Plot twists are used by writers to bring about a major turn in the direction of the story. Such twists can come in the beginning, middle or at the end of any fictional writing. Pakistani drama writers also add these twists to their stories to make them more compelling. Such a twist must always be convincing, unpredictable and the timing should be perfect as well. While there are many writers who managed to shock their viewers by these twists, there are also those who use done-to-death scenarios in order to bring about this change in the story. Since most of the Pakistani dramas revolve around love triangles, most of these plot twists change the course of these love stories. Setting the basic foundation for such a plot twist is important but the best plot twists are the ones that are the most unexpected. If the writer lays down the foundations for something that is expected and especially something that has been done multiple times before then the surprise factor is obviously completely missing from it. A plot twist introduced at the wrong time or one which does not surprise but disappoint the viewers is the worst thing a writer can do to the story.

Unfortunately, in some of the Pakistani dramas that are currently on air and some which recently ended, the writers added the most unconvincing and pointless plot twists.

Dil Ruba

Sanam becomes the victim magically in the end

Anyone who has watched Dil Ruba will agree that in a failed attempt to be ‘different’ the writer added a plot twist in the end which was simply ridiculous. The entire drama rested on the premise that a young girl made some terrible choices and as a consequence, she suffered a lot. While the story was quite superficial, the plot twist, in the end, was not only unconvincing but forced as well. Although Sanam’s intentions and her choices were made pretty clear in the entire drama, in the end, the writer made her a victim! This was perhaps his idea of a ‘plot twist’ – taking the viewers completely by surprise – but it made Dil Ruba’s ending the worst part of the drama. Sanam lectured Junaid and he apologized to her. Had he not suffered because of her? She made it sound like he was equally responsible for falling for her and that she never tried to entice him. The viewers heard one illogical explanation after another.

This was perhaps an attempt by the writer to ‘shock’ the viewers and not end the drama on a typical note. Well, sometimes keeping it typical but real is better than adding a plot twist at the end which has no justification. The change in Sanam was too last minute and what made it worse was that the second she seeks forgiveness for her misdoings, she started judging others! The writer chose a really lame way of showing that when two people have a relationship, both of them are equally responsible for the outcome. Somehow, the viewers were not supposed to feel for Junaid but for Sanam only! Sanam’s ending was even worse than those leading men in Pakistani dramas who do every wrong thing possible throughout but in the end, are forgiven like they did nothing wrong.

Tera Ghum aur Hum

Achanak nikkah

Tera Ghum aur Hum’s entire story rested on a love triangle and it was a refreshing story for the longest time. Then the writer decided to add the done-to-death track of the male lead being the husband of two wives. The male lead Ali for the longest time was an ideal hero, he loved his wife for who she was. His unconditional love was appealing and believable. Well, the producers were not satisfied showing this ‘one woman’ man in a television drama so they decided to add a ‘twist’ to the story. Ali finally fell for Sara’s manipulation and went as far as entering into a nikkah with her. This was the worst twist ever in the story after which the story started going downhill. He took his first wife, the love of his life, Mahi ‘into confidence’ only after he got married to Sara. Why couldn’t he talk to her first and figure something out? By adding this twist the writer took away the best part of Ali’s personality and the drama but continued trying hard to make Ali look like the ideal husband again!

After this twist, the same old negativity and the constant power struggle between the two wives started. Ali married Sara but refused to be her husband! Sara went ahead and gave Mahi pills to abort her baby, another twist which has been shown in dramas so many times. As if this was not enough, lately another character has been introduced in the drama, and very soon Ali will be shown doubting Mahi and thinking she is not happy with him. Sara will of course be playing a major role in making him mistrust Mahi. Tera Ghum aur Hum is the perfect example of how one bad twist can ruin an entire story.

Nand

Gohar’s Return

Drama serial Nand might be typical but it has always been logical. Other than that, the writer had not used Gohar’s negativity to gain TRPs. This negativity for the longest time was used to send out positive messages. Since Nand has been getting so many ratings, in order to extend the story, the writer added the worst plot twist possible. Just when people thought Rabi’s life will finally be running smoothly and the drama was headed towards a happy ending, Gohar decided to come back to Jahangir. Gohar’s greed made no sense because she comes from an equally wealthy family. Even though her brothers were sick and tired of her, they would never have refused to give her all the luxuries. Yet somehow she chose to come back to Jahangir who he had just accused of domestic violence. It is quite obvious that Pakistani production houses understand that when two wives fight over a man, it can lead to a never-ending power struggle therefore this twist was added to the story. After this plot twist, everything has gone haywire and this is another example of how differently a story can go just because of one such development.

Once Gohar was back not only was she forgiven but her foolish mother-in-law is doing everything in her power to support her. Nand is going to lose many fans and followers because of this latest twist in the story. A drama that was meaningful and entertaining has turned into another typical story because of this twist.

Sabaat

Hassan doubting Anaya

Hassan and Anaya’s track was perhaps the only thing about Sabaat which excited the viewers. Both of them were intelligent people who fell madly in love. When they moved out of Hassan’s house to live independently, the viewers wanted them to bloom as a couple. However, their track actually started going downhill from that point and there was no turning back. The latest plot twist showing how Hassan fell for Atif’s lies and went as far as believing that Anaya was having an affair was the worst thing the writer could do to a story. Hassan’s over-reliance on someone like Atif never made sense but everything that he has done lately is even more ridiculous. The writer has given Sabaat a ‘Hamsafar twist’ by adding this development but it has been completely void of logic. At a time when viewers wanted to see the antagonist Miraal suffer, the writer decided to introduce this unpleasant change in the story. Not only this, so many weeks were ‘invested’ in setting the ground for this development. Even though Sabaat has more than its fair share of ridiculous scenarios, this one definitely tops the list.

Can you think of a twist in any of the recent Pakistani dramas that really disappointed you? Do you agree that the part of the problem is that there is so much pressure on the writers to stretch the story that they tend to rely on such scenarios? Share your views.

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.

Many Pakistani dramas nowadays and some of the recent past have had parents who were a perfect example of bad parenting. The good thing is that in most of these dramas they were shown as those parents whose wrong choices destroyed their children’s life. Although these ‘children’ were of course grown adults who could have made their own choice, these parents played an important role in keeping them from doing so. It is good that these dramas in a way showed the difference between good and bad parenting.

When showing such scenarios, our writers also follow certain patterns. For example, a bad parent is always the dominant one. Whether it is the mother or the father who is making all the wrong choices, the other one is shown completely helpless! This is what enables the dominant and bad parents to take over and take control. This also goes to show just how important it is for both the parents to have an equal say.

Here is a list of the worst parents from recent Pakistani dramas.

Fareed (Sabaat)

Fareed from Sabaat is the kind of father who is making the viewers furious because of his parenting style. He does not just have double standards as far as his children are concerned but is also the one responsible for turning his daughter into a monster. His sole purpose in life is pleasing his spoiled daughter and for that, he even made his son’s life hell. Fareed is easily manipulated by Miraal, he makes the most unfair decisions and is constantly shown insulting his wife.

Imtiaz (Kashf)

Kashf’s father Imtiaz was introduced as a man who literally hated his daughter because he always wanted a son. He was also shown as a lazy and irresponsible person who was incapable of earning a living or doing a proper job. Now that Kashf’s ‘business’ has prospered, he is getting more greedy with every passing episode. For him, money comes before everything else. He does not care about his daughters’ feelings and is now using Kashf for his own ends. He doesn’t have a single positive trait in him.

Mansoora (Pyar Ke Sadqay)

Mansoora from Pyar Ke Sadqay is the perfect example of bad parenting. Her children are not her priority. She is only concerned about Sarwar, she wants to make sure that her husband does not leave her. For that she let Sarwar beat Abdullah and walk all over him. His only daughter Washma left the house so that she can be away from Sarwar but even that did not change her thinking. Her reasons for being such an irresponsible mother are completely different from the other parents on the list. She loves her husband more than she loves her children which makes her the worst parent we have seen in Pakistani dramas lately.

Mir Farooq Zaman (Yeh Dil Mera)

Mir Farooq Zaman was introduced in Yeh Dil Mera as an overprotective father but he turned out to be a murderer. He was responsible for his daughter Ana’s mental issues yet he acted as if he was the most caring parent. A controlling and evil man, Farooq Zaman was seemingly the best parent but actually he had done more damage to his daughter at such an early stage of her life that her entire life was defined by it. He fooled Ana all his life and made her think that he was the perfect father which made the situation even worse for the poor girl towards the end.

Ayeza’s Father (Bikhray Moti)

Ayeza’s father in Bikhray Moti is a lot like Kashf’s father and Waseem Abbas is playing both these characters. He is not willing to take any responsibility for his daughter. He is inhumane and beats his wife and daughter. He is the reason why his older daughter could not take refuge in the house and the biggest hurdle in Ayeza’s way at the moment. A negative character like no other, he is everything a father shouldn’t be.

Zaitoon (Ghalati)

Zaitoon from Ghalati was an egoistic, selfish, greedy, manipulative mother who made so many wrong decisions that ruined the life of her children. This wasn’t the first time that Saba Hameed played such a character. If it weren’t for her, her son Saad could have had a happy life. When it came to playing mind games, no one could beat this woman!

Salma (Ruswai)

Salma from Ruswai was a negative character right from the beginning. She made sure that she got exactly what she wanted by hook or crook. She always gave her son and daughter the worst advice. In the end, she got what she deserved and learned that she shouldn’t have tried so hard to run her children’s life according to her wishes. Salma always thought she knew best what their children wanted from life and never respected their choices.

Mushk’s Father (Raaz-e-Ulfat)

Mushk’s father from Raaz-e-Ulfat is another unreasonable parent with such strict rules that his daughters feel suffocated. Through this drama, the writer has perhaps tried to show how important it is for parents to allow their children to enjoy small things in life otherwise they turn rebellious. He is another father who thinks he does not need to respect his daughters or wife. Everyone in the house is scared of him and he does not know how to love, only how to command.

Faraz (Tera Ghum aur Hum)

Faraz is another rich father from Tera Ghum aur Hum who only has one son yet he wants to mold his life according to his terms and conditions. A highly rigid father and another one of those husbands who dominate their wives by threatening them of divorce. The main issue in this drama too was marriage, he did not want his son Ali to marry a girl who was not worthy of her. He has been shown as a man who lets his anger take over him.

Rabia (Thora Sa Haq)

Out of all the mothers we have seen in recent Pakistani dramas Rabia from Thora Sa Haq gave the most unreasonable advice to her only daughter than any other. She tries throughout to control her only daughter Hareem and just like all the other parents in this list, she does not let her make decisions on her own. Rabia was a villainous character who got the end she deserved!

Which one of these parents do you think were the worst? Do add more names to the list.

Parents in Pakistani dramas often play a major role in the lives of the main protagonists. They can easily be termed as few of the most important supporting characters in dramas. Nowadays, many of these parents are the ones who go overboard and tend to control their children’s lives more than necessary. Usually, the mothers in particular are shown as negative characters who are anything but role models for their children. There are also those parents who have been seen making the worst choices for their children. This year there were so many such parents shown in dramas but some of them definitely took the lead since their negativity outweighed everything else and also defined the journey of the leading characters.

Here is a list of the worst parents from 2021 Pakistani dramas:

Rubina (Wafa Be Mol)

Rubina is another one of those women who made her children’s life a living hell but being the kind of role model which no parent should be. Right from the first episode, her sole purpose in life was to get what she wanted. She lied, stole, and did everything in her power. She also made her daughters follow in her footsteps and they ended up making poor choices. Right till the end, Rubina had absolutely no remorse and she did not realize that her decisions had ruined her children’s lives. The viewers watched her plotting and planning for more than 30 weeks but in the end, only one scene was dedicated to showing just how remorseful she was. She definitely tops the worst parents list because she banked on manipulation more than love while dealing even with her own children.

Faiz Ullah (Pehli Si Mohabbat)

Faiz Ullah from Pehli Si Mohabbat definitely passes as a parent who made many wrong decisions and if it weren’t for him Rakhshi could have had an easier, happier life. He was so self-absorbed that he could not see how his decisions were impacting his daughter. He represented all those parents who think that their children owe them their lives, their happiness because they raised them and ‘loved’ them for all these years! His expectations from Rakhshi and his behavior towards her made him an example of bad parenting. Also, he married Nargis out of love and turned the entire mohalla against him yet he did not understand why Rakhshi would want to get married to someone she loved. In the beginning, Faiz Ullah’s character was quite balanced but his selfishness was always a prominent part of his personality.

He never took Rakhshi into confidence before getting married to Nargis or bringing her home. He expected her to ‘adjust’ to these changes without giving any prior warning. All through the drama, he made every single drastic decision on his own. Nargis’ continuous reality checks always fell on deaf ears and his explanations just went to show that he felt his actions were justified. With every passing episode, this character became even more unreasonable.

Shiza’s Father (Azmaish)

Shiza and Samreen’s father in Azmaish was for the longest time an enabler just like some of the other parents on this list. He turned his second wife into his grown-up daughters’ babysitter and it was only when she died that she realized her worth. This was such a badly etched-out character that even though he made some good choices in between, he could never make a difference in a good way in his daughters’ lives. When his wife was alive he constantly reminded her of how fortunate she was to have him since he had taken care of her daughter as his own. His thankless nature showed in his daughters’ attitude and he was so foolish that he fell for every single lie told to him for the longest time. Although he thought that he was doing everything right and raising his daughters the way they should be raised, he was actually doing more harm than good!

Rakhshanda (Aulaad)

While on the one hand, Aulaad has the best parents playing the lead in the drama, we are also got to see a mother such as Rakhshanda in the drama. She is one of those typical clever female characters who constantly plot and plan. She made sure that her daughter did everything the way she deemed fit and did not let her make her own decisions. She never had a single piece of good advice to give to her daughter and was always so sure that she knew best! In the end, the viewers will get to see a befitting ending to this character but she is definitely a mother who destroyed her daughter’s life single-handedly.

Nazo’s Mother (Safar Tamam Hua)

Nazo’s mother in Safar Tamam Hua was a careless and selfish parent who never once thought about her daughter. Her presence in Nazo’s life never contributed to her upbringing in a positive manner. She never even gave sane advice to her daughter let alone do something practically positive for her. Nazo was a young woman who was capable of being a better person but she never found the kind of role model in her mother to make her a responsible adult. On the other hand, her mother played a major role in making her take the worst decisions more than once. In the end, however, Nazo learned a few things herself and made the right decisions. Aisha Gul definitely made this character more engaging and brought out the negativity in it.

Usman’s Parents (Mujhe Vida Kar)

Sultana and her husband were a match made in hell! Their sole purpose in life was to control their sons, make their life as miserable as possible, judge their daughters-in-law constantly, and spoil their daughter! These parents were biased, insensitive and the most selfish ones. For the first time perhaps the husband was just as much of a planner as the wife! Usually, the fathers are shown as balanced individuals but that was definitely not the case here. Unlike some of the other parents on this list, this pair did not even try to hide their ill feelings for their sons and their wives. They lived in the moment and did not think much about how their actions might affect their relationship with their sons in the future. They also had shocking double standards when it comes to their children. In the last episode, they showed remorse and got punished for everything they did but it was not too gratifying.

Fareeda (Aakhir Kab Tak)

Fareeda is the main lead’s daadi in the drama serial Aakhir Kab Tak who once ruled the house but has now been dominated by her grandchildren and daughter-in-law. She always manipulated her son’s love for her and was so insecure that she never even ‘allowed’ his son to love his own daughters. This woman is full of malice and cannot even maintain a balance between her own children. Even though this character definitely passes as a worse parent but Gul-e-Rana’s performance has been so amusing that we actually enjoyed watching her antics!

Neelofer (Aakhir Kab Tak)

Neelofer is Saim’s mother in Aakhir Kab Tak, who is a balanced and positive individual. In the beginning, Neelofer also came across as an educated woman with a big heart but as the story progressed she turned into one of those stubborn, unreasonable, and insecure mothers who were just not willing to accept what her son wanted. Neelofer’s character actually confused the viewers more than once since it was difficult to accept this side of her character. She does not even listen to her own daughter or pay attention to what she is uncomfortable with. She is yet another parent on this list who thinks she knows better!

Arfah (Banno)

Arfah is the typical negative character in the drama serial Banno who happens to be one of the main lead’s mothers. She is controlling and bossy, she treats her husband’s niece who is an orphan in the worst way possible. There isn’t a single positive trait in her personality. Even though she claims to love her only daughter Sania, the decisions that she makes for her are anything but wise. Like most of the parents on this list, she lacks foresight and is always giving her daughter the wrong advice. Unlike some of the other children who ended up being negative and toxic like their parents, Sania is a nice girl who does not believe everything her mother tells her. Rabia Noreen is playing this character and we do get the feeling that she was probably asked by the producers to follow Nand’s lead! Since that negative character was the main attraction of the show.

Riffat (Banno)

Drama serial Banno doesn’t just have one parent who falls in the worse category but it has two such mothers who think they know better! Even though Riffat looks like an educated woman who would have a life but that is certainly not the case. She is another typical insecure mother who does not want her son to be happily married to someone who she believes is not the right choice for him! She wants him to get married to her niece even though she knows that he does not even like her. Riffat’s favorite hobbies include trying to make her daughter-in-law’s life hell and making plans to break this marriage! This character has been played by Seemi Pasha who is one of the most elegant older actresses in the industry. We wonder why she opted to play such a run-of-the-mill character who doesn’t have a lot to offer.

Meherbano (Neeli Zinda Hai)

This is one such character that has failed to show any improvement or make amends in Neeli Zinda Hai. She was shown to be a toxic mother-in-law who not only resented Sumbul, her daughter in law but also her granddaughter. However, quite convectively she lost the plot and failed to realize that she has now become a toxic mother too. She is not only a bad mother but an unfair and unjust one at that because of the way she does the disparity between her children. She is very much aware of the needs and wants of her daughter, but completely fails to acknowledge the difficulties her son Amaan is faced with, only because he takes a stand for his wife and daughter and doesn’t believe in whatever his mother tells him. She even got involved in the black magic in order to get rid of her daughter-in-law, a definitive evil character for sure.

Dilnasheen’s Mother (Fitoor)

Dilnasheen’t mother was not only annoying but the regressive mentality that she had was enough to drive anyone crazy. She happens to be such a mother who expected Dilnasheen to be happy with the man twice her age, and put up with his abuses and slaps only because he was filthy rich. This is how blunt and straightforward she was. She was always an emotionally unavailable mother and it is sad that in a drama as long as Fitoor, this character and her past traumas were not addressed, because this happens to be the only reason behind the way she mistreated Dilnasheen. It won’t be wrong to say that this was one such motherly character that actually hated her daughter. She was strict for no reason and made sure to suppress every single feeling and emotion that Dilnasheen felt like sharing with her.

Mehreen’s Grandmother (Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay)

In Pakistani dramas, we usually get to see negative and bizarre parents but lately, there have been some grandmothers giving such parents a run for their money. One such grandmother happens to be the character from Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay. Nani has always taunted Mehreen for the things she was never responsible for. Nani continues to bring up Mehreen’s deceased father’s past in front of her as if she still hasn’t settled a score with her. Although she has always been in such a position where she made sure that her children followed her orders – such as getting Rabia married and convincing her to ignore Mehreen; who was at a very tender age and going through a lot already. Nani didn’t even think for a second about what Mehreen must feel after losing her father and then letting go of her mother who should’ve been the security blanket for her. Her character has nothing to say or contribute to the story and the moment she speaks, it is a known fact that she is going to say something bitter! Shamim Hilali has definitely performed this character convincingly but it is sad that it has nothing good to offer.

Abba Miyan (Qissa Meherbano Ka)

Abba Miyan had a chance of being a very nice parent in Neeli Zinda Hai but then again, Neeli deprived him of that position and threw a vase on his head; rattling him completely. This character has been played by Mohammad Ahmed and Abba Miyan is now showing its adverse effects by setting an example of how to be a bad and emotionally unavailable parent. Abba Miyan not only ruined his son’s life but tried to keep him bound in a relationship that was toxic with his wife literally cheating on him. After the son left, out of his emotionality, he ruined Meherbano’s life due to an idiotic kasam that he will not get Meherbano married anywhere else and she will stay wedded to Murad her whole life. Now that Meherbano has gone to Murad’s place, Abba Miyan has miraculously realized that she is happy and settled. It doesn’t really add up seeing a man of Abba Miyan’s age not using his brains, wisdom, and experience to analyze the situation better.

Murad’s Mother (Qissa Meherbano Ka)

Murad’s mother has absolutely nothing to do in life, hence the negativity and verbal diarrhea that she is suffering from. She is in so much shock of her daughter’s death that she has failed to realize that she is ruining her son’s life too. Also, the daughter that she has died with has left behind a son, whom she should love and cherish. The sad part is, she is so emotionally aloof and cold that she literally resents her grandson. She has now found a new hobby in her life which is making Meherbano’s life miserable. As if she hasn’t trained her loser son enough that she herself wants to do the honors!

Zahida (Mohlat)

Zahida was another emotionally aloof and unfair mother who loved her two elder daughters but hated the youngest only because she blamed Navera for her husband’s second marriage. Zahida should’ve put the entire blame on her husband’s sister who forced him to re-marry only to have a son. Zahida spent her entire life resenting Navera and treating her like a househelp. She was lucky that Navera turned out to be a good human being because as a mother, she didn’t leave any stone unturned in ruining her personality and turning her into a selfish person like Maham. The two sisters Rida and Navera, who didn’t get much of Zahida’s attention turned out to be fine, the only one who had the undivided attention of Zahida i-e Maham was simply toxic – proving the kind of mother she was!

Mrs. Ehtasham (Dour)

Mrs. Ehtasham aka Surraya is another toxic mother who has literally lost control over her son Aban and only because he has met an accident, she allows him to rule her over. Surraya has baggage of her own but unfortunately, she has transferred all the negative traits in her son and continues to enable him. Surraya has failed to realize that she is not helping Aban’s situation and just because he emotionally blackmails her, she gives in. The son of Surraya’s sister Romaan truly respects Aban and also Surraya but she takes it for granted and makes sure to make his life miserable. Everything that Surraya is facing in her life is karma hitting back at her but she still believes that things are still under her control. She is about to fall flat on her face and it is much needed!

Nafisa (Ishq Hai)

Although there wasn’t much sense or logic put in while making the drama serial Ishq Hai but Nafisa’s character took the cake for being a ridiculous and non-sensical parent right from the beginning. She literally decided to dictate to her fully grown, financially and emotionally independent, and stable son about the most important decision of his life i-e marriage. Nafisa wanted Shahzaib to get married to her niece Nimra and just because he refused to do so, she turned into a maleficent who wanted to ruin Shahzaib’s life every chance she got. She disowned him and after his marriage to Isra, decided to put up an act of being a good and accepting mother but continued with her plans of drifting them apart behind Shahzaib’s back. It must’ve been so tedious to be this deceptive but Nafisa showed she was a master of deception.

Mehmood (Mere Apne)

There is no denying the fact that if Waseem Abbas had not played this character so perfectly, this drama would’ve lost its charm. The entire weight of the drama was on his shoulders because Mehmood was the trouble-maker, the problematic one who fished for negatives in every single situation. Waseem Abbas’s antics and acting were really enjoyable but what wasn’t enjoyable was Mehmood’s character. He was just one person who couldn’t see anyone happy, be it his wife, his son, his daughter, or his wife’s family. He continued to make everyone’s life miserable only because he was a selfish person. He even taught the same lessons to his son who also made sure to ruin his marital life. Although the drama did end on a positive note with everyone changing and realizing their mistakes it still doesn’t take away from the fact that for the most part, Mehmood was simply a bad father.

Nazia (Berukhi)

Nazia is obsessed with her daughters, but the sad part is, her obsession is not really healthy because Nazia on her own has no sensibilities and moral compass. She thinks she is right and because she herself is so materialistic, she has taught the same lessons to her eldest daughter too. The youngest daughter is lucky that she takes after her father because if it wasn’t for him, she would’ve turned out exactly like her elder sister. Nazia is manipulative too and believes in lying continuously to save herself from sticky situations – definitely not the kind of morals or lessons that you should be normalizing in front of your children. Another annoying aspect of this character is the way Iffat Omar has acted it out, it is definitely not a pleasant sight to see.

Irtiza’s Step Mother (Berukhi)

Irtiza’s stepmother has proved why she is a stepmother. She has emotional baggage and because she failed to accept and move on like an adult, she has harbored hatred in her heart for Irtiza. So much so that she wants to ruin his life by getting him married to the girl who she thinks is not a perfect match for him. She continues to put up an act in front of Irtiza’s father but in reality, it is all a lie. She hasn’t forgiven Irtiza for something he was never really responsible for. Her husband married Irtiza’s mother for the sake of a child and to date, she feels hatred every time she looks at Irtiza because she is reminded of what her husband did and how he deprived her of her right of being his only wife. Although it is just a character such kinds of roles does not suit the actor of Saba Hameed’s stature.

This completes the list of worst parents seen in Pakistani dramas this year. Which one of these do you think happens to be the worst parents. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Every year there are dramas the viewers have huge expectations from because they are promoted as the next big thing. Not only this, some of the names attached to these dramas have a great deal of credibility as well. Yet, even such dramas fail to deliver because many times commercialism takes over everything else. It is a proven fact by now that there are certain done-to-death scenarios and some tactics which the production houses use to garner ratings. The reason for this is obvious; writing and executing dramas such as Parizaad, which get both ratings and critical acclaim, takes time and tons of effort.

Since the channels have to continue airing dramas every single day of the week in different time slots, they are not willing to invest all that in every single project. That is why they use shortcuts. These shortcuts usually include a star cast, great visuals, best get-ups, sensationalizing serious issues, creating controversy, showing women as victims, toxic male characters, and of course promoting these dramas to the maximum. The most important aspect missing from such dramas is quality content which is definitely the king! Such dramas can easily be termed as the worst even when they get the required rating and attention, which is the ultimate goal.

Here is a list of the worst dramas of 2021:

The list is in Alphabetical order.

Badzaat

Writer: Misbah Nosheen
Director: Siraj ul Haq
Producer: 7th Sky Entertainment
Channel: Har Pal Geo
Cast: Urwa Hocane, Imran Ashraf, Ali Abbas, Danial Afzal Khan, Zoya Nasir, Saba Faisal, Mehmood Aslam, Nida Mumtaz, Zainab Qayyum and others.

If there is one label that can describe Badzaat in simple words, it would be ‘toxicity personified’. From rape to domestic abuse to blackmail to drugs to gun violence, there was nothing that was not included in the drama serial Badzaat. It was unfortunate that the fans who loved the pairing of Urwa Hocane & Imran Ashraf in Mushk were left disappointed when they got to see Badzaat. The writer did her best to give drama viewers a hero in the form of Wali’s character but the baggage that he came with was overbearing, taking it away from his character which was supposedly the focal point of the entire story.

It just did not end there because Bia’s self-inflicted misery only because she did not have a voice was quite frustrating to see. Daniyal kept winning against Bia & Wali every step of the way but in the end, he didn’t even pay the price for the atrocities that he committed. It was also quite unfortunate that no one ever found out how Daniyal raped Bia because Bia chose to stay silent till the end. Badzaat’s production value was grand just like any other Geo drama but sadly, the storyline, characters & situations were full of cringe & toxicity that easily make it one of the worst dramas of 2022.

Badshah Begum

Writer: Saji Gul
Director: Khizer Idrees
Producer: MD Productions
Channel: Hum TV
Cast: Zara Noor Abbas, Farhan Saeed, Ali Rehman Khan, Yasir Hussain, Shahzad Nawaz, Komal Meer, Saman Ansari, Hamza Sohail, Abul Hassan, and others.

Badshah Begum is an opportunity wasted in a nutshell. The writer Saji Gul definitely came up with a fresh & unique idea but the essence of it was most certainly lost during its execution. Khizer Idrees impressed the drama viewers with his directorial debut Laapata but it seems he failed to understand that every script requires a different treatment. While watching Badshah Begum, it can easily be seen that the director’s focus was purely on the visuals & he couldn’t care less whether the story was making sense or not. Right from the beginning, the way the concept of Badshah Begum & every tiny detail surrounding this title was elaborated, it attracted a lot of criticism because none of it actually made sense. Some of the actors did the best they could to salvage this drama but on the whole, it failed to keep the audience hooked. There have been far too many issues with the execution as well as the story has fallen flat in many instances.

Zara Noor Abbas has tried her best but she has not been able to create the aura suiting the title of Badshah Begum. There have been so many situations that defied logic & basic common sense in Badshah Begum & even if it’s a drama, there has to be a tiny fraction of realism or relatability to it to keep the viewers engaged. Badshah Begum is the kind of drama that has tested the patience of the viewers every step of the way, making it suitable for this list.

Ishq e Laa

Writer: Qaisera Hayat
Director: Amin Iqbal
Producer: Momina Duraid
Channel: Hum TV
Cast: Sajal Aly, Azaan Sami Khan, Yumna Zaidi, Arsalan Asad Butt, Adnan Samad Khan, Uzma Hassan, Sohail Sameer, Seemi Raheel, Ahmed Taha Ghani, Laila Wasti, Usman Peerzada, Ghazla Kaif and others.

Ishq e Laa had a star-studded cast, the visuals were impressive and even the idea behind the script was one that could have been executed in an appealing manner. Unfortunately, the characterizations proved to be the biggest disappointment, Azaan Sami Khan’s performance literally tested the patience of the viewers and for the most part, the drama was slow, sad, repetitive, and poorly edited. There was a lack of clarity therefore we were left wondering about a lot of things by the end of every single episode. Shanaya’s bold stance was not backed by common sense at times, Azka cried a little too much for someone who was supposed to be ‘strong’, and Azlan’s overall impression was that of a lost soul for the most part even when he took a turn for the better it had little impact.

The ‘religious element’ of the drama was not properly inculcated into the script. Among many other things, the biggest shortcoming of Ishq e Laa was its superficial script and the over-emphasis on visuals. The visuals were stunning but there were a lot of times when they did not go well with the situations that were being shown. Ishq e Laa can easily be termed as a star-studded disaster. It was not the least bit entertaining; it was difficult to sit through and lacked basic logic. The production house clearly relied more on visuals and star power than the actual content and execution of the drama which is obviously never enough!

Kaisi Teri Khudgharzi

Writer: Radain Shah
Director: Ahmed Bhatti
Producer: iDream Entertainment
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Danish Taimoor, Dur-e-Fishan, Noman Aijaz, Hammad Shoaib,Shahood Alvi, Laila Wasti, Atiqa Odho, Laiba Khan, Tipu Shareef, Zainab Qayyum, Ayesha Toor, Emad Butt, Shehzeen Rahat.

Kaisi Teri Khudgharzi is the most watched drama this year which is extremely unfortunate since this is also one of those dramas which deserves the top slot on the worst dramas list. It is still on air but we are pretty sure it deserves to be on this list. The initial episodes of Kaisi Teri Khudgharzi made the intentions of the makers quite clear. They wanted to show the worst toxicity we witnessed on-screen this year in the most visually stunning manner. The over-emphasis on visuals starting from Shamsher’s grand life to the makeovers, which were always in place even on a routine day, was used to entice the viewers. The caked concealers and the overuse of filters were used to make the characters look as ‘beautiful’ as possible in order to camouflage the ugliness of the content, right from the get-go. The story is as clichéd as it gets – a spoiled rich brat falling for a simple bechari from a middle-class family. Some of the dialogues about daughters in the beginning episodes were also cringe-worthy. Danish Taimoor plays yet another rich toxic character in the drama because he has the wardrobe and experience for it. Durr-e-Fishan does not have to do much in order to play Mehak because she barely has any dialogues!

Kaisi Teri Khudgharzi glorified abuse and toxic masculinity for 18 weeks and then Shamsher’s character underwent a sudden transformation! The viewers are expected to forget all the toxicity that was shown in the name of love on-screen and feel for Shamsher now! Apart from the problematic storyline, Kaisi Teri Khudgharzi has not even been an engaging drama because the characters are beyond done-to-death. Experienced and iconic actors such as Noman Ijaz and Atiqa Odho have also been wasted in roles that offer the bare minimum. Even though we did not have high hopes for this drama after watching the promos before it aired, we expected better from the writer Radain Shah. It is unfortunate that such a brilliant writer chose to pen down such a script.

Paristan

Writer: Samra Bukhari
Director: Ali Hassan
Producer: MD Productions
Channel: Hum TV
Cast: Arsalan Naseer, Aymen Saleem, Merub Ali, Naveen Waqar, Ali Safina, Javeria Saud, Saife Hassan, Junaid Jamshed, Mira Sethi, and others.

The moment Paristan was announced as a Ramzan special drama for this year, it was quite obvious that the channel & production house was relying a lot on the popularity that both Aymen Saleem & Arsalan Naseer got as debut actors as well as a pair in last year’s Ramzan special drama Chupke Chupke. However, it was unfortunate that despite having a star on-screen couple that was loved by so many, the project that was designed for them was a massive fail & mindless in the literal sense. Ramzan special dramas are known for providing situational comedy as well as some light-hearted entertainment, however, Paristan was anything but that.

The writer of Paristan, Samra Bukhari thought throwing in a stereotypical Punjabi character, a disinterested husband, two young actors, and a bitter unmarried mature woman alongside the famous pair of Aymen & Arsalan was enough to bring a hit drama serial but she was sadly mistaken. Paristan was anything but funny & not only that, the situations that were presented one after another made the audience doubt their sanity. Paristan was the kind of drama that the viewers could watch with a poker face, with full confidence that nothing on their TV screens would make them laugh. Although the die-heart fans of Aymen & Arsalan did their best to hype up the drama, overall, it wasn’t well-received by the Ramzan audience in general. By the time the drama ended, it became obvious that the production house was just trying to recover the cost that went into producing this drama, hence the influx of advertisements that were not only frustrating to watch but also took away a lot from the drama that did not have much to offer anyway.

Pyar Deewangi Hai

Writer: Misbah Ali Syed
Director: Aabis Raza
Producer: Big Bang Entertainment
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Neelam Muneer, Sami Khan, Shuja Asad, Saba Faisal, Javed Shaikh, Hasan Niazi, Urooj Fatima, Gul-e-Rana, Nida Khan, Sabahat Bukhari,Aliya Ali.

Can the writers please stop writing scripts about deewane aashiqs? We have seen too many of such characters on-screen and honestly, these characters come across as people in need of dire help. Attributes that can easily pass as mental disorders are presented as a normal occurrence in such dramas. Rabi’s deewangi and Dawood’s strange stalking behavior have been presented as some form of love in the drama. Neelam Munir’s acting makes you cringe, Shuja Asad’s performance leaves a lot to be desired and even an ace actor such as Sami Khan is a complete misfit as Dawood. It is unfortunate that an actor of his caliber has to settle for such roles.

Pyar Deewangi Hai is the usual plot that has been used by drama makers thousands of times before too but the latest episode took crazy to a whole new level! It went to show the desperation of the makers to grab the viewers’ attention. The ironic bit is that Mateen will not be missed because Shuja Asad’s acting was so unimpressive. This drama shows that a bad script can bring out the worst even in the best of performers therefore we don’t really blame him because even Neelam Munir and Sami Khan are struggling to look and act natural. This drama has nothing going for it and is definitely the absolute worst.

Share your views and please feel free to add more names to the list.

Every year while we get to watch some outstanding drama serials, there are also those which are simply not up to the mark! There are some dramas that are stretched, others which might have some shortcomings and then there are those which disappoint on so many different levels that they can be easily termed as the worst! Surprisingly enough, every year, many leading actors are part of such dramas. Their presence is sometimes the main reason why people start and continue watching these dramas in the hope that they will eventually deliver. However, these dramas do not only lack meaningful content but at times the performances are also so unimpressive that these actors leave the viewers in complete shock!

In the year 2021, there were plenty of Pakistani dramas which simply failed to entertain and proved to be a waste of time. Some of these dramas got the ratings as well but even then we believe that they qualify to be on this list. We all know that many dramas that do not provide quality entertainment manage to garner ratings every year. The popularity of a drama, therefore, is completely secondary, content comes first. Most of the writers who penned down the scripts for these dramas either relied on clichés or did not have enough substance to write a script for so many episodes.

Here is a list of the worst Pakistani dramas of 2021:

The List is in Alphabetical order.

Amanat

Writer: Rukhsana Nigar
Director: Shahid Shafaat
Producers: Six Sigma Plus Productions & Next Level Entertainment
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Urwa Hocane, Imran Abbas, Saboor Aly, Haroon Shahid, Srha Asghar, Salman Saeed, Shehryar Zaidi, Saba Hameed, Zainab Qayyum, Gohar Rasheed, Asad Siddiqui, Saima Siddiqui

Drama serial Amanat has some of the biggest names attached to it and it comes from two of the most well-known production houses. Yet, right from the start, it has been the perfect combination of badly etched-out characters and a done-to-death storyline with the most unconvincing story developments we have seen in dramas this year. Although Amanat has only been airing for a few weeks, it has disaster written all over it already! It is almost as if Imran Abbas has vowed to choose all such scripts which bank heavily on star power and typical stories. He plays the flawed and foolish hero like a pro now! His make-up in the drama is another reason why it is difficult to sit through each episode of the drama.

After making such wise choices in the recent past, Urwa Hocane decided to choose the role of a bechari with no personality and tons of filters! The focus on ‘beauty’ in Amanat is overwhelming, to say the least. Amanat has nothing to do with reality or even logic; it is like a remake of Thora Sa Haq with Urwa playing Ayeza Khan’s role! Imran Abbas choosing to play yet another loser hero role is the biggest disappointment. Most of the characters in Amanat are annoying and the visuals do not make up for the lack of an original and wholesome storyline. The fact that this was one of the most awaited drama serials this year makes it an even bigger disappointment. Very often, Pakistani writers make a mockery of the institution of marriage and this drama is yet another instance when the writers used the same ghissa pitta formula to get ratings! We understand the fact that production houses cannot always come up with novel ideas but such big producers should understand that the public expects meaningful entertainment from them if nothing out of the box or grand.

Be Adab

Writer: Inam Hassan
Director: Shehzad Kashmiri
Producer: MD Productions
Channel: Hum TV
Cast: Sania Saeed, Rehan Sheikh, Momin Saqib, Faryal Mehmood, Hajra Yamin, and others.

Be Adab was one such drama which showed that the writer had a vision and wanted to convey it to the viewers – mostly related to holding onto the family relations and ties but sadly, the director and the producers had a very different approach to it and it just didn’t work out. The final product was dull, mellow, depressing, and boring. The highlight of this drama was the relationship shown between the characters of Sania Saeed and Rehan Sheikh but other than that, there was nothing much to it.

As the drama progressed and the biological children stepped in, things not only took the turn for the worse, the drama entered a new level of worst as well. For a story that already dealt with such a serious and grim subject, to add more to it with such an execution did no favors to the drama as well as the viewers. Be Adab definitely had potential in the story but the overall execution definitely turned it into a flop, landing it into one of the worst Pakistani dramas of 2021.

Dour

Writer: Saji Gul
Director: Mazhar Moin
Producer: 7th Sky Entertainment
Channel: Geo
Cast: Sania Saeed, Azfar Rehman, Hina Altaf, Ali Abbas, Adla Khan, Hania Ahmed, Iffat Omer, Harris Waheed, Saleem Mairaj, Nayyar Ejaz, Fazila Qazi, and others.

This was another drama we were looking forward to watching since Saji Gul often comes up with something new and often powerful. However, although the script isn’t disappointing overall, the main premise of the story has been relegated to the background. Also, like most of the dramas produced by 7th Sky Entertainment, the treatment given to this drama makes it one of the most pointless dramas on air at the moment. The script revolves around a rich businesswoman who is controlling and clearly has some personality disorder. But just like many other Pakistani dramas, the main content of the show revolves around marriages, exploitation of the weak, and twisted character. Azfar Rehman’s character lacks depth but it gets so much screen time, it is definitely not the kind of negative character that keeps your interest alive. Even Sania Saeed’s star power does not save the day since her get-up and portrayal both appear to be more fake than real.

The performances by all the actors make it impossible for the viewers to actually feel for any one of them. Even brilliant actors such as Sania Saeed, Ali Abbas, Iffat Omer, and even Harris Waheed fall short multiple times. Even after all these years of acting in dramas, Hina Altaf still manages to give the most mediocre performances in every other project. The whole approach is overdramatic, the script lacks depth, performances fail to impress, and the story lack flow or purpose.

Ishq Hai

Writer: Rehana Aftab
Director: Aabis Raza
Producer: Big Bang Entertainment
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Danish Taimoor, Minal Khan, Sajjad Paul, Azekah Daniel, Saba Faisal, Babar Ali, Hammad Shoaib, Hammad Farooqi, Mahenur Haide and others.

Ishq Hai was a recipe for disaster which showed forced marriage in a glorified manner. This was the kind of project the producers must’ve asked the writer and the director to come up with only to generate ratings. There is no denying the fact that the pairing of Danish Taimoor and Minal Khan was not only new but did seem exciting but that went down the drain the moment the two confessed ‘I love you’ to each other in cheesy sign language. It was also no fun seeing every single person around Shahzeb and Isra played by Danish and Minal plotting against them. The plotting and scheming didn’t even stop after their marriage and the entire drama was dedicated to all the ‘sazishain’ devised by their ill-wishers.

There was absolutely nothing new to the drama and it was frustrating to see Shahzeb being such a dimwit where he just could not trust the girl he loved. The writer tried her best to show some redeeming factors as the drama approached its end but sadly, the damage was irreparable. The execution of Ishq Hai was bad with poor lighting and camera work. It added so much age to both Minal Khan and Danish Taimoor where they both did not look at their best like they usually do in their dramas. Ishq Hai also happens to have a record of not one but two plane crashes, how convenient!

Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3

Writer: Hashim Nadeem
Director: Syed Wajahat Hussain
Producer: 7th Sky Entertainment
Channel: Geo Entertainment
Cast: Iqra Aziz, Feroze Khan, Mirza Zain Baig, Junaid Khan, Sunita Marshal, Tooba Siddique, Sohail Sameer, Rubina Ashraf, Hina Bayat, Waseem Abbas, Asma Abbas, Noor ul Hassan and others.

We’re pretty sure seeing the name of Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3 will shock quite a lot of readers but there is no other way to put it. Hashim Nadeem has given some of the most memorable stories to Pakistani drama buffs but he felt short in Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3. The writer still gets credit and acknowledgment for trying to come up with yet another story that had an element of spirituality to it but sadly, it got lost in the execution and under the heavyweight of big-budget and magnanimous camera angles. Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3 is a beautifully shot drama that has amazing camera work, angles, and aerial shots to offer. However, when it comes to characters, the story, the essence, the soulfulness – there is absolutely none. There is no depth or layers in the characters whatsoever. It is amusing that the director put the entire focus on how the side characters were getting mesmerized by the spell of Farhad, but when it comes to Farhad, the viewers are still wondering what’s so special about him.

The drama is ending this week and it is unfortunate that even at this stage of the story the viewers have not been able to see Farhad’s love towards his Creator. He is still very much focused on Mahi and everyone around him is very much focused on him. The most absurd factor about this entire story is how a gali mohallay ka larka has been glorified in this drama and put on such a pedestal which is unrealistic and unbelievable. Usually, in real life, guys like Farhad often get a lot of beating by the cousins and brothers of the girl they are bothering but it is unfortunate that in the writer’s mind, he is someone special who deserves to be loved and revered. Iqra Aziz and Feroze Khan did their best to salvage this drama but their characters have been so underwhelming that they just could not impress!

Khwaab Nagar Ki Shehzadi

Writer: Ali Moeen & Rehana Aftab
Director: Syed Ramish Rizvi
Producer: IDream Entertainment
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Mikaal Zulfiqar, Anmol Baloch, Mashal Khan, Sajida Sayed, Shaheen Khan, Ramsha Salahuddin, Alyy Khan, Ayesha Gul, Ayesha Toor, Nayyar Ijaz, Shazia Goher, Aidah Sheikh, Nazli Nasr, and others.

Khwaab Nagar Ki Shehzadi was every greedy kaam waali massi’s dream come true for 30 plus weeks! It was also one of those dramas that got the ratings in 2021 because controversy sells! The story revolved around the main female protagonist Meera, who was a highly qualified and intelligent woman until she found out about her maid’s daughter’s affair with her husband. This was yet another drama in which a nikkah was turned into a joke given the circumstances in which Meera’s husband ended up marrying the massi!! We have watched many Pakistani dramas showing how greedy women break marriages but this was definitely one-of-a-kind since the leading man had a pea-sized brain which made it difficult for him to make even the most basic decisions wisely! Khwaab Nagar Ki Shehzadi banked heavily on controversies such as extra-marital affairs shown openly and then on the becharapan of a woman who could have easily walked out of this marriage!

For 50 plus weeks, the absurdities continued, and then there was a rushed ending which finally showed Meera leaving her good-for-nothing husband and the massi paying for her wrongdoings. However, this ending did not make up for all the forced toxicity which was used to garner viewership and was void of all logic. Mikaal Zulfiqar yet again played a role similar to the one he played in Ruswai and Khasara! It seems as if he is just as comfortable playing such roles as Imran Abbas is. Mashal Khan cried endlessly in the drama and her hairpiece stood out like a sore thumb. Anmol Baloch’s performance was mediocre but the producers got what they were aiming for – ratings of course!

Mere Apne

Writer: Qurat ul Ain & Dilawar Khan
Director: Mohsin Mirza & Tehseen Khan
Producer: iDream Entertainment
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Ali Abbas, Waseem Abbas, Hajra Yamin, Zoya Nasir, Zainab Shabbir, Agha Mustafa Hassan and others.

A typical, formula, rating generator but it wouldn’t have cost them much if they had at least executed it better. This disaster of a drama happens to be written and directed by two people, which definitely reminds us of the proverb ‘too many cooks spoiling the broth. Mere Apne’s story is based on the concept of ‘vatta satta’, where one set of parents get to mistreat their daughter-in-law only because they feel they got the ticket to do so. The situations in Mere Apne are not poorly laid out but so frustrating and half-baked that it makes you wonder about the limited mentality of the writers. Hajra Yamin is a strong and confident young girl, she proved her caliber in a drama like Ehd e Wafa, therefore to see her settling for a project like Mere Apne is shocking, to say the least.

The drama is currently going through its second phase with a change of actor that played the role of the father. Ali Abbas’s character was also made to exit the story which made it obvious that he must’ve been starting a different project, therefore, couldn’t continue shooting for Mere Apne. It is amusing to see that the producers do not let go of a drama that already doesn’t have much to offer or contribute to in the name of entertainment.

Mohabbat Dagh Ki Soorat

Writer: Saira Raza
Director: Zeeshan Ahmed
Producer: 7th Sky Entertainment
Channel: Geo
Cast: Neelum Muneer, Sami Khan, Syed Jibran, Kinza Malik, Sunita Marshal, Humera Bano, Arham Akhter, Kamran Jeelani, Sukaina, Tipu Sharif, Alizey Zaidi, and Aarez.

Mohabbat Dagh Ki Soorat is another drama serial that aired only a few weeks back yet it is definitely the kind of drama that deserves to be on this list! Anyone who managed to sit through the first 5 episodes of the drama would be eligible for some kind of an award since this drama literally tests your patience right from the start. The over-stretched scenes and Neelam Munir’s overacting as well as her get-up get on your nerves in the first few episodes. There is nothing spontaneous about any of the scenes in the drama so far, everything looks like it is staged. Neelam’s character itself is written well but the execution is awful! The overall approach of 7th Sky Entertainment, in general, is to over-dramatize every event and to focus on looks even when it isn’t necessary. Sami Khan’s performance has been convincing but he really needs to stop taking up these university student characters because he just doesn’t fit in anymore. Also, Syed Jibran really should experiment more because he is capable of being more versatile!

Mohabbatein Chahatein

Writer: Samira Fazal
Director: Ali Hassan
Producer: Momina Duraid Productions
Channel: HUM
Cast: Junaid Khan, Hira Mani, Armeena Rana Khan, Ibrahim Alavi, Tipu Shareef, Ghana Tahir, Saife Hasan, Sajida Syed, Saad Azhar, Fatima Malik, Noreen Mumtaz, Abdul Muqeet and Others.

Mohabbatein Chahatein was another drama serial of 2021 that was not only clichéd to the core but even questioned the viewers’ intelligence more than once! This was yet another one of those dramas that relied heavily on toxicity, negativity, and unbelievable naivety of the male lead in particular. Much of what we watched in the first half made little sense, Armeena Rana Khan’s character was a twisted and somewhat weird version of the maasi we saw in Khwaab Nagar Ki Shehzadi. The performance itself was more childish and immature than it needed to be! The drama got better in the second half but the sidetracks, in particular, continued to be comical even though they were supposed to be serious. This drama was mainly popular due to Junaid Khan and Hira Mani’s on-screen couple but Junaid Khan’s character especially in the beginning was so goofy that it was unbearable! There were a few dramas that aired on Hum this year that could be termed as the ‘worst’ and this one definitely fell in the category.

Mujhe Vida Kar

Writer: Samra Bukhari
Director: Saqib Zafar
Producer: IDream Entertainment
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Madiha Imam, Saboor Ali, Muneeb Butt, Saba Hameed, Shabbir Jan, Raza Talish, Ali Rizvi, Haris Waheed, Sajjad Paul, Sana Askari, Afshan Zafar, Paras Masroor, Maria Khan, Tara Mehmood, Mariam Ansari, Shaista Jabeen, Falak Naeem and others.

Mujhe Vida Kar was another 2021 Pakistani drama that had a star cast in leading and supporting roles yet it completely failed to impress. The main male lead Muneeb Butt disappeared from the drama in between and when he reappeared in the show, the explanations given by him coupled with Madiha Imam’s character constant bechargi turned this drama into an unbearable watch! We kept on watching the show hoping that it will eventually lead to something more meaningful but it was not meant to be. Saboor Aly’s character and Ali Rizvi’s performance made this sidetrack even more unbearable than the main track. We wonder why actors such as Madiha Imam, Shabbir Jan, and Saba Hameed in particular chose to be a part of this drama!

Qayamat

Writer: Sarwat Nazeer
Director: Ali Faizan
Producer: 7th Sky Entertainment
Channel: Geo Enterainment
Cast: Ahsan Khan, Neelam Munir, Haroon Shahid, Amar Khan, Saba Faisal, Shabbir Jaan, Noor ul Hassan and others.

The promos of the drama serial Qayamat were quite impressive and enough to create the hype about it. The viewers anticipated Qayamat as they thought they’d be getting to see something interesting but that didn’t turn out to be the cast. It was a typical storyline that revolved around domestic violence and the male lead not realizing his mistakes. Sarwat Nazeer is known for picking up the simplest of storylines and adding a lot of soul and depth to them but sadly, it was the typical and commercial Geo Entertainment effect that took away from what the writer must’ve assumed how her script will be dramatized.

Neelam Munir Khan is better suited in dramas that do not belong to Geo Entertainment because when she is on this channel, she actually loses the plot and tends to overact so much that she ends up making her characters look caricaturish. The character of Ifrah had a lot of potential to become one of the memorable ones but the overall portrayal and execution took that away from her. Ahsan Khan definitely brought in the comic quotient to this drama but his character stopped being funny when he started crossing the line with his wife and then continued committing one mistake after another. The only good thing about this drama was the performance of Shabbir Jaan and Saba Faisal, but apart from that, Qayamat was actually one of the worst dramas of 2021.

Yun To Pyar Hai Bohat

Writer: Aliya Bukhari
Director: Kashif Saleem
Producer: Film Factory
Channel: Hum TV
Cast: Hira Mani, Affan Waheed, Nadia Hussain, Javed Sheikh, Mariam Mirza, Sabeena Syed and others.

After the success of Do Bol and the fame, an on-screen couple of Hira Mani and Affan Waheed got, viewers actually were excited to see them working together again in a drama. However, things turned out to be quite sour right from the beginning because Yun To Pyar Hai Bohat made it very clear in the initial stages that it had lackluster written all over it. Although the character played by Hira Mani did seem promising but a solo strong-willed female character is not enough to save a drama or redeem it. The drama-makers tried to experiment a bit showing Affan Waheed’s character as a musician but there was nothing exciting to both, his character and his personality.

The writer Aliya Bukhari tried to bring in a lot of different aspects such as the separation of Aima’s parents, Zain being presented the opportunity to adopt a child, Aima’s younger sister Nazi getting married to a man thrice her age, and Aima’s success in her career. All of this does look interesting on the paper but the commercial execution is what this story did not require. The writer did try her best but the final result was least impressive, so much so that it was hard to tune to it. Not to forget, the poor and over-acting seen by almost all the actors. Affan Waheed looked like he had just walked in from the sets of either Shehnai or Pardes. He really needs a makeover and needs to hire a stylist. Seeing him in t-shirts paired with checkered shirts in every single drama is not only monotonous but confusing!

This completes the list of worst Pakistani dramas that aired in 2021. Which one of these have you watched and what are your thoughts about these dramas? Are there any more names that you’d like to add to the list? Feel free to share your opinion.

Fatima Awan & Zahra Mirza

Pakistani dramas have a huge following and they are viewed not only in Pakistan but internationally as well. Among the many aspects of our dramas with their realistic stories, non-glamorous looks and stories of the masses, the lead couples also have a role in making or breaking a project. In the recent past, many dramas have become hits due to the chemistry of the on-screen couples when their stories were basic and predictable. Tere Bin, Mere Humsafar and Ishq Murshid are all dramas that became superhits due to the on-screen couples starring in them. But not every pairing looks good on TV. Many a times actors look miscast in their roles and do not look appealing to the audience for various reasons.

Here is a list of on-screen couples from recent dramas that just did not make any sense:

Noor & Murad From Noor Jahan

Noor Jahan is a new drama on ARY Digital with the plot being relatable for many. Though it revolves majorly around the politics of mother in law and daughters in law, the men of Noor Jahan are equally important for the story. Kubra Khan is playing Noor Bano who is the protagonist while Ali Raza is playing Murad opposite her. They are doing well as per their characters but they do not look gelled in as a couple when they are on screens as a couple. They seem to be friends or cousins rather than a newly-married couple madly in love with each other.

Zaid & Ayra From Mein

Mein has the whole plot revolving around the thunderous love that both Zaid and Ayra were supposed to have. Played by Wahaj Ali and Azekah Daniel, Zaid and Ayra never really showed the love and chemistry which was being pushed on the audience. They looked out of place when they were around each other and many a times they hated each other more than they hated the antagonists. With the plot being the duo destroying themselves for love, this on-screen couple showcased zero chemistry and were boring to watch. Surprisingly, both Zaid and Ayra had better chemistry with Mubashira Jaffar.

Zain & Emaan From Radd

Radd is doing great as per TRP charts and viewership, thanks to Sheheryar Munawar and Hiba Bukhari’s chemistry. But the basic plot of this drama somewhat depends upon that forgotten and unrequited love that Zain and Eman had, the characters played by Arsalan Naseer and Hiba Bukhari respectively. The problem lies in the fact that there is not a lot of chemistry there and how the characters are constructed, it is unbelievable that Emaan fell for Zain and not Salaar in the first place. The chemistry at least should have looked like what we saw with Hiba Bukhari and Wahaj Ali in Fitoor as that would make this drama more interesting.

Munna & Zarnab From Gentleman

Gentleman brought a unique story to our television screens and the audience witnessed a new on-screen couple with Humayun Saeed and Yumna Zaidi coming together as Munna Iqbal and Zarnab. Munna and Zarnab are both interesting characters individually but there is no chemistry when they come together. They look more like collageues on screen. Yumna has done a great job with Wahaj and Bilal Abbas Khan while Humayun has the ability to even romance a tree but this time it is just not working.

Dilsher & Sitara From Akhara

Akhara was a unique drama with an action packed story. The drama had one of the most impactful transformations of the actors involved as well as the best turning point for a story in recent dramas. Feroze Khan really looked like a fighter in the drama and the story was great overall but the chemistry between leads Feroze and Sonya was simply lacking. They looked like they were not interested in each other while the story needed to show the passion between the two.

Faiz & Hareem From Khumar

Feroze Khan made a comeback on television after a huge controversy in his personal life. He played the soft spoken Faiz in the drama Khumar. His leading lady was Neelam Muneer who played the character of Hareem. The drama was supposed to be a lovey-dovey story with misunderstandings creeping in but the leading duo just did not look right together. Neelam and Feroze were misfits as Faiz and Hareem and that remained true till the very last episode.

Salaar & Wadima from Teri Chhaon Mein

Danish Taimoor came in his signature romantic hero look opposite the new comer Laiba Khurram. They both played much in love with each other, youngsters Salaar and Wadima who fled from their houses to get married as Wadima’s father is evil. Wadima looks so much younger than Salaar in the drama and the pairing does not look nice at all. Danish is trying to bring on his charm but the scenes end up looking forced most of the time.

Shabrez & Mehar From Rah e Junoon

Danish Taimoor and Komal Meer came together as two passionate lovers in Rah e Junoon. Shabrez was ready to eliminate anything and anyone to get to his Mehar. Mehar on the other hand kept getting hot and cold throughout the series. Once again the problem lies in how these two looked on the screens. Komal looked way younger than Danish and that alone was enough to kill the chemistry. This was yet again another pairing that just did not work and a different casting could have made the drama look better.

Which other on-screen pairings do you think were your worst on-screen couples? Share in comments!

It is a fact that makeup is an essential part of an actor’s life. Makeup not only happens to be the demand of the camera but is one such tool that aids the actors in creating a visual impact of their character right from the moment the drama begins. In recent times, the Pakistani drama audience has seen a shift in the perspective of the actors where they are getting more comfortable with the idea of natural makeup looks. It is also because of the fact that the stories of Pakistani dramas revolve around the lives of people from regular walks of life. A lot more people see themselves in the stories of these characters, which not only resonates with them but also helps in establishing a connection with the character. In this regard, makeup plays a vital role and the responsibility lies on the actors as to how they want to convey and portray the essence of the characters that they are playing.

In recent times, there has been a lot of conversation happening about embracing your true self and it is becoming more about enhancing natural beauty instead of altering your features with the help of makeup. In some cases, heavy and made-up looks happen to be the demand of the character, which is why the glamorous makeup looks to suit the dynamic and go well with the situation a character is faced with. However, the majority of the time, women in Pakistani dramas are faced with one calamity after another, which then doesn’t really justify the usage of heavy makeup and elaborate looks. It is also interesting to note that there are a lot more actors who do not feel shy while posting their pictures without makeup on their social media handles, which goes to show that they are very much comfortable in their own skin, therefore one fails to understand why they can’t sport the similar look in the dramas which will add more depth to their character and its portrayal.

Here is the list of Pakistani actors with the worst makeup in drama serials aired in 2021:

Hiba Bukhari

Hiba Bukhari has risen to fame in a short span of time. With her hard work and persistence, she has proved her caliber as an actor, this is why she has swiftly become a leading lady in Pakistani dramas. She has the kind of fan following which sells the drama to the audience, probably because she plays such characters which resonate well with the viewers who choose to watch her dramas. Hiba Bukhari is a very convincing actor but she has a long way to go when it comes to grooming.

Hiba Bukhari was seen in the drama serial Fitoor which did exceptionally well. She is currently seen in drama serials Berukhi and Inteha-e-Ishq. While the latter two dramas have a decent viewership, Fitoor actually was quite popular, this is why every single aspect of that drama was under scrutiny – especially Hiba Bukhari’s look as Dilnasheen. She played the role of a young college-going student who got married to a man twice her age. They really established it time and again that Dilnasheen was younger than Haider but when the two actors shared the frame, that didn’t seem to be the case. Dilnasheen’s life was not easy because she didn’t get to marry the guy she loved and then later was faced with character assassination but neither her hair nor her makeup budged throughout the drama. Dark smokey eye-makeup, glossy lips, and heavily contoured face were the signature makeup look of Dilnasheen, which added a lot more screen age to Hiba Bukhari. She really needs to go easy on the makeup and come up with hairstyles that actually give her a more subtle, natural, and casual look.

Mashal Khan

Mashal Khan is another talented and confident actor. The way she plays her roles easily shows that she is very comfortable in front of the camera and believes in giving convincing performances. However, one thing that has mostly gone against Mashal Khan is her choice of wig and her overall makeup. She tends to go lighter with her foundation shade and uses warm crease eyeshadows which give her eyes a very deep-set look. White-washed face along with lighter color hair give her a very washed outlook and do not really do her much favor. Mashal Khan definitely can look a lot prettier if she switches her makeup artist or at least she understands the kind of look that suits her the best. She really needs to darken her hair color in order to prevent herself from looking unreal!

Mahi Baloch

Mahi Baloch is a supporting actor who is comparatively new in the Pakistani drama industry. Mahi Baloch played the role of Sameera in Ishq Hai and made sure to let the audience know that she liked being made up all the time – any time of the day. The unfortunate part is that her makeup, instead of enhancing her beauty added so much fakeness to her and her character that it really didn’t do any favors. Throughout the drama, Mahi Baloch’s look showed that she was screaming for attention and wanted to capture the entire screen with her over-dramatic look. It is understandable that since the actors get to do so many wedding sequences in different dramas, they don’t really pay much attention to how they look but Mahi Baloch’s bridal look in Ishq Hai was a disaster. Once again, the entire look screamed how loud it was and how Mahi Baloch wanted all eyes on her. We do feel bad for her co-actor who had to act with her during that wedding sequence, must’ve been hard controlling his laughter while delivering those dialogues.

Hira Mani

Hira Mani is another one of the leading actresses from the industry whose presence alone guarantees viewership. She also shares great on-screen chemistry with some of the most sought-after male actors which is another reason why she is viewers’ favorite. She is also someone who does not focus too much on her make-up and looks in dramas. While we appreciate the fact that Hira Mani believes in wearing minimal make-up, we are extremely disappointed with the look she was seen sporting in the drama serial Mohabbatein Chahatein. Apart from Hira Mani’s uneven and unflattering hair color, her make-up in the drama looked like a bad case of foundation matching. She looked grey in the drama and even her entire face was not a single tone. Her neck was a completely different story altogether since the make-up artist definitely did not even attempt to match the neck or even the ears with her face. The fact that this drama did not have the best filters definitely accentuated these basic flaws in the make-up. Looking simple is one thing but looking muddy is another! Hira’s make-up was a classic example of make-up blending gone all wrong. The make-up artist failed completely in giving her a decent, natural look.

Amar Khan

Amar Khan is also a comparatively new face in the Pakistani drama industry. She has been seen in different dramas in the past but in the drama serial Bad Dua that is currently airing, she is playing the lead role. Amar Khan’s makeup and overall look in the drama serial Bad Dua do not really go with the dynamic of her character. Yes, Abeer is shown to be a rebel but also a university student but her overall get up right from the beginning made it look like she was a spinster ready to attend someone’s valima, in a hope that some larkay ki amman will look at her and get impressed by her beauty. Her formal shalwar kameez didn’t really look good as a university attire and then adding properly made-up hair with curls intact was also a poor choice. Amar Khan definitely had the margin to look this way as the story progressed because the character of Abeer was going to get married therefore she could’ve toned down her university look to make it realistic. Her makeup is also not really up to the mark. Foundation is cakey and the makeup artist doesn’t really know how to shape her eyebrows. The overlined lips are way too obvious as well and the kajal which is poorly smudged makes her makeup look quite unfinished and unpolished. She really needs to work on her looks in future projects.

Zohreh Amir

Zohreh Amir is mostly seen in supporting characters that too in a few episodes of Pakistani dramas. However, she makes sure that during her short-spanned appearance in the dramas, she glams herself up so much that everyone remembers her as a supporting actress who wears layers and layers of makeup. She is also one of those actresses who finds it hard to edit and omit the makeup products she uses in her regular routine.

Although Zohreh definitely has the kind of face and features that can carry heavy and glamorous looks, for a TV drama and especially for a character that isn’t actually adding much to the story, she really takes it a bit too far. High heels, perfectly wavy hairstyles, overly done makeup are some of the main elements one gets to see in the characters played by Zohreh Amir. She is naturally very pretty with unique features, she can definitely do without so much makeup. In the drama serial Fitoor where she dealt with her father’s death and the ailing condition of her only brother, her makeup was too glamorous – especially during the funeral of her father’s character, it was hard to digest the amount of makeup she as an actor thought was justified in that sequence.

Hina Altaf

Hina Altaf is one such actress who has clearly stated that she hates makeup but because it is a part of her job, she has to wear it. It is perfectly understandable that Hina is not into makeup but we wonder why it doesn’t show in her dramas at all? For someone who is not into a lot of makeup, she should feel a lot more comfortable with the minimal makeup looks but Hina Altaf has recently started wearing a lot more makeup than she used to before.

In the drama serial Kasa e Dil, the character of Soumya went through a lot but seeing her carrying halo-eyed makeup all the time was pretty unrealistic. Another thing that Hina Altaf must definitely let go of is the tint that she uses which settles in the cracks of her lips and accentuates the dry patches so much, giving her a very bizarre look as if she just chewed a ‘paan’ before shooting the scene. Hina Altaf naturally has fresh spotless skin and she is a fan of lip and cheek tints which she has stated quite a few times, however, she really needs to learn how to use them to her benefit.

Asma Abbas

Asma Abbas is a phenomenal actor who graces the dramas that she becomes a part of. Her performances in every single drama, every single role be it a comedy or a tragedy is spellbinding in that it captures your attention as a viewer. However, one thing that mostly goes against Asma Abbas as an actor is the amount of makeup she relies on in her dramas. It won’t be wrong to say that her makeup looks to end up being too distracting and even in those situations or roles where there is not much need for makeup, her overall look is always very cakey and heavy. She also contours her eyebrows in a manner that gives a very sharp look to her face, whereas the best technique for her would be feathering, which will make her eyebrows look realistic. As a senior artist with so much experience, Asma Abbas should definitely understand the requirement of her character and use makeup accordingly.

Kubra Khan

Kubra Khan is not only a good actor but she is absolutely beautiful to look at. After playing the glamorous role of Husn e Jahan in Alif, she returned to the dramas in Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay. Although Kubra Khan tried to keep her look very much in line with the latest makeup in order to show Mashal as a present-day character, her makeup look ended up being quite distracting which did take away the attention from her performance at times. It won’t be wrong to judge that Kubra Khan must be having access to top celebrity makeup artists for the drama, provided by the production house, therefore to see her makeup look appearing to have been done with somewhat expired makeup products was definitely unflattering. There was a lot of focus on her chapped and dried-up lips, which goes to show that the lip tint or the liquid lipstick products she used were quite drying on her and gave her a very unsightly look. The winged eyeliner was also poorly done, which really didn’t do justice to her beauty at all. Time for Kubra Khan to never work with the same makeup artist again!

Armeena Rana Khan

Armeena Rana Khan is one of those Pakistani actresses who do not need to wear a lot of make-up to look appealing on-screen. It seems that such actresses are sometimes the biggest challenge for make-up artists who are used to doing a certain kind of make-up and are not used to doing minimal make-up looks. Surprisingly enough even though Armeena Rana Khan has been in the industry for long enough to know what looks good on screen and when someone is going over-the-top yet she always goes overboard with her make-up looks in dramas. This year she played a leading role in the drama serial Mohabbatein Chahatein. She was making a television appearance after a long time therefore this could easily be termed as her ‘comeback’ drama. She focused entirely on her outlook, perhaps more than her performance.

Armeena Rana Khan made sure that not only was she sporting heavy make-up looks in this drama but she used as many accessories as she could. Armeena Rana Khan definitely wanted to look as stylish as she possibly could for her comeback play but she ended up looking a little too made-up in all the scenes. Nowadays when all the actresses prefer a smudged eye-liner look Armeena decided to sport an eye-liner look in the drama which was rather intense. Other than that the blending of her foundation wasn’t smooth which resulted in a cakey effect. This was definitely not her best look since even the hairstyles were not too appealing.

Maya Ali

Maya Ali was another one of those top Pakistani actresses this year who made a comeback to Pakistani dramas after years. She decided to make this comeback with the drama serial Pehli Si Mohabbat. It is rather unfortunate that Maya is part of this list since she is one of those few celebrities who do not shy away from posting raw, unfiltered pictures without any makeup on their social media handles. This is one of the most endearing aspects of her social media handle that as a celebrity she sends a message across to her young fans that it is very important to appreciate your natural beauty without relying on makeup or filters all the time. Therefore, it isn’t much to expect her to sport a somewhat basic look in her dramas as well. Although Maya Ali straight away refused to acknowledge that she wore too much unnecessary makeup but the audience will agree that she wore bold make-up even though all she did was cry in the drama! We are pretty sure she could’ve done so without the loud make-up!

More than the character she chose to play in the drama, Maya Ali’s inappropriate and distasteful make-up was the center of discussion ever since Pehli Si Mohabbat went on air. There was not a single scene in Pehli Si Mohabbat where Maya Ali did not wear shimmery eyeshadows or give her eyes an accentuated and defined look with the help of transition colors. Her character could’ve done totally fine without the over usage of kajal but sadly it added a lot more maturity and age to her character than what she was suggested to be. There was quite an obvious and harsh contouring too which Maya didn’t need considering she already has a defined facial structure. Maya Ali is definitely comfortable in her natural skin, her numerous pictures are a testimony of that, however, we wish she had projected that in her comeback drama too.

Rabia Butt

Rabia Butt started her career as a model and she recently started acting. She immediately grabbed the attention of the viewers due to her unique acting style and dialogue delivery. Since she was an integral part of the fashion industry for such a long time, therefore she should understand make-up and the kind of looks that suit her face more than anyone else. However, in the drama serial Pehli Si Mohabbat this year, Rabia Butt’s make-up was not the least bit impressive or appropriate for the role she was playing. In Pehli Si Mohabbat, the character Rabia Butt played came from a brothel and was married to a rather ‘conservative’ aged man. In the initial episodes, Rabia’s loud makeup actually made a visual impact on the kind of background she belonged to and where she came from but later, she could’ve definitely toned it down considering she was now at a better place and far more content with how her life turned out to be. Although it does define her character, as the episodes progressed, she could’ve done really well without that much makeup because then her natural beauty would’ve shown through. The overly blended, almost grungy makeup look was definitely not an impressive or pretty look, to say the least.

Urwa Hocane

Urwa Hocane has an attractive face and naturally sharp features. She hardly ever wears excessive make-up and usually makes sure that her make-up is in line with the roles she is assigned to play. This time around, however, she was seen sporting make-up looks in the drama serial Amanat which did not only look odd due to the circumstances of her character but also looked like a sad case of trying extra hard to achieve the fairest possible complexion. Although her character is rather simple and a classic case of a damsel in distress but the make-up never budges. The layers of foundation, eyes overcoated with mascara, and a perfectly lined waterline have been her staple look in the drama. We all know that 7th Sky is fixated with making their actors look extra white and flawless on-screen therefore we are pretty sure that this entire look was a demand of the production house. However, it is unfortunate that wise actors such as Urwa who are incredibly comfortable in their own skin take up such projects and do whatever is required to please the producers.

Imran Abbas

Imran Abbas is the only male celebrity who is on this list since his make-up in drama serial Amanat has to be the most conspicuous aspect of his overall screen presence, which is definitely not something to take pride in! Imran Abbas continues to choose the most bizarre roles and on top of that this year in drama serial Amanat he went all out to look ‘extra gorgeous’ on screen! From his full coverage foundation to his perfectly applied lipstick and eye shadows which are usually more obvious than that of his fellow co-actresses in some of the scenes, Imran Abbas’ make-up artist did everything in his power to give the fellow actresses a run for their money! Imran Abbas’ make-up isn’t just loud but in so many scenes his eye make-up is such that it seems as if he just walked out of a horror movie or is dressed up for Halloween. He also has thick eyebrows which have been over-defined and enhanced. Imran Abbas always goes overboard with make-up but this time around he even broke the records set by him in the past!

Zara Sheikh

Zara Sheikh was once considered one of the top Pakistani actresses who ruled the big screen. She made an acting comeback through dramas this year. She played a well-written important supporting character in the drama serial Raqs-e-Bismil. Unfortunately, apart from limited acting skills, Zara Sheikh’s make-up in the drama made it next to impossible for the viewers to focus on a character that had so much going for it. It didn’t even look like Zara’s make-up was done by a professional. Her overdrawn lips were an epic fail in every single look she was seen sporting in the drama. The choice of lipsticks couldn’t have been more disappointing and her eyeliner looked like it was one of those cheap peel-off liners that never go on finely since their texture is often clumpy. In most of the scenes, it seemed ad if she used her lipstick as an eyeshadow as well since the shade match couldn’t possibly be a coincidence! The heavy eyelashes and sharply over-drawn eyebrows were also a constant throughout. While Sarah Khan’s make-up looks in the drama were superb throughout, Zara Sheikh failed to carry the kind of looks that were needed to make her character look as graceful as it was supposed to be. It was almost as if someone who was still learning professional make-up practiced on her face!

This completes the list of all those actors who were seen in the worst makeup in Pakistani dramas that aired this year. Which one of these actors do you feel should improve their makeup. Feel free to share your opinion in the comment section below.