There is no denying the fact that the Pakistani drama industry is blessed with the most talented actors who most often leave the viewers in awe of their performances. However, no one can be at their best all the time, and then there are those actors who are bent on playing stereotypical roles to make things easier for them. While some of these actors are great performers otherwise, there are always those instances when they either overact or fail to breathe life into their characters. In an attempt to be ‘different’ these actors tend to give performances that are simply the worst. A script of course makes a huge difference but sometimes an average written character too can become likable if the actor performing the role gives a good performance. Apart from that, the vision of the character also determines how a certain actor will perform in a drama. Some directors leave things to the actors who cannot cope on their own and others instruct in a way that doesn’t help an actor give their best.

Here is a list of those Pakistani actors who gave the worst performances in 2021:

Zara Sheikh (Raqs e Bismil)

Zara Sheikh made her comeback in 2021 with a project which had a star-studded cast. Raqs-e-Bismil was Zara’s comeback serial, it was extremely popular among the masses and had some of the best actors in the cast. Her comeback was also used to entice the viewers since Zara Sheikh was considered one of the most sought-after leading ladies of her time. However, her performance in Raqs-e-Bismil was an utter disappointment. Her get-up did not go well with Laila’s personality right from the beginning. Her make-up and dresses failed to add the kind of grace and style this character needed in order to truly come alive on screen. Her performance was even worse in every single scene. Even though her co-stars tried their best to show their support by appreciating her performance but that did not change the fact that Zara did not only have blank expressions but she had a difficult time recalling the dialogues. Even though Laila, the character she was playing, was a confident woman, Zara Sheikh always looked clueless! She was definitely not ready to make a comeback and it was actually sad as well as annoying watching someone with such a vast experience struggling on screen. The fact that she did not even invest in a better wardrobe suggested that she did not take this project too seriously. Since the character was so well written, the viewers still appreciated it but Zara Sheikh did everything in her power to give the viewers incentive to forward her scenes. Her performance was simply unbearable. We will never forget those scenes in the hospital where she was fighting for her life with a full face of make-up and the most overdramatic expressions!

Agha Mustafa Hassan (Neeli Zinda Hai & Mere Apne)

Agha Mustafa Hassan is a relatively new actor when compared to the other actors on the list. He is however one of those actors who have bagged many big projects in a short span of time and has worked with the best directors. His short appearance in Ek Thi Marium made the viewers look forward to his upcoming projects but with every project, his performance was more disappointing than ever. If some of the other actors underplay their characters, Agha Mustafa Hassan always goes overboard especially when he has to express anger on screen. His dialogue delivery is forced most of the time which makes it really difficult for the viewer to relate to his characters. This year he was part of two of the most-watched dramas with a star-studded cast. Agha Mustafa Hassan yet again managed to give the most exaggerated expressions in some of the scenes and it was painful watching him deliver his dialogues because they did not come naturally at all! Agha Mustafa puts a little too much effort into his performances, he really needs to stop being so hard on himself and the viewers who are watching him perform.

Armeena Rana Khan (Mohabbatein Chahatein)

Armeena Rana Khan is an ‘experienced’ actress who has worked in films and dramas in Pakistan, she has even worked in international projects but even then she doesn’t have the acting skills required to add the kind of depth and nuances needed to make a character meaningful. The only time Armeena Rana Khan suited a character was when she played the lead in Mohabbat Ab Nahi Hogi perhaps because the character was too plain and simple. Other than that her performances are the same irrespective of the character she is playing. She fails to mold herself to suit the requirements of the characters she is assigned to play therefore her overall approach towards all her portrayals is similar. Armeena Rana played a negative role in the drama serial Mohabbatein Chahatein. This time around she decided to act like a tween which made her character even more annoying to watch. Her entire focus was on looking good and even ‘cute’! Most of her scenes were laughable because it was really difficult to take her performance or character seriously!

Amar Khan (Bad Dua)

Drama serial Bad Dua has gone on-air recently but the initial few episodes were enough to show the kind of overacting Amar Khan has resorted to in this drama. Amar Khan is one of those actors whose expressions tend to get a bit too loud, something that is never suitable for innocent small-sized TV screens. Therefore she really needs to understand when to stop. The character of Abeer definitely has given Amar Khan a lot of margin to perform but it seems the director didn’t really give her any pep-talk and even if he did, she herself forgot where she should’ve drawn the line. Everything about Abeer is so over the top, be it her expressions, her basic styling which doesn’t really suit the dynamic of a university student. It is good that Amar Khan is confident in front of the camera but really has a long way to go before she understands the minute details that the camera easily picks up!

Neelam Munir Khan (Qayamat & Mohabbat Dagh Ki Soorat)

Neelam Munir Khan is one such actor who has the capability of making people feel for a negative character like Ulfat. The way she performed Ulfat went to show that she understands the intricacies related to acting and how she should approach different characters. She has given some very strong performances in the past but it seems ever since she has joined hands with Geo TV Network, she has forgotten about all those intricacies and nuances. Her acting since the very first episode of Qayamat was over the top, her expressions were simply weird and it was quite obvious that she was trying too hard to emote and express, which she doesn’t need to. Neelam Munir has the kind of face and features where she can easily convey the feelings of her characters by relying on subtlety. However, it seems the channel and the drama makers want her to go all out with her expressions, making her look caricaturish. Her performance in Mohabbat Daagh Ki Soorat, the less said the better!

Sania Saeed (Dour)

Sania Saeed awed and impressed us with her performance in Raqeeb Se. No one performs better than her when translating multi-dimensional characters on screen. However, in the drama serial Dour, apart from her hairpiece, even her performance comes across as fake! It won’t be wrong to say that Sania Saeed has used too many ‘props’ to bring her character to life. We are sure that an actress who is known for her subtle yet powerful performances didn’t do so on her own discretion and perhaps was asked to follow the instructions of the director. Sania Saeed has changed her entire look and tone for the role in order to bring out the controlling and obsessive nature of her character out but overall the performance and the look is not up to the mark at all.

Urwa Hocane (Amanat)

Urwa Hocane won us over completely last year when she played such a remarkable role in Mushk last year. This year, however, she has been focusing extensively on how good she looks on screen. In the drama serial Amanat, she is playing the ultimate bechari’s role and more than her average performance, her overall look is the reason why she is a part of this list. It is so important for an actor to look the role, yet Urwa Hocane has been seen in whitewashed heavily Kajol-lined eyes with the most inappropriate jewelry in situations which demanded wearing absolutely no make-up. Also, it won’t be wrong to say that the bechari roles do not suit her at all and she is clearly a misfit in the drama. We expected Urwa to make a better choice than to play a part which many of our heroines play just to add to their bank account!

Saboor Aly (Amanat)

Saboor Aly is definitely the only actor who has landed herself a spot in the best as well as in the worst performance list. Saboor Aly knows how to act and there’s no denying the fact. Therefore it goes to show that she is a director’s actor and if she is working with a visionary director, she can definitely do wonders. However, this definitely didn’t turn out to be the case in the drama serial Amanat. Her expressions are absolutely bizarre and although it is understandable that there is absolutely nothing likable about the character of Zooni, her antics were enough to show that. There was no need for Saboor to express herself with such psychotic expressions, which has literally made her performance intolerable. The amount of caterwauling she does is another story!

Maya Ali (Pehli Si Mohabbat)

It has been usually seen that when the actors make a come back on TV screens after years, they tend to forget a thing or two about acting. Maya Ali definitely lived up to this notion and left no stone unturned to prove it. It was unfortunate that the viewers were actually excited to see her in a drama after years because what she gave them was nothing but earaches, eyesores, and long-lasting headaches. Why? Because she broke the record of crying for 36 weeks straight. The kind of crying that Maya Ali did was not just crying but something else which can not be described in words and there actually is no word in the dictionary to explain what she has done. The sad part is, she could’ve cried in a dignified manner but it seems the brief that she got from the director was to make as ugly expressions as she can while crying and she obliged. Just a public service message to those who are thinking of binge-watching Pehli Si Mohabbat – keep the volume as low as possible, don’t even dare to watch this drama with your earphones plugged in, forward Maya Ali’s scenes as much as you can – it will save you hours of your time.

Saqib Sameer (Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3)

Saqib Sameer rose to fame recently when he played the role of Rafiq in Raqeeb Se. He showed his range as an actor and because he has been a theater actor for so long, it was actually exciting to know that he was a part of a mega-project such as Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3. Saqib Sameer alone can not be blamed because this project, on the whole, turned out to be such a disappointment, therefore a supporting character such as Dilawar obviously could not do much to save it. However, what Saqib Sameer can be held responsible for is putting the viewers through those torturous expressions that he gave while mourning the loss of Farhad, who he had just met. All jokes aside, it was actually shocking and disappointing to see an actor of his caliber perform so poorly in this drama where his crying expressions ended up becoming meme-worthy content. His overall acting was also quite over the top and made up, which actually showed that he was trying too hard, too bad!

Anmol Baloch (Khwaab Nagar Ki Shehzadi)

Anmol Baloch continues to get leading roles even though her acting skills are as limited as they get! This year she played another leading role in the drama serial Khwaab Nagar Ki Shehzadi and when compared to many other actresses who have played similar roles, Anmol Baloch fell short to a great extent! Just like many other actors on this list, Anmol Baloch has limited expressions and she is also so self-conscious that her acting is never natural. There is more focus on looking good and making the most of the few expressions she feels confident delivering than meeting the requirements of the role. Drama serial Khwaab Nagar Ki Shehzadi was a copy of ARY’s Waada, Saboor Aly however played her role much better than the treatment Anmol gave to it. She was so busy making sure her hair stayed in place to actually focus on her acting.

Mikaal Zulfiqar (Khwaab Nagar Ki Shehzadi)

It would be safe to say that Mikaal Zulfiqar is really comfortable playing the flawed husband because that is all he is assigned to do over and over again! Even after playing this role repeatedly, he has never been able to give any of these characters the edge they needed in order to be more interesting. The only time Mikaal Zulfiqar played a relatively different role was in the drama serial Alif Allah Aur Insaan but if his acting was to be judged neutrally in that drama, it was nothing extraordinary. In dramas such as Durr-e-Shehwar and Mein Sitara he was seen in a different look but his performance was monotonous as usual. Mikaal’s dialogue delivery remains the same no matter which drama he is a part of and the viewers are all too familiar with his ‘loser husband’ expressions. Mikaal Zulfiqar is one of those actors who has managed to make it this big because of his good looks. In the drama serial Khwaab Nagar Ki Shehzadi this year Mikaal played yet another familiar role and this was another one of those instances when he failed to add any kind of appeal to his character. If the character was written typically, Mikaal performed it in an even more typical manner. Also, his latest hair color does not look good on him.

Areej Mohyudin (Qissa Meherbano Ka)

We have a difficult time understanding why and how did Areej Mohyudin managed to bag such a central character in Qissa Meherbano Ka. The excessive shouting and Areej’s shrill voice make this character simply unbearable. She always goes overboard and has completely failed to highlight different shades of her character. Her performance is really annoying. We honestly feel for Muhammad Ahmed who had to work with her.

Zaib Rehman (Qissa Meherbano Ka)

Zaib Rehman got more attention and recognition than ever when she played Ama Janate’s role in Ranjha Ranjha Kardi. This year she played a negative character in Qissa Meherbano Ka, quite opposite to the one she played in Ranjha Ranjha Kardi. When compared to many other actresses her age and stature, Zaib Rehman’s performance does not come up to the mark at all. Her dialogue delivery and expressions both are highly disappointing in the serial which makes her scenes really difficult to sit through. It is because of her unconvincing performance that we have a difficult time taking her character seriously.

Nazish Jahangir (Berukhi)

Nazish Jahangir has definitely made a name for herself in a short span of time. However, it can not be said that her choice of roles is always nice and wise. She is playing the role of Maira, a rich spoiled brat who looks down on her relatives especially. The fact that Nazish has played such roles before is another story but the fact that she chooses not to groom herself accordingly is actually a huge setback. It takes away from her performance and makes one wonder why she fails to work on herself. The styling can be easily ignored because she definitely is not the best-dressed actor in her dramas but when she is flaunted to be someone from a very sound background, she should actually work on how to fit in that role seamlessly too. Her dialogue delivery and her Urdu, as well as English accent, are not refined enough and the funny part is, despite trying, she can not hide it.

Iffat Omar (Berukhi)

Iffat Omar really needs to snap out of her fixation for negative and evil roles. She has done far too many of those characters and sadly, it makes us miss seeing her as Laila from Aangan. Iffat Omar always does negative roles and she is currently seen in two dramas; Berukhi as well as Dour and in both dramas, she is playing a negative character who has nothing nice to say at all. Iffat Omar is also one of those actors who are so self-absorbed to actually understand that their OTT expressions are a bit too much to handle for the audience. It is good to know that an actor is comfortable in front of the camera but at times, subtlety is the key, which is definitely missing from Iffat Omar’s keyring!

Umair Rafiq (Berukhi)

Umair Rafiq is a newcomer who is playing one of the most important supporting characters in the drama serial Berukhi. While we absolutely love how this character has been penned down, Umair Rafiq’s performance leaves a lot to be desired. He is definitely fortunate that he was chosen to play this role but he is a complete misfit. He is clearly someone who is not comfortable facing the camera, most of the times he looks more scared than anything else. Also, in so many scenes he is emotionless. Apart from this, his lenses serve as a major distraction. Umair Rafiq also has difficulty delivering his dialogues in a flow. We understand that he is new in the industry but the producers and directors really should think twice before casting someone with minimal acting skills in such an important role.

Ali Tahir (Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay & Phaans)

Ali Tahir is another experienced actor in the Pakistani drama industry. He is seen in dramas every now and then but it seems he has certain rough patches where no matter what happens, he finds it hard to perform. His acting can be quite caricaturish and he showed just exactly that in both Phaans and Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay. At times it seems Ali Tahir can only sport a single expression and no matter what the situation is, he will be frozen in the same expression. This is exactly why it has taken away from the situation of his character in Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay, where instead of feeling sad for a father who lost his only daughter, you end up giggling because of his funny expressions.

Usman Mukhtar (Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay)

Usman Mukhtar has what it takes to make it to the best performance lists of Reviewit.pk but he chooses to stay in the worst performance list. This is the second time he has scored a spot on this list; last year it was for Sabaat and this year, it is for Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay. It is understandable that playing the character of Aswad was challenging, but Usman Mukhtar should not have accepted the challenge because it was not such a small bet among the friends, it was actually a huge project which was going to be seen everywhere Pakistani dramas are watched. His expressions at times are so robotic and funny that it actually takes away from the impact of the situation. Aswad is not even an ideal character, to begin with, on top of it to perform it poorly was not what was required.

Babar Ali (Amanat)

Babar Ali has been acting for decades now. He has become a lot more active on Pakistani TV screens and is seen every now and then in different dramas. Babar Ali still has the aura to give his characters a personality and a look of its own. Babar Ali is definitely not doing well in terms of choosing his projects because he was seen in a ridiculous character in Zebaish, an equally ridiculous character in Tarap, and this year, it’s Amanat. Although everyone in Amanat is struggling because the project, on the whole, is just so bad but for someone with Babar Ali’s experience in acting and in front of the camera, this kind of performance was definitely not expected. His expressions are so robotic that it makes you laugh. If this would’ve been a list dedicated to comic roles, Babar Ali would’ve landed himself a top spot.

This completes the list of worst performances seen in Pakistani dramas in 2021. Which one of these performances did you find to be the weakest? Please share your opinion in the comment section below.

This year some really interesting dramas went on air on different channels. Most of these dramas wouldn’t have been as engaging as they were if the actors who played the leading and supporting roles did not translate their respective characters so impressively on screen. An actor’s performance can make or mar a character. Even the most well-written characters lose their appeal if they are not portrayed convincingly on screen. There are times when even the most simple supporting characters become easy to connect to when they are enacted on screen in the right manner. While playing a negative role, it is also really important for an actor to keep things real and not go overboard. An actor who manages to do that makes the viewers hate their character but the audience cannot help but praise the actor. This year, so many talented Pakistani female actresses showcased their amazing acting talent in different projects. The roles assigned to females are also changing through the years. Also, even some of the more ‘typical’ roles were actually fun to watch because of these brilliant performers. Therefore, this year we decided to make a separate list of actresses who outshone in different roles.

Here is a list of those amazingly talented female actresses who gave the most impressive performances in 2021:

Yumna Zaidi (Dil Na Umeed Tu Nahi)

Yumna Zaidi keeps on treating her fans to powerful performances every year. She translates the most difficult roles effortlessly on screen and never ceases to add the kind of intensity needed to make such roles memorable. She played one such character in the drama serial Dil Na Umeed Tu Nahi this year and she was simply outstanding in the role. Her portrayal was intense enough but never overdramatic which made Sumbul’s character come alive on screen with its vulnerabilities and strengths standing out. Yumna’s performance made Sumbul’s journey relatable for the viewers and even more heartwarming.

Yasra Rizvi (Dil Na Umeed Tu Nahi)

Yasra Rizvi most often chooses projects that are challenging and she makes sure that the projects she works in are meaningful as well. Her role in Dil Na Umeed Tu Nahi signified how some girls in Savera’s situation resign to their fate. Yasra Rizvi’s performance was top-notch in the drama and she did exceptionally well while translating Savera’s soft and nurturing nature on screen. Her on-screen chemistry with her co-stars definitely raises the bar even higher and brings out the best in others as well.

Navid Shehzad (Dil Na Umeed Tu Nahi)

Navid Shehzad made an amazing comeback to television with a meaningful negative character. She played the role of a wicked woman who runs a brothel in the critically acclaimed drama serial Dil Na Umeed Tu Nahi. Although this character was negative it did serve a bigger purpose. Also, watching Surriya auntie’s antics was sometimes entertaining! Navid Shehzad has such a graceful personality yet her effortless portrayal made her the perfect actor for this role. We were truly in awe of her outstanding acting skills while watching the show.

Sammiya Mumtaz (Dil Na Umeed Tu Nahi)

Sammiya Mumtaz is another exceptional actress who makes the viewers feel for her characters irrespective of the role she is playing. Even when she plays similar characters, it is enjoyable watching her on-screen. This year she truly impressed us with her inspiring role in the drama serial Dil Na Umeed Tu Nahi. She played the role of a mother who stands by her daughters’ side despite all odds. Her performance, as usual, was not only convincing but also endearing because she added the right emotions to every single scene.

Qudsia Ali (Aulaad)

Drama serial Aulaad happens to be Qudsia Ali’s debut drama. The kind of performance she showcased in Aulaad shows that she has a bright future ahead of her. It won’t be wrong to say that at such a young age, she turned out to be such a measured performer considering the kind of brilliant treatment she gave to the character of Mouni. In recent times, a lot of actors have attempted to perform such characters which represent the specially-abled individuals of the society but the way Qudsia played Mouni’s character not only made it lovable but also showcased what struggles they are faced with. If it wasn’t for her performance, Mouni’s character would not have left such an impact, which makes it one of the best performances of 2021.

Faryal Mehmood (Raqeeb Se)

Faryal Mehmood has been a part of the industry for a few years now. She has always stood out and earned appreciation for her performances but it won’t be wrong to say that her portrayal of Insha in the drama serial Raqeeb Se put her name on the map. It was a treat to see Faryal Mehmood just being herself and so effortlessly acting out the character of Insha who is strong, independent, level-headed but also has her emotional struggles, especially related to her father. Faryal Mehmood did complete justice to this character and after this project, the audience is definitely going to be excited for her upcoming projects because they already know her caliber as an actor.

Hadiqa Kiyani (Raqeeb Se)

There was a lot of hype about the fact that Hadiqa Kiyani was making a debut with the drama serial Raqeeb Se this year. So far into her career, everyone has known her as an ace singer but who would’ve thought that she was hiding this talent in her all along. The performance of Hadiqa Kiyani in Raqeeb Se was mind-blowing right from the beginning and to see that she effortlessly matched the caliber and finesse of her experienced co-stars like Noman Ejaz and Sania Saeed was exemplary. Hadiya Kiyani portrayed the character of Sakina with such finesse that it easily became one of the most memorable and brilliant performances of 2021.

Sania Saeed (Raqeeb Se)

There is no denying the fact that Sania Saeed is one of the finest actresses of Pakistani dramas right now. She has so much experience that she literally owns the characters that are assigned to her, therefore it was the same for Hajra in Raqeeb Se. The flow there was to her performance in this drama was unparalleled, it was like watching a river of emotions flowing in front of you. There was so much that Hajra wanted to say but she couldn’t. Making all of her emotions visually obvious for the viewers to decipher was not an easy feat but in Raqeeb Se, this is exactly what Sania Saeed did and showed how she was at her finest.

Ramsha Khan (Shehnai)

Ramsha Khan is a fine actor and this is why the ease in the dialogue delivery comes naturally to her. It is always interesting to see that no matter how challenging or complex the characters are, Ramsha Khan brings such effortlessness into her acting that you really find her characters closer to reality and relatable. In the drama serial Shehnai, her character went through a lot where she was being forced to marry, the anger, anguish, pain of heartbreak, and hope of moving on, all these factors were portrayed brilliantly by her, making it yet another brilliant performance by Ramsha Khan that the audience got to witness this year.

Sana Javed (Dunk)

Sana Javed has started taking one challenging character after another and in every drama serial, she has paved her way to success. The same goes for her in the drama serial Dunk where she underplayed the character of Amal, not making it too obvious what was running through her mind yet letting everyone know the evil streak there was to her personality. Sana Javed’s performance was very convincing Dunk and although the drama was dragged and probably lost the grip it had on the viewers, Sana Javed’s acting was definitely a saving grace of the drama because as it approached the end, everyone was keen to know how Amal will react upon getting exposed.

Ayeza Khan (Chupke Chupke)

There was a lot of debate when the drama went on air with Ayeza Khan playing the role of a college student. In the initial episodes, her get-up and styling attracted a lot of negative attention but as the drama progressed, Ayeza Khan’s brilliant and effortless performance let everyone know why she was the perfect choice for the role of Meenu. Her energy, her zest, effortless dialogue delivery, and overall treatment with which she portrayed this character were not only convincing but perfect too. Meenu had a lot going for her and Ayeza Khan covered every aspect of her personal and emotional struggles brilliantly. She also showed how good her comic timing is. Seeing Ayeza Khan’s performance in Chupke Chupke definitely makes us want to see her in more comic roles.

Asma Abbas (Chupke Chupke)

Asma Abbas is one of the most versatile actors the Pakistani industry has ever produced. There is absolutely no character under the sun that she can not play and do complete justice to. Her comic timing, fluent Punjabi dialogue delivery, and overall antics in general in Chupke Chupke were not only funny but an absolute treat to watch. She played the role of deceased Nawab’s first wife and her tussle with the second wife of her husband was always amusing. She has the aura of bringing warmth to the screen and to have one such character which everyone could feel connected to in the form of a motherly figure was what made Asma Abbas’s character and performance even more special.

Uzma Baig (Chupke Chupke)

Uzma Baig is not actively seen in Pakistani dramas. It was after a long time that the drama viewers not only got to witness her performance but also saw how good of an actor she is. She played the role of Nawab’s second wife and it was obvious that speaking Siraiki did not come naturally to her but the way she adapted to it and added comic tinge to her dialogue delivery was phenomenal. Her robotic body language and expressions were the highlight of her performance, making it quite a memorable one seen this year.

Hiba Bukhari (Fitoor)

Hiba Bukhari is comparatively new to the Pakistani drama industry but in such a short span of time, she has gained a lot of success and popularity. Hiba has swiftly become a household name and is now at that stage in her career where her association to any project can easily attain higher viewership. In the drama serial Fitoor, Hiba Bukhari played the role of Dilnasheen. She had everything going against her and things were never favorable to her – she still tried her best to accept whatever life gave to her. Hiba Bukhari skillfully showed what it took Dilnasheen to face everything bravely. Although she also lost track and decided to go against the norms she was met with a few realizations that changed her perspective. In every episode, Hiba Bukhari showcased Dilnasheen’s struggles convincingly, making it one of the finest performances of her career so far.

Mahira Khan (Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay)

Mahira Khan made a come back on Pakistani TV screens with Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay. There has always been a debate about Mahira Khan’s acting skills but in this project, she proved her caliber as an actor. The character of Mehreen is quite complicated but Mahira Khan effortlessly gives away what Mehreen is thinking, what she is feeling, and what’s running through her mind. Mehreen has never had it easy and she has faced abuse and torture in several ways because of the people around her. What sets her character apart is that Mehreen is not a victim and she doesn’t want to come across as one. She always fights and gives back. All these shades of Mehreen’s character have been brilliantly portrayed by Mahira Khan, definitely making it one of the best performances of 2021.

Kubra Khan (Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay)

Kubra Khan is also one such actor who made a name for herself right from the beginning of her career. She has always been loved for her performances in different dramas and the best part about her career graph is that she believes in varied roles and experiments. Kubra Khan is not the kind of actor who will be seen in similar roles. Last she was seen in drama serial Alif and this year, she came back as Mashal in Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay. Her character was short-lived but the kind of impactful performance Kubra Khan gave showed that she very well understood her part as an actor. She knew that she will have limited screen time and scenes, therefore she had to leave a mark in the opportunity given to her and she delivered. Despite all the cruel things she did, the audience never truly resented Mashal because they understood where she was coming from. Kubra Khan gave one of the best performances of her career in Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay.

Laila Wasti (Azmaish & Dunk)

Laila Wasti has been a part of the industry for a long time now. She returned to the TV screens after a long period of time and since then has been consistently seen in different dramas. She has a very strong screen presence and despite playing the soft-spoken, motherly roles, she always brings an edge to her performances which sets them apart and makes them impactful. She has recently been seen in the drama serial Azmaish and Dunk and in both the dramas her characters were more or less the same but her performances were strong and convincing. Her outburst in the drama serial Dunk as Haider’s mother when she decided to support her son has to be one of the best scenes seen in a Pakistani drama this year.

Laila Zuberi (Parizaad)

Laila Zuberi is an experienced actor in the Pakistani drama industry. She has many characters and roles to her credit and has given some memorable performances. Laila Zuberi always brings in a lot of calm and charm to her dramas and always has substantial roles to play. Usually, she always does the characters that fit her personality where she always looks poised and sophisticated. In the drama serial Parizaad, she was assigned a character in which she has never been seen before and not only did she impress, she did complete justice to it as if that role was written with her in mind. She has brought in a touch of comedy with that character and all those antics that actually define her personality have been portrayed by her brilliantly. Although it was a supporting role the limited screen time she got, she made sure to leave an impact and give a memorable performance.

Saboor Aly (Parizaad)

Saboor Aly has been a part of the drama industry for a while now. She has been consistent with her projects but it won’t be wrong to say that she rose to fame recently when the drama serial Fitrat became popular and everyone loved her performance as a negative character. Saboor Aly definitely had all eyes on her because the drama viewers were keen to see what she was going to come up with next. No one actually saw Bubbly coming and all we can say is, she has arrived. Saboor Aly has given the kind of performance that has put her name on the map. Bubbly was definitely not an easy character to play but Saboor not only did justice to it but portrayed it with such sensitivity and sensibility that was required to make this story heard and stay with the viewers. The character of Bubbly Badmash later turned into Dilawar was a huge responsibility on her shoulders and she did complete justice to it – so much so that it is going to be remembered for a long long time.

Rabia Butt (Pehli Si Mohabbat)

Rabia Butt stepped into acting only a few years back and it was such a wise decision. Every time she has left a good impression on the viewers as an actress. Her role in Pehli Si Mohabbat had so much to offer and she had done complete justice to it. She made Nargis’ character stand out just the way it was meant to be. The persuasive manner in which she delivered the dialogues added more meaning and intensity to those well-written scenes. Apart from her make-up, everything else about this portrayal was spot on.

Uzma Hassan (Pehli Si Mohabbat)

Uzma Hassan is a phenomenal actress who makes sure that she highlights all the shades of the characters she plays perfectly on screen. Therefore, it is no surprise that she was chosen to play Zainab’s role, an important character in the drama serial Pehli Si Mohabbat. Her convincing portrayal was the main reason why Zainab’s track had the viewers’ undivided attention right from the start. She performed exceptionally well even in those scenes that required the use of body language and expressions alone to translate emotions on screen.

Saba Faisal (Pehli Si Mohabbat & Raqeeb Se)

Saba Faisal’s effective portrayals have won the viewers over many times. She always ensures that every character she plays stands out for its uniqueness. She has been part of many dramas lately but her performances in Pehli Si Mohabbat and Raqeeb Se deserve more appreciation this year than any other. Both these characters were completely different from one another yet Saba Faisal has breathed life into both of them. She was equally convincing in both the dramas and her definite screen presence made her characters more appealing. She once again proved that she is a versatile actress who makes her characters more engaging by her realistic performances.

Ushna Shah (Aakhir Kab Tak)

It is always refreshing and pleasing watching an actress grow. Ushna Shah is one such actress who has come a long way in the past few years. She has polished her acting skills more than ever and most importantly this year, she chose to play a character that has so much to offer. Ushna Shah has brought out the best in her character in Aakhir Kab Tak. It can easily be termed as the best choice she has made in her entire career and her most impressive performance.

Srha Asghar (Aakhir Kab Tak)

One of the main reasons for Aakhir Kab Tak’s popularity is the remarkable performances by all the actors involved. Srha Asghar was amazing as the confident and outspoken young lady in Pyar Ke Sadqay and she is equally remarkable in an entirely different role in Aakhir Kab Tak. It is almost as if she really is the timid and scared girl she is playing in the drama. She continues to impress every year, we expect nothing but the best from her.

Javeria Abbasi (Aakhir Kab Tak)

We are truly glad to watch Javeria Abbasi excel in a role that is both meaningful and impactful in the drama serial Aakhir Kab Tak. Her character has undergone a massive transformation and is layered. Javeria Abbasi’s convincing performance has made this character come alive on screen. We are waiting to watch her play more interesting characters this year.

Gul-e-Rana (Aakhir Kab Tak)

There are few actors who can make negative characters entertaining to watch without killing the essence of these characters. Gul-e-Rana is definitely one such actress who always manages to breathe life in such roles. In the drama serial Aakhir Kab Tak she plays a role that is negative but we actually find ourselves waiting for her scenes because she never fails to amuse. We love how she has nailed this performance.

Shaista Lodhi (Pardes)

Shaista Lodhi started acting a few years back and since then she has been part of drama with an ensemble cast. This year, she opted to play a character that was appreciated by the viewers a lot because it highlighted the sufferings of all those women who are constantly expected to compromise. Shaista Lodhi’s realistic performance made the viewers take her even more seriously as an actor.

Atiqa Odho (Pardes)

We are genuinely pleased to see Atiqa Odho playing different kinds of roles in dramas. She also chooses to play roles that have room for performance. She played the role of a mother who goes through different phases during the course of the drama. Her acting was convincing throughout which made her character’s presence felt on screen. It is always great watching seasoned actors pick projects which are meaningful and entertaining. Atiqa Odho is definitely one of those actresses who do not compromise on quality.

Bushra Ansari (Pardes)

Bushra Ansari keeps on experimenting with different kinds of roles. Last year, we were not too impressed with her choices but this year she left us quite impressed because she chose to be a part of a meaningful drama. She played a role that was not new but she did so in such a way that she made every scene matter. Bushra Ansari’s impressive performance in Pardes made us look forward to her upcoming projects.

Hina Javed (Pardes, Wafa Be Mol & Aulaad)

Hina Javed recently started acting; she has been choosing quality projects right from the start. This year she played supporting characters in 3 major dramas and in all these dramas her performance was brilliant. Also, the characters she chose to play offered variety and had an important role to play in the story. She proved this year that she can make the viewers love and hate her characters.

This completes the list of best performances of Pakistani actresses in the dramas aired in 2021. Which one of these is your favorite? Feel free to share your thoughts with us.