mindset of many people who had not even thought about them before. Here are a few preconceived notions of our audiences:

Any novel based show is a must watch!

Audiences have become biased when it comes to watching shows. One of the top categories for watching a show is that it should be written by popular novelist like Umera Ahmed, Faiza Iftikhar, Farhat Ishtiaq, Razia Butt who have given us popular shows like Humsafar, Shehr e Zaat, Dastaan, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Meri Zaat Zarre Benishan, Najia, Saiqa, Aik Nayee Cinderella, Haroon Toh Piya Teri and the list goes on. It is true that novel based dramas are good and people have high expectations from them but most of the time, the script of the drama is very different from the actual novel which disappoints the audiences and they complain about it. If only they would stop expecting from novel adopted dramas and give new writers a chance then the viewership of many other shows would increase.

Once a hit always a hit!

Another common belief among the audiences is that once an actor/director gives a hit, they are supposed to give hits all the time. It is normal for the expectations of the audiences to rise after a show becomes a hit but they need to understand that hits and misses are common in our industry. You cannot expect directors/actors to give one hit after the other. If some shows are brilliant, the others may not be able to match up to that standard. One of the examples would be of the popular director Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, the expectations from him rose to a very high level after his blockbuster show Humsafar, he was immensely praised for his work and was tagged as one of the best directors in the industry but as soon as people saw the show Ashk which was also directed by him, the tag went down the drain and apparently he was a huge disappointment! Another example would be of Haissam Hussain, audiences could not stop praising him for his brilliant direction in Dastaan but as soon as they saw Kuch Pyar Ka Pagalpan Bhi Tha, he was highly criticized for his work. The audiences need to understand that a show consists of many elements like story, screenplay, acting, direction and last but not the least good editing. All these factors combine together to make a good show and one person is not responsible for a show being a hit or a flop. To expect them to give one hit after the other only manages to pressurize them and they go as far as disowning their flop shows as with the case of Sarmat Khoosat who refuses to talk about any of his flop shows (especially Ashk).

The shows with the clichéd story lines are the worst!

Another preconceived notion of many audiences is that shows based on the concept of step-mothers, evil mother–in-laws and second marriages are just not worth their time. When they see the promos, the only thing that comes to their mind is ‘Oh God… not the same story again’ but the amusing part here is that the shows with such clichéd concepts are highest rated dramas. We get to hear a lot of criticism and complain from the audiences in the beginning but these are the people who eventually watch it too! This is what we call hypocrisy! The recently aired show Aik Tamanna Lahasil Si which was based on the concept of evil mother-in-law was one of the highest rated dramas during its airing time. Other examples include Mera Yaqeen and the currently popular show Daagh; both are based on the concept of second marriages. Audiences complain that the shows are too depressing for their taste, but they are the ones who watch it and increase the ratings. The reason why we get to see the same concepts over and over again is because it is liked and watched by the masses.

Oh it’s a Momina Duraid Production; I will watch it for sure!

Another common practice among the audiences is to judge shows by their production houses. I agree that Momina Duraid, A & B productions and Humayun Saeed production houses are the best production houses in our industry but they are not the only production houses. These three production houses rule the industry with an iron fist and people prefer to see shows from these production houses only. The reason why they attracted so many viewers is because of the quality of shows they offered. However, new production houses with good quality shows are emerging to compete with these popular banners. One of the emerging production houses is Natak Entertainment, Producers of the show Ghaao which is currently airing on Geo TV. This production house definitely has a future!

A big NO for any other channel except Hum TV, ARY and Geo TV

Another preconceived notion of our audiences is that quality dramas are only offered by these three channels. If someone had asked me this question a few years ago, I would have agreed wholeheartedly but now many other channels have emerged who have much to offer to the audiences. The new emerging channels are Aplus and Express entertainment. Aplus is offering quality dramas such as Barf and Koyla Hogai Main while express is offering shows like Talkhiyaan, Tishnagi and Sirat e Mustaqeem. Even PTV has improved a lot in past few years and is offering quality shows, but few people watch it as they have created a mindset of their own. All we need to do is change our mindset! Gone are the days when these three channels ruled the Television industry…

Mariam Shafiq.

The private channels have given a boost to the new projects, keeping the audience entertained with something or the other. These days it seems like Sanam Saeed is enjoying a great time in her career and no doubt, she deserves that equally. Though her acting is much popular for her current drama Zindagi Gulzar hai, her another drama which is been aired on Express entertainment, Talkhiyan is also one of her magnificent pieces of work. Here are the few random snaps from the set of Talkhiyan, Have a look!

Share your views about the serial,

Best Wishes

Nida Zaidi

Saba Hameed is one of the most popular veteran actors of Television Industry. She has been seen in the most popular drama serials like Dastaan, Main Abdul Qadir Hoon, Qaid e Tanhai, Aks, The Baraat series and the recently ended show Aik Tamanna Lahasil Si. It would not be wrong to say that she is the vamp of our drama industry. She is usually seen in negative or grey shaded roles which are played to perfection by her. However, she has also shown versatility by doing positive roles in Dastaan and the Baraat series and a comic role in the show Family Front. Saba has proved time and time again what a brilliant actress she is. Her acting is so natural that you want to hate her when she plays a negative role but you also cannot help but love her in her positive roles. This actress who is in her late 50’s (believe it or not) has impressed everyone with her talent.

Her family is filled with talents of all sorts. She is the daughter of a renowned columnist and writer Hamid Akhtar. She has two kids from her first marriage to Syed Pervaiz Shafi; Meesha Shafi and Faris Shafi who are both equally talented like their mother. Her second husband Waseem Abbas is also renowned actor of our industry. However, they are divorced now. (Not sure if this is a rumor or actually true!)

Meesha Shafi:
Meesha Shafi is the daughter of Saba Hameed and has made her own name in the entertainment industry. She is a singer, actor as well as a model.
She started her career by appearing in Jawad Ahmed video Bin Teray Kya Hai Jeena. She started her career as a model soon after that. She was the spokesperson for L’Oreal Paris Pakistan and has appeared in International magazines such as Vogue. She then entered the television industry and was seen in shows like Muhabbat Khawab ki Soorat and Ye Zindagi To Woh Nahi. Her biggest career breakthrough was when she signed the Hollywood movie, The Reluctant Fundamentalist. She was seen alongside popular actors like Kate Hudson and Liev Schreiber in the movie. She will also be seen in the Bollywood movie, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.

Her versatility did not end here. She then tried her luck in singing and was the lead vocalist in the band called Overload. And who can forget her famous song from Coke Studio Jugni Allah Wali which she sang alongside Arif Lahor. It is the most popular Coke Studio song yet with about 10+ million views on YouTube. She also contributed to the soundtrack of her movie, The Reluctant Fundamentalist.

Faris Shafi:
Faris Shafi is the son of Saba Hameed and Syed Pervaiz Shafi. He started his career as a rapper/singer and is known for his video Awaam. He is another addition to the talented family of Saba Hameed. He then tried his luck in acting and was seen in the popular show Manjali which aired on Geo TV. It came as a surprise when I got to know that he is the son of Saba Hameed and that too after the show Manjali ended! He performed well for a newcomer and we hope to see him in other shows too.

His second video Tere Bina was not as successful as his first video but it did manage to entertain the viewers. His videos cannot compete with the Saeein AKA Ali Gul Pir’s standard, but they have made loyal viewers of their own.

Waseem Abbas:
Waseem Abbas is the second husband (or ex husband) of Saba Hameed and he is also the son of the popular actor Inayat Hussain Bhatti. He is a famous veteran actor and director. He started his career in the 1980’s and is seen in films like Badaltey Mausam, Manzil and Zara Si Baat. He has done many TV shows such as Family Front, Landa Bazaar, Mera Saeein 2 and is recently seen in Zindagi Gulzar Hai. He had taken a break from acting and resumed it after many years with the show Mera Saeein 2. He will also be seen in the show Kaala Jaadu very soon.

Mariam Shafiq.