Pakistani dramas have always known to strike a chord of the viewers with soul-stirring and emotionally gripping stories. This is the reason why Pakistani dramas have had a massive viewership and the audience find themselves looking forward to one drama after another because they have gotten used to the idea of watching and supporting Pakistani content. Over the last decade, the fans and viewers of Pakistani dramas saw a shift in the content, because of which the focus of the drama makers shifted on the quantity and they compromised heavily on the quality.

Pakistani drama viewers always show their concerns about the kind of content that is being produced. The drama writers in general believe that because they are portraying reality through their stories, they feel they have limited themes to wrap the story around. Initially, it was the heavy inspiration from Indian content that changed the mindset of Pakistani drama writers and then came the idea of projecting the vices that are prevalent in the society, because of which the practice of showing negative and toxic stories became a norm in Pakistani dramas.

Fortunately, the Pakistani drama industry is at that stage where the drama writers have started to experiment and they are trying their best to break free from the monotony of bringing typical and toxic storylines for the viewers. The writers have now started to explore more genres and although they rely heavily upon the dynamics of a family or a household of a character, they are still giving the viewers something refreshing and new every season. At this stage, the drama industry is aware of the kind of impact the TV medium can make, therefore it is nice to see more and more writers as well as actors being mindful of the kind of content they create and their contribution towards the society through their work.

Let’s take a look at those refreshing Pakistani dramas that did not revolve around typical and toxic themes:

Alif

Alif was a one-of-a-kind drama that explored the genre of spirituality. It is a rarity that Pakistani drama viewers come across such a strong and unique storyline that has so much to offer in terms of emotional growth and perspective alteration. Alif’s story was refreshing and it was relatable because every single viewer could find themselves and their struggles while watching the journeys of Qalb e Momin, Husn e Jahan, Taha, Abdul Ala, and Momina.

There was no aspect of spiritual struggles and growth that was left untouched by the writer Umera Ahmed. All of the viewers who watched the drama serial Alif were unanimous of the opinion that we need more such dramas every now and then to help us with soul-searching and path-finding. The story of Alif was refreshing and although it was based on the struggles of all the characters, it imparted some great lessons along the way, because of which it became such a special drama that became etched in the hearts of the viewers.

The performances were given by Hamza Ali Abbasi, Pehlaaj Hussain, Sajal Aly, Manzar Sehbai, Kubra Khan, Saleem Mairaj, and Ahsan Khan made the characters of Alif even more special. They all breathed life into those special characters and the brilliant direction of Haseeb Hassan was visionary because the story like Alif deserved to be told in a certain manner and Haseeb Hassan as a director understood it.

Ehd e Wafa

After decades, Pakistani drama fans and the audience got to watch an Army based drama but as the story progressed, the viewers were in for a treat because they realized that it was not just the story of Saad, it was about the youngsters who are trying to find a way and steer through the course of life in their own capacities. Ehd e Wafa had a brilliant start but as the story progressed, the developments picked up and the writer Mustafa Afridi came up with such inspiring characters and stories that are seldom seen on our TV screens.

Ehd e Wafa in recent times has to be one such unique drama which showed that the young girls wanted to be something and marriage was not their only option or safest bets out of their life issues and problems. They all faced their fair share of ordeals and came out strong. Ehd e Wafa showed everything that young and aged viewers of Pakistani dramas wanted to see. They showed misunderstandings, learning from mistakes, trust, and emotional support of parents, the confidence of the youngsters in themselves, and their struggles to reach their goals for themselves as well as their families. Ehd e Wafa was a complete package that had so much to offer and the addition of the story of an Army officer made things even better.

The cast of Ehd e Wafa also played a huge role in attracting the viewership and creating the hype about the project. The audience were excited to see the group of Ahad Raza Mir, Ahmed Ali Akbar, Wahaj Ali, and Osman Khalid Butt. The young and gorgeous actresses Alizeh Shah, Hajra Yamin played their parts well and Zara Noor Abbas was well-loved for portraying the character of Rani effortlessly. Saife Hassan lead the project skillfully and made Ehd e Wafa what it is.

Ishq Zahe Naseeb

Ishq Zahe Naseeb was probably one of those dramas that explored the domain of mental health and created awareness about it in a unique manner. When the drama began, the drama makers too were unsure of how the audience would perceive the story of Sameer who suffered from multiple personality disorders. It was definitely encouraging for the drama makers because the audience not only showed acceptance but also loved the character of Sameer because they understood his struggles and reasoning.

It was also because the character of Sameer was written with so much clarity by the writer Hashim Nadeem that it made it even easier for the viewers to understand and like Sameer. It also showed how troubled people like Shakira end up leaving a life-long impression on someone. The drama was full of mystery and kept the viewers guessing right till the end. The drama did have a beautiful ending as far as Sameer and Gohar’s relationship was concerned but kept it open in terms of the relationship that Shakira and Sameer shared. It was a unique journey and was appreciated by the viewers a lot, which was enough for the drama makers to know that the audience is ready to accept such content from them and expected more of it.

Although Zahid Ahmed has established himself as one of the strongest and brilliant actors of the Pakistani drama industry, in Ishq Zahe Naseeb he outdid himself and it was a feather in his cap because he got to showcase a whole new skill set as an actor. It was Zahid Ahmed’s flawless performance as Sameer that gave people clarity of what his issues were. Sonya Hussyn, Zarnish Khan, Yumna Zaidi, and Sami Khan were brilliant. The director Farooq Rind really extracted the best acting out of all of them.

Ye Dil Mera

Ye Dil Mera was another drama that revolved around mental health and emotional trauma. The character of Amaanullah was an eye-witness to the brutal killing of his whole family. Therefore he made it the motive of his life to avenge the death of his innocent family members. Amanullah slowly learned that his enemy was an influential man, so he slowly and steadily paved a way into his life. Amanullah carefully planned his revenge and while he wanted Meer Farooq Zaman to confess his crimes, he ended up falling in love with his wife and his enemy’s daughter Ana. Ana on her own too had a horrific incident from her childhood that caused her stress.

In Ye Dil Mera, it was probably for the first time in ages that the writer Farhat Ishtiyaq elaborated on what Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is all about. Both Amaanullah and Ana were faced with it and dealt with it in their own way. Where Amaanullah couldn’t forget that one incident his entire life, Ana was deliberately made to forget about it but it still continued to harm her.

It was unfortunate that the execution of Ye Dil Mera compromised heavily on the impact it otherwise would’ve made because it was such a unique story that dealt with two individuals and had their strong love story too. However, Ahad Raza Mir and Sajal Aly both carried the drama on their shoulders and once again got to show it to the world what they were capable of as actors. Their flawless performances became unforgettable for their fans and also those viewers who watched the drama. Director Ahsan Talish did the best he could but there were a lot of things that were unfavorable, which ended up compromising on the overall quality of the project, but the fact still remains that it was a unique and intriguing storyline.

Pyar Ke Sadqay

Pyar Ke Sadqay was one of the most unique and refreshing storylines the viewers came across this year. The writer Zanjabeel Asim Shah did complete justice to the characters that she penned down because she convincingly showed the struggles and inhibitions faced by people who are unique and special in their own ways. Abdullah was slightly autistic and Mahjabeen was innocent, things became far more interesting when these two came together and then started getting exploited by people around them. In this drama, the writer also touched upon the subject of physical and emotional harassment but in the end, it was nice to see Mansoora taking charge of the situation and compensating for all those years she was an emotionally absent mother.

Director Farooq Rind was the captain of the ship and he took the drama forward with a clear vision. This was probably for the first time the Pakistani drama audience was getting to see characters like Abdullah and Mahjabeen who have certain delays but they are intelligent in their own accord. Pyar Ke Sadqay was a story of two special people who ended up victorious because their innocence, niceness, and faith in themselves became their strongest trait as a team and as a couple.

Yumna Zaidi and Bilal Abbas Khan both have proved themselves over the years but in this drama, they not only wowed their fans but also all those viewers who tuned to Pyar Ke Sadqay. It was purely because of their acting and the grip on these characters that they made this journey worthwhile. Omair Rana, Srha Asghar, Atiqa Odho, and Yashma Gill gave their heart and soul to these characters and contributed fully towards the success of the drama.

Kashf

It won’t be wrong to say that the story and theme of Kashf are purely new and is being seen in Pakistani drama for the very first time. Writer Imran Nazeer is known for always bringing in the quotient of spirituality and etching the story on those lines but this time around, he outdid himself. The story of Kashf is about Kashf’s dreams and then the events which lead to all the materialization of those dreams. How Kashf’s family then starts exploiting her by making her mint money on these dreams and their interpretations.

The fact that the writer has shown how Kashf has stayed true to herself and has maintained her moral compass makes her an inspirational character. As much as she has done to please and financially support her family, she has always stood her ground when she felt her father Imtiyaz was crossing the line. Kashf also threatened a lot of times when she felt this way she would be able to save a family member. Kashf’s struggles and the journey have further humanized her character because now she is at that point where even after deciding for herself, she is being forced to give up and join the Asthana again.

Hira Mani, Junaid Khan, and Waseem Abbas definitely are the stars of the show. They have elevated the level of the drama with their performances. Hira Mani always puts her heart and soul into her characters but in Kashf, she has stunned everyone with her acting skills. This probably has to be the very first drama where Junaid Khan is seen enjoying himself and doing complete justice to the essence of Wajdan’s character. Waseem Abbas has played the role of a mean father to perfection. His antics and selfishness add the comic factor to the drama which has been tackled with finesse by the director Danish Nawaz who knows how comedy works. Kashf is a unique drama and even after so many episodes, it keeps the viewers guessing with what’s going to happen next.

Bikhre Moti

Although drama serial Bikhre Moti’s plot is grim it revolves around the important subject of child labor and how an aunt sacrifices her own life to support her niece and nephews. The character of Ayeza played by Neelam Munir is inspirational because despite knowing what life had in store for her if she married her fiance Ahad, she chooses to get married to her Zulfikar, who was even responsible for the death of Ayeza’s sister. It shows how selfless Ayeza was and how pure her love for her niece and nephews was because she ended up giving up on everything only to protect them as a mother. Her struggles just didn’t end there because she had to then take care of her sister’s children and their needs.

Neelam Munir is one of those actresses who are very selective about the kind of work they do and it is nice to see her being so conscious about her characters because she wants to make an impact and show what a strong and fearless woman can do. Writer Edison Idrees Masih has touched upon a sensitive but very important subject and Shahid Shafaat has directed this drama with a vision.

Sabaat

Sabaat is a unique drama of its nature. It is purely about the mental, emotional, and financial struggles that the younger generation these days is faced with. It has shown the contrast of two different worlds where a family despite having all the luxuries and financial freedom fails to find peace within themselves. Then there is the family of Anaya, who has lived a very humble life with the father fending for basic necessities decently, they have lived through life with nothing but empathy, love, and compassion for each other. It has shown how giving undue freedom and feeding onto the unnecessary demands of children can literally ruin their lives. The father of Miraal is completely responsible for ruining Miraal’s personality and mentality. She has destroyed her own life as well as has walked the extra mile to ruin her brother’s life as well.

The character of Anaya played by Mawra Hocane is nothing short of an inspiration. When the drama began, the viewers couldn’t help but see the similarities between her and Kashaf of Zindagi Gulzar Hai but Mawra Hocane’s convincing performance has helped her carve a niche for Anaya’s character and has forced people to see her differently. Ameer Gillani has been convincing as Hassan and Sarah Khan has convinced the viewers to detest the character of Miraal. The writer Kashir Anwar has in a literal sense shed a light on the struggles that the younger generation stepping into the practical world is faced with. Kashif Anwar has covered their problems and issues on both professional and personal ends. Shehzad Kashmiri has done his best to direct this drama but despite certain issues with the execution, the drama overall has succeeded in keeping the interest of the viewers alive.

Prem Gali

Faiza Iftikhar has come up with a refreshing idea because she has taken up a neighborhood and has interlinked all of their stories. It has been established that as the story will progress, Prem Gali will impart a lot of important messages but under the garb of comedy because this way, things never come across preachy and put a point across in a clear cut manner. Prem Gali is a perfect idea of prime-time entertainment because that is when people usually sit and relax while watching TV. Prem Gali’s comic quotient is what sets it apart because the witty dialogues and fun situations bring a smile to the viewers’ faces.

So far, Saba Hameed, Waseem Abbas, and Farhaan Saeed have stood out the most, in terms of performances as well as characters. The rest of the cast is amazing and each one of their characters has a strong personality. Prem Gali has also given a lot of emotional moments to the viewers where they have shed tears with these characters. This drama has all the factors that draw the attention of the viewers to it. Faiza Iftikhar is known for writing dynamic characters and her situational comedies are always well received. Qasim Ali Mureed really knows how to design the scenes and bring out the best out of all the situations.

Mushk

Imran Ashraf has wowed his fans with his brilliant performances over the years but after Tabeer, this happens to be the second drama written by him. Mushk’s story is refreshing and the characters are dynamic. It is a true love story and has all the characters who have experienced the emotion of love. Imran Ashraf has put his heart and soul into this script, this is why it has succeeded in engaging the audience and is now being appreciated for what is has offered so far. After Udaari, this was Urwa Hocane’s come back on TV, therefore the hopes were high, and fortunately, because of the character that she is getting to play, she has exceeded the expectations.

Mushk’s story does have its fair share of negative characters but even those characters have been written with so much clarity and their screen presence is so strong that one actually wants to understand their reasoning and thought process. Imran Ashraf, Urwa Hocane, Momal Sheikh, Zara Tareen, and child star Sami Khan have elevated the level of this drama. Director Ahsan Talish has directed this drama convincingly and so far, it is one of the best dramas on air right now.

Saraab

Drama serial Saraab explores the life of a girl suffering from schizophrenia. Sonya Hussyn is known for breathing life into her characters but the way she has convincingly portrayed the character of Hoorain has shown that she didn’t just sign this project to showcase her acting skills, but in fact, did her own part of the research and homework to understand how the mind of schizophrenic works. Although the rest of the tracks in Saraab can be termed as typical but they also shed a light on how regular households fail to understand the gravity of the situation and do not really consider the possibility of such behavior related to psychological issues.

Writer Edison Idrees Masih has also done his part of the research and the team of Saraab really lived up to the promise of creating awareness about schizophrenia. Usually, in the past, a lot of dramas have been made that promised to raise awareness but failed to do so because the important issues were trivialized and at times it seemed such subjects were only used to create hype about the project. However, when it comes to Saraab, it is one of those few exceptions where the viewers are pleased with how the entire subject has been explored and dealt with.

This completes the list of all those dramas that have refreshing themes and were not based on toxic and typical storylines such as family politics or simple love triangles with two women fighting over one man or vice versa. These dramas show that the Pakistani drama industry is capable of producing such amazing content. The popularity of these dramas also is evident for the drama makers to understand that Pakistani drama audience is open to new and fresh ideas. What are your thoughts about the themes of these dramas? Feel free to add your opinion.

It is a part of an actor’s job to look beautiful and presentable especially in front of the camera. This is the reason, a lot of actresses pay attention to the way they look and how they create a personality of the characters they are getting to play in a drama. A lot of actresses over the years have evolved and learned what looks good on them in terms of styling, hair, and makeup. Some of the actresses do not really feel comfortable in giving up on their made-up looks and continue to stick to certain looks, however, there are quite a few actresses who have over the years started to rely on minimal makeup. This way, these actresses add a lot of dimension to their performances in the dramas because they get to showcase the actual emotional and mental state of the characters that they are playing. The viewers also find such characters and performances realistic and relatable as the distracting makeup is not in the way which might make one wonder how did the character finds the time to get ready and look this good when she is suffering or probably mourning a loss of someone in a drama.

It is a fact that the overall styling and look adds a lot more value to the character and has a great impact on how it is going to be perceived by the viewers. In this day and age, the audience expects the actors to pay more attention to how realistic their characters are going to appear on-screen. This is one factor that deserves special attention because it is now a norm that in every other drama, the female characters are going to face hardships of life, therefore it is important for an actor to make sure that the styling and overall appeal of the character are in line with their story.

Over the years, a lot of actresses have dropped the idea of looking overly glamorized in dramas. They too have come to a realization that it is quite important to portray the true essence of the character and do justice to it. They have spoken repeatedly about how they now understand that always looking overly made up does not help them in any way especially when it comes to the portrayal of the story or character. It definitely goes to show that it requires a lot of confidence to be comfortable in your skin and to be at your absolute natural state in front of the camera.

Here is the list of those Pakistani actresses who rely on minimal makeup in dramas:

Yumna Zaidi

Yumna Zaidi is one of the finest actresses of the Pakistani drama industry. She is the one who puts her heart and soul into every character that she picks up. However, over the years Yumna Zaidi has shown that she is absolutely comfortable in her skin and doesn’t mind wearing next to no makeup in her dramas, especially the scenes which do not require her to look all dolled up. Yumna Zaidi has played a lot of characters and has shown her range as an actor, but the most endearing aspect of her approach towards her characters it the fact that she always believes in giving it a realistic feel and personality to her characters.

Yumna Zaidi always makes sure that her hair is done properly, even it if just a simple straightening or a few loose curls to add volume to her hair but when it comes to makeup, she relies on minimal makeup such as some hint of color on her cheeks and lips, a subtle glow to her face and mascara on the eyes. She tends to play with the colors that she picks up such as warm tones or pinks and shows that by using such fewer makeup products, she can still look absolutely gorgeous.

Neelam Munir Khan

Neelam Munir Khan has been a part of the Pakistani drama industry for a long time but in recent years she rose to fame and has now started taking up projects as a protagonist. Neelam Munir is a fine actor and she too happens to be one of those few actresses who rely on zero to no makeup in dramas, especially in the scenes which do not demand much from her in terms of makeup and overall glamorous looks.

Neelam Munir has set herself a signature makeup look which consists of very few makeup products such as a pop of color on her cheeks, a hint of color on her lips, and a light shade on her eyes alongside mascara. This completes her look and because she is blessed with porcelain skin, she doesn’t feel the need to go heavy-handed on the foundation or base makeup. Neelam Munir definitely believes in keeping things real in order to do justice to the nature of her character.

Mawra Hocane

Mawra Hocane is another one of those few actresses who do not rely on a lot of makeup in dramas. Mawra Hocane has been selective when it comes to her projects but the characters that she picks up, she makes sure to give them a realistic feel and personality. In general, Mawra Hocane is never seen in heavy makeup and that continues to be the case in her dramas as well.

She is seen in the drama serial Sabaat currently and in almost the entire drama, she has worn absolutely no makeup, this is why in the scenes where she is emotional or crying, there are absolutely no traces of makeup product on her face. Mawra Hocane is confident in her skin and this adds an edge to her performance because a lot of young girls watching her on-screen not only find her characters relatable but also find her inspiring. Time and again, Mawra Hocane has shared how she is a big fan of lip and cheek tints, which she often ends up using on her eyelids as well and it is quite evident in Sabaat that this is exactly what she has worn in the drama to portray the character of Anaya realistically.

Hira Mani

Hira Mani is one of those actresses who solely believe in the power of acting and strong performance. This is the reason, in almost all of her dramas, her styling, clothing, hair and makeup are usually on a simpler side. She likes portraying her characters in such a fashion that makes the viewers feel that they are watching the story of a regular girl unfold on their TV screens. Hira Mani definitely is one of those actresses who feel comfortable in their skin, therefore she really doesn’t feel the need to rely on a lot of makeup. In her real-life events as well as professional projects, she keeps her makeup to an absolute minimum. The only time Hira Mani is seen wearing a lot of makeup is when she is hired for any brand campaign or professional photoshoots. 

In the drama serial Kashf, Hira Mani has stayed true to the essence of this character and because she is shown to have come from a very humble background, she has opted for such hairstyling as well as makeup that actually shows her dynamics and makes a visual impact. In some of the scenes in the drama serial Kashf where she had to wear makeup like on wedding functions of her cousin or sister, even then she showed that due to Kashf’s simple nature, she didn’t really opt for an elaborate makeup look. In a lot of scenes, it is evident that she has worn hardly a few products too because they were the demand for the camera. 

Ushna Shah

Ushna Shah’s styling and makeup have definitely evolved over the years. Ushna Shah has now started relying on very little makeup and because she takes good care of her skin, she understands that she doesn’t need layers of makeup to cover her features. This is why Ushna Shah wears very little makeup which is enough to enhance her beautiful natural features without making her look like a different person.

Ushna Shah definitely is a fan of glowy skin, this is why there is a lot of highlighting done on the high points of her face. It gives her a fresh look and because she has next to no texture on her skin, she carries this look beautifully. Ushna Shah adds a bit of color on her eyelids, some blush on her cheeks, and often goes for glossy lips, which compliment the overall minimal yet glowy face makeup that she opts for.

Saba Qamar

Saba Qamar has definitely made drastic changes in her approach towards makeup. Since she has been a part of the industry for a long time and has worked in a lot of projects, the difference in her makeup and overall styling is evident every step of the way. The fact that she now wears absolutely less makeup and doesn’t even mind giving up on it completely in the scenes where she has to show an emotional ordeal of the character shows how she has matured as an actor.

In one of the interviews, while promoting Cheekh, she made a special mention about how she now chooses to wear lesser makeup because she feels it suits her as well as helps in making her characters look more relatable and appealing to the audience that is watching her dramas.

Sajal Aly

Sajal Aly is one of the most powerful actresses of the Pakistani drama industry. She has been a part of a lot of dramas and has played a variety of characters that have allowed her to showcase her range as an actor. Sajal Aly’s styling when it comes to her characters has evolved a lot and now she is seen giving her characters as realistic a feel and vibe as possible.

Sajal Aly usually gets to portray a certain demographic in a drama, therefore her characters often end up being trendy and chic in terms of styling, this is why it usually is the demand of her character to have a bit of makeup but Sajal Aly makes it obvious that she wears minimal makeup which gives her a little coverage on the face and then the rest of the makeup is more on the matte side. One thing that stays consistent in her makeup routine is the eyeliner which gives her eyes a bit of definition but other than that, it’s more on the natural and minimal side.

Urwa Hocane

Urwa Hocane also has a signature no-makeup look that she sticks to in her real life as well as in her professional projects. Urwa Hocane is blessed with clear skin, therefore she doesn’t feel the need to rely on a lot of makeup for some coverage. Her face makeup is mostly about rosy cheeks, glossy lips, and curled mascara coated lashes. In the drama serial Mushk, Urwa Hocane is seen wearing her signature makeup look which is all about enhancing her natural beauty and adding a bit of color to her lips and cheeks so that she appears more fresh and awake on screen.

Mahira Khan

Although it’s been years that Mahira Khan has not done any project for the TV but a few that she was a part of showed what her approach towards makeup in general was. Mahira Khan has done quite a few projects and right from the beginning, she has stayed true to what she believes the idea of true beauty is. Mahira Khan has never really worn a heavy makeup look in any of her dramas and she absolutely feels comfortable in less makeup.

In some of the scenes where she is not supposed to wear any makeup, she has absolutely no issues because she understands how important it is to portray the characters realistically and not prioritize glamour or makeup over the essence of the scene or the character. Mahira Khan has always relied on enhancing real beauty with minimal usage of makeup. She tends to wear less coverage on her face and adds a bit of mascara and keeps her cheeks and lips looking naturally pink. Mahira Khan was probably one of the first actresses who introduced the no-makeup look and stayed true to it over the years.

This completes the list of all these beautiful actresses who rely on minimal makeup in the dramas. What are your thoughts about their minimal makeup looks? Do you agree that less makeup makes the characters come across a lot more realistic and relatable? Feel free to add in your opinion.