Mental health refers to your emotional and psychological well-being. Having good mental health helps you lead a relatively happy and healthy life. Mental health can be disturbed by a number of factors which includes life events or uneasiness due to genetics, etc. In this day and age, having good mental health is important to help you move with life on everyday basis. Lets discuss ways in which you can keep your mental health intact and live positively and happily:
Keeping a positive attitude
It is true that living a good life doesn’t come easy. Some people may have financial issues, some might have health issues, relationship problems and so on and so forth. But keeping a positive approach towards all problems can help you destress and mend things easily.
Staying physically active
Physical activity can refer to anything from going to the gym or taking strolls or doing yoga or simply running errands. Being physically active improves health and reduces risk of any diseases whilst keeping you young and healthy.
Getting enough sleep
It is essential to get atleast 8 hours of sleep everyday. Being well rested will allow your energy levels to remain high which would help you to carry on with your day much quicker.
Eating a healthy diet
Include leafy greens or foods rich in protein in your diet to help you keep fit and active. While they taste delicious, avoid eating oily or junk food which only lead to health problems. A healthy diet boosts energy levels while allowing your brain to function in an organized manner.
Asking for professional help (therapy)
Therapy is an opportunity for you to talk with a mental health provider about your experiences, feelings, thoughts, and ideas. Therapists help you learn coping techniques and strategies to manage symptoms. Therapy helps people identify mental health issues and unhealthy behaviors or thought patterns. During sessions you and your therapist can work to change these thoughts and behaviors.
Taking medication
Doctors may prescribe medications to help ease with various mental health problems. People may try a few medications at different doses before finding something that’s right for them. Do not try medicines at your own risk and only take prescribed ones by your doctor.
Hospital and residential treatment
Some people may need brief periods of intensive treatment at hospitals or residential treatment facilities. These programs allow an overnight stay for in-depth treatment. There are also daytime programs, where people can participate in shorter periods of treatment. Group activities with other people who are going through the same issue as yours can extensively help you.
Socializing with people whom you enjoy spending time with
People who usually suffer from mental health decide to cut off from their loved ones, friends and family. Spending time and talking with people who love and care about you can help you get through a lot of problems. Sometimes you just need a listener or sound advice from a close one.
An abusive home can take a toll on your mental and physical health. It is important to be strong while you’re living there and know when the time is up and how to leave such a place. Here’s a guide on ways to cope with living in an abusive home and how to leave one:
Spot a pattern
An abusive relationship will have a set pattern with the partner gaslighting you and blaming you for each and everything that goes wrong. You need to note down that very pattern and keep an account of all the things said and done wrongly towards you.
Keep a timeline
Keep a timeline of with all details of misconduct, physical or verbal bad behavior towards you. You will need it to prove yourself in court or to other people like your family members.
Gather evidence
Gather evidence in the form of photographs, videos, voice messages, text messages, calls, emails, medical reports, etc. You will need all this evidence to prove yourself if and when the time comes to get yourself out of the abusive relationship.
Keep original evidence and make copies of it
Keep original evidence and also don’t forget to make copies of it in case you lose the original files. You can either scan them or take photographs of it or keep soft copies, anything which can be kept safe.
Send it to someone trustworthy
Send the evidence to someone trustworthy like a close friend or family member. They can keep the evidence in a safe place. Make sure the abuser has no idea that the close friend or family member has any evidence against them or they could manipulate or blackmail them.
Know who to call or go to in an emergency
Try and test close friends and family with your secrets. When you’re in a sticky situation, you should have someone to turn to and call and even live with if things go bad.
Save money
You can’t do much if you have absolutely no money on you. Having no money means you won’t be able to leave or even build a new life. If you can, try and earn and keep saving money for the unreliable situations. You will be needing it if and when you decide to leave.
Don’t lose hope
Last but not the least, don’t ever lose hope that things won’t be favorable. Try socializing, doing volunteer work or any other job which would bring you happiness.
Bollywood has produced a number of fine actors right from the very beginning. It is an unhidden fact that Bollywood actors are appreciated all around the world including Pakistan. One can find crazy fans of Shahrukh khan, Ambitabh bachan, Akshay Kumar, Ranbir Kapoor, Kareen Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and many others. From every section of our society we can easily find people who are die-hard fans of Indian actors. And when their films hit Pakistani cinemas they are the first ones to grab their tickets & book their seats. There is a strong influence of their culture and tradition in our society and therefore one can relate why the actors are so applauded.
Recently I was in conversation with one of such die-hard fan of Indian actors who visited the famous Madame Tussauds Museum in London. It was not surprising for me when I came to know that wax statues of a number of Indian actors have been kept in the museum and these statues are very popular among the visitors. Let us have a virtual look over these statues:
i) Aishwariya Rai Bachchan
ii) Amitabh Bachchan
iii) Shahrukh Khan
iv) Kareena Kapoor
v) Hrithik Roshan
vi) Madhuri Dixit
vii) Salman Khan
I hope you all must have liked them. Drop your comments underneath, please.
The leaders and workers of many religious parties have been deeply offended by the way Geo disrespected many honorable personalities associated with Islam. While talking to news reporters in a Press Conference the leader of Sunni Ittehad Council Sahibzada Hamid Raza and former senator Faisal Raza Abidi, said that Geo TV had hurt the religious feelings of many people therefore watching the channels of this network was haraam.
Sahibzada Hamid Raza also said that YouTube was banned on account of blasphemy, the same action should be taken against Geo TV. The party also appealed to the cable operators that they should broadcasting Geo TV.
Pakistani dramas were known for their concise and meaningful storylines a few decades back. In recent times however it is somewhat of a norm to stretch dramas even when the story can easily reach a logical conclusion early on. The producers themselves have admitted that they need to stretch dramas that get popular because that is the only way they can earn enough profit to continue making these dramas. While some writers have the ability to keep the story logical and appealing right till the end even with the dragging, most writers find it difficult to keep the story on track after a certain number of episodes. Since there is so much pressure on the writers to write a certain number of episodes, very often they end up adding tracks that can put off even the most loyal viewers. While many Pakistani dramas that were dragged this year lost their essence and appeal, there were some that were still watchable even though they were on air for longer than necessary.
These dramas were not engaging enough to make it to the best dramas list but they were definitely watchable. Some of them were purely commercial projects with some refreshing elements and others were based on novel topics yet they were dragged so much that the viewers felt more annoyed than engaged. Few of them did not have a lot of episodes but the script was such that the story progressed slowly. However, when a drama is available online, viewers can easily forward scenes that do not add much to the story and even skip episodes. That is why we decided to make a separate list for these dramas because viewers will definitely enjoy watching them.
Here is the list of watchable Pakistani dramas of 2022 that were dragged excessively:
The list is in Alphabetical order.
Aitebaar
Writer: Maimoona Aziz Director: Nadeem Siddique Producer: MD Productions Channel: Hum TV Cast: Zarnish Khan, Syed Jibran, Ali Safina, Arez Ahmed, Areeba Shahood Alvi, Huma Nawab, Michelle Mumtaz, Faiza Gillani, Hamza Tariq Jamil, and others.
Drama serial Aitebaar ended recently & it is unfortunate that due to the criticism it received because of a scenario shown in the initial episodes, it failed to gain a decent amount of viewership. However, when the story moved past that stage where Pari’s husband walks out of her life, the way she picks up the pieces & starts afresh was definitely interesting to watch. In the drama serial Aitebaar, the writer focused a lot on the personal & professional struggles faced by people in their practical lives & somehow, when it all came together, it definitely created something worth watching. Aitebaar definitely was not everyone’s cup of tea but those who tuned to it definitely found themselves invested in the stories of all these characters.
It was also interesting to note that in the drama which received so much backlash because of how a husband accused his wife of getting harrassed, the writer also gave a lot of relief in the form of Babar’s character. Babar was not only a loving husband, but he actually extended the support his wife Parissa needed every step of the way. Yes, their couple too had their fair share of misunderstandings because Parissa’s poor logic & approach, but on the whole, their relationship especially when it came to Babar’s approach was refreshing. Aitebaar drama was definitely interesting to watch but once again, it was also one of those dramas that were dragged in the end, with almost next to zero development in the last few episodes. However, it ended on a good note, making it a drama that can easily be watched.
Angna
Writer: Samina Ejaz Director: Tehseen Khan & Saqib Zafar Producer: iDream Entertainment Channel: ARY Digital Cast: Atiqa Odho, Javed Sheikh, Areeba Habib, Azfar Rehman, Rabab Hashim, Ali Abbas, Laiba Khan, Danial Afzal, Sajjad Pal, Rubina Ashraf, Gul e Rana, and others.
Angna was another soap opera that aired on ARY Digital this year. The story of this drama was based on the theme that always works & becomes popular among drama viewers. A story of 4 sisters coming from a loving family, well taken care of but when they step into their practical lives after their marriages, they are faced with different hardships. How each one of them steers through was what Angna was all about. Each character got equal coverage & the way the importance of relationships was highlighted in Angna made it wholesome entertainment. One track that stood out the most was the one portrayed by Ali Abbas, where she showcased how childhood trauma & strained relationship with his mother made him suffer within & as a result, he subjected his wife to unfair treatment too. Ali Abbas got a lot of recognition because of his convincing performance.
As much as Angna was good to watch with a young cast & fresh pairing of actors, towards the end it was dragged beyond the limit. The flashbacks were neverending & the episodes barely had any development. It was unfortunate that the drama in which the viewers invested so much time had a poor & incomplete ending with so many things left unaddressed. It became obvious that the directors could not really tackle the ending well & left it open to interpretation but unfortunately, it did not make much sense at all. Angna can definitely be qualified as a good family entertainer if you want to watch a story that revolves around a big family, but when it comes to the second half, especially the ending, do keep in mind that you will be disappointed.
Badnaseeb
Writer: Jahanzaib Qamar Director: Haseeb Ali Producer: Momina Duraid Productions
Channel: Hum TV Cast: Agha Talal, Dania Enwer, Kamran Jilani, Samina Ahmed, Farah Nadir, Sharmeen Ali, Anoosheh Rania, Khushi Maheen, Falak Shahazad, Maria Malik, Sana Nadir, Ayesha Sohail, Ahmed Rafique, Hareem Sohail, Komail Anam, Danial Khan & Others.
Badnaseeb was one of those soap serials in 2022 which entertained especially in the first half which was covered in 20-plus episodes. The story revolved around two different households in the beginning and gradually many new tracks were added to the plot. It was mainly about the female protagonist Dua who was constantly ridiculed by her own father because of her gender. Dua’s relationship with her father, the lasting effects it had on her and most importantly her grandmother’s support were the highlight of this serial for the longest time. Some of the characters had a definite appeal and a few of the performances were exceptional. Samina Ahmed and Sharmeen Ali’s characters were refreshing in many ways. These characters were also translated on-screen beautifully. In the later half of the show, Sangeeta Ji’s character also kept the drama from getting too toxic. Dania Enwar also performed really well and her character’s journey turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
Badnaseeb had an interesting and meaningful storyline but like all the other soap serials, it was on air for too long. Also, once the children grew up and the story entered the next phase, the drama did not have the same appeal. The younger actors were definitely better performers than the relatively older actors who played their older versions. However, overall, Badnaseeb did leave an impression and was entertaining for many weeks.
Mere Humsafar
Writer: Saira Raza Director: Qasim Ali Mureed Producer: Six Sigma Plus Productions Channel: ARY Digital Cast: Hania Amir, Farhaan Saeed, Saba Hameed, Waseem Abbas, Samina Ahmed, Zoya Nasir, Tara Mehmood, Alyy Khan, Omer Shehzad, and others.
Mere Humsafar ended last week & unfortunately, the way it was dragged has made us forget the note at which it started & the hype it got because of Hamza & Hala’s chemistry as a couple. Mere Humsafar was a Pakistani version of cinderella but unfortunately, the villains in the drama were on steroids because there was absolutely no end to Hala’s misery. In the beginning, it was again hard to accept because Hala had her grandmother’s support who knew how to take a stand for her, but her misery was coaxed beyond the limit. Hamza entered the picture & the drama took a positive turn with Hamza showing neverending support to his wife & which is what contributed to Mere Humsafar’s success. It was definitely nice to see such a supportive husband who helped Hala face & overcome her fears by giving her the confidence that she needed.
Unfortunately, Mere Humsafar’s success served as another turning point because the team & the production house failed to wrap it in a decent time frame. Unnecessary twists & turns were added which did not do anything other than add more negativity to the story. Mere Humsafar did become toxic at the end with Shahjahan not knowing any limits & putting Hala through one misery after another. It won’t be wrong to say that Mere Humsafar’s ending was also not convincing because Shahjahan got a clean chit & she never paid for what she had done in the true sense. Roomi’s character was supposedly used as Shahjahan’s undoing but it did not make any impact at all. Mere Humsafar would’ve become one of the best dramas of this year if they had wrapped it up at the right time, but ratings ruined it completely, making the drama earn a spot on this list.
Mushkil’s storyline and its execution can easily be termed as run-of-the-mill but even then, it was the kind of drama that entertained for the most part. The female protagonist was the typical bechari we see in dramas often but the fast pace of the drama especially in the first 15 episodes made it mindless entertainment which was easy to sit through even if some of the times we found ourselves laughing at a few of the serious situations. Saboor Aly and Khushhal Khan’s on-screen couple, the strong supporting cast, and a few refreshing supporting characters made Mushkil worth watching. However, it was dragged endlessly and most of us who watched the drama while it aired lost track completely. But, if someone wants to watch a drama online which will keep them engaged for the most part then do tune into this one. It might frustrate and annoy you at times but it will prove to be a good pass time. You can easily skip the episodes that get too slow.
Marina Khan’s direction definitely made all the difference because even though Saboor Aly’s make-up is over the top in most of the scenes, the direction overall is on point. Even though the script fails to deliver more than once, the treatment given to the script saves the day. Typical but entertaining nevertheless, Mushkil was definitely one of those watchable dramas that would have been far better had it not been dragged excessively.
Pehchaan
Writer: Rubina Kabir Khan Director: Asad Jabal Producer: Momina Duraid Channel: Hum TV Cast: Hiba Bukhari, Syed Jibran, Nadia Hussain, Syed Mohammed Ahmed, Sohail Sameer, Shakeeb Anwar, Salma Asim, Sajida Syed, Sadaf Aashan, Qavi Khan, Noor ul Hassan, Nadia Khan, Mirza Zain Baig, Ahmed Usman (Childstar), Khwaja Naeem Haq, Huma Nawab, Aadi Khan, Hajra Khan, Faizan Khan, Eshal Fayyaz, Diya Mughal, Birjees Farooqui, Arshad Ghori, Anoosheh Rania Khan (Childstar), Anaya Khan, Aina Asif, Usman Mazhar.
Pehchaan had an instant appeal, an air of mystery, and quite a few scenarios that were likable. The script and the direction of the play both were appealing especially in the beginning. The underlying message of the drama was one that is generally not readily accepted by most viewers but it was progressive and relevant. Pehchaan gave me Zun Mureed vibes – another well-written drama that was rejected by the public because it talked about women’s rights from a perspective that is most often misunderstood and misinterpreted in our society. There were also certain angles of the drama which made it difficult for the viewer to side with the main protagonist because the actual truth was hidden from the viewers right till the end.
Pehchaan’s main plot revolved around a woman who had been a dutiful and loving wife and mother for 13 years. All of a sudden she finds out an ugly truth about her own identity and therefore she leaves everything and goes out looking for a new ‘Pehchaan’. Hiba Bukhari and Nadia Khan were the stars of the show right till the end. If this drama was not given such a slow treatment and had the producers kept it to the point, it would have been one of the best and most groundbreaking dramas this year. However, Pehchaan still was a watchable drama that many women out there will be able to relate to. The fact that it ended so well definitely makes it a must-watch. Even though it dragged a lot and you will definitely have to forward many minutes of every episode, it should not be missed.
Sinf-e-Aahan
Writer: Umera Ahmed Director: Nadeem Baig Producer: ISPR/Six Sigma Plus Production/Next Level Entertainment Channel: ARY Digital Cast: Sajal Aly, Ramsha Khan, Kubra Khan, Yumna Zaidi, Syra Yousuf, Dananeer Mobeen, Yehali Tashiya Kalidasa, Sheheryar Munawar, Usman Mukhtar, Ali Rehman, Asad Siddiqui, Asim Azhar, Saba Hameed, Usman Peerzada, Zahir Lehri, Junaid Jamshed Khan Niazi and others.
Sinf-e-Aahan was one of the much-awaited dramas of 2022 therefore it is sad that it did not make it to the best dramas list. Even with such massive star power, an iconic writer, director, and ace production houses to back it up, Sinf-e-Aahan did not live up to our expectations. We mainly tuned into this drama because it promised to be a story of women of steel. While all the main protagonists of the drama were indeed women of steel and they brought with them variety as well but the over-emphasis on military training, the exaggerated role of the military in empowering these women, and generally the way their stories were handled were not as impressive as we hoped. Even though Sinf-e-Aahan ended earlier than most dramas on this list, it was still repetitive and slow because the scope of the story was limited.
This drama was not ‘perfect’ by any means yet Sinf-e-Aahan offered a different storyline and had enough characters to keep us entertained for the most part. Just like all the other dramas on this list, the pace of the drama becomes secondary when you are watching it online and have the option of skipping scenes. Rimsha Khan, Yumna Zaidi, and Sajal Aly’s performances stood out in the play. Even though the plots were not appealing enough at times, overall, Sinf-e-Aahan was a watchable drama mainly because of its cast, execution, and few refreshing tracks. Even with all its weaknesses, Sinf-e-Aahan did have quite a few emotional and light-hearted moments which were indeed unforgettable.
Ye Na Thi Hamari Qismat
Writer: Seema Munaaf Director: Syed Ali Raza Usama Producer: Six Sigma Plus Productions & Next Level Entertainment Channel: ARY Digital Cast: Hira Mani, Muneeb Butt, Noor Hassan, Aiza Awan, Haroon Shahid Khalid Anam, Kinza Malik, Saba Faisal, Amna Malik, and others.
Ye Na Thi Hamari Qismat aired in the first half of 2022 & while it aired, it continued to make a lot of buzz. As much as the story was predictable with it revolving around the lives of two sisters married into one household, it had everything working for it to become an interesting watch. Those who tuned to Ye Na Thi Hamari Qismat for the sake of time pass enjoyed it thoroughly. The selling point of this soap opera was the drastic contrast between two sisters Muntaha and Alishba. It was a perfect balance that was struck between the two characters because when Muntaha’s niceness became a little hard to accept, Alishba’s selfishness provided a much-needed comic relief in the story which otherwise could have become a little boring.
Ye Na Thi Hamari Qismat definitely provided a decent amount of entertainment while it lasted however by the end of the drama, it became obvious that its popularity stopped the production house as well as the entire team to wrap it up in a decent amount of time. Noor Hassan’s character was also replaced by Haroon Shahid due to medical reasons & which also resulted in a lack of interest that the viewers otherwise had throughout the first half of the drama. Certain scenarios became a bit too repetitive, however, it still can not be denied that despite being a drama with a very typical plotline, it was still a good entertainer, therefore earning a spot in this list.
Were there other watchable dramas this year, which were not the best because they were stretched unnecessarily? Please feel free to add to the list.
Pakistani dramas manage to hold the interest of the viewers even though most of them are spoiled for choice nowadays. With the growth of the Pakistani television industry, there have been certain changes in the way the dramas are made and for how long they stay on the air. While the increase in the number of channels and production houses has given people more dramas to be entertained with, the downside is that there is more competition as well. There was a time when Indian dramas were notorious because they were usually on air for a long period of time and Pakistani dramas were loved by even the viewers from across the border because they ended before reaching the 20 episodes mark. All that changed when the producers in Pakistan realized that they can also earn more money by stretching and dragging the dramas, especially those which have a massive fan following.
Nowadays, even the best Pakistani dramas are dragged therefore if a drama ends without dragging; it comes as a pleasant surprise to the viewers. So, although, dragging the dramas is a norm, some drama makers managed to drag dramas without losing track altogether. There were many other dramas that started off as entertaining and engaging but they completely went off track and were ruined due to dragging. The plot clearly did not have enough going for it and most of these dramas were dragged by making use of the OST, using flashback scenes, and even introducing new tracks when the drama should have actually ended at that point. One of the biggest reasons why these entertaining Pakistani dramas were ruined due to dragging was that these dramas were getting the TRPs and people were hooked to them. Once they were dragged most of the viewers who loved these shows, started criticizing them and were no longer interested in watching them.
Here is a list of those watchable dramas of 2021 that were dragged unnecessarily:
The list is in Alphabetical order.
Azmaish
Writer: Samina Aijaz
Director: Fajar Raza
Producer: Big Bang Entertainment
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Kinza Hashmi, Yashma Gill, Fahad Sheikh, Laila Wasti, Shahood Alvi, Rashid Farooqi, Rehan Nazim and others.
No one would’ve thought that this drama would end up living up to its name. Yes, that is true, drama serial Azmaish stayed true to its title and ended up becoming an Azmaish for the viewers who tuned to it. It was quite obvious that when the drama picked up the success and became popular, the producers decided to not only air the double episodes but turn it into a soap opera with it airing almost the entire week. That is when the story stopped making any sense and the episodes of episodes ended up being filled with scenes and situations of supporting characters.
When the drama began, it did seem promising where it showed the story of a girl struggling in such a household where she was unwanted and deprived of her basic rights. The character of Shiza also caught a lot of attention which was played convincingly by Yashma Gill, however, it remained an unfulfilled wish of the audience to see the issues of Shiza being attended to and resolved. It was frustrating to see her loving father being so blind to all the negativity and toxicity that he never really understood how he should treat his daughter and help her find the light that was missing from her life. Shiza continued to bring one misery after another and just when she got exposed, her father conveniently turned a blind eye, instead of helping her come to terms with her problems. Amish definitely got a lot of fame and success but the purpose of the story got lost the moment they decided to stretch it by adding unnecessary scenes of Nimra’s biological father played by Rashid Farooqi and Basit’s brother and his wife.
Dunk
Writer: Mohsin Ali
Director: Badar Mehmood
Producer: Big Bang Entertainment
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Nauman Ejaz, Bilal Abbas Khan, Sana Javed, Azekah Daniel, Fahad Sheikh, Shahood Alvi, Laila Wasti, Saife Hassan, Salma Hassan, Yasra Rizvi, and others.
Drama serial Dunk had everything to become one of the memorable dramas of this year. Even before it began, Dunk got surrounded with a lot of controversies because the audience was not too happy with the fact that the producer of the show Fahad Mustafa wanted to highlight the abuse faced by men in society. He stated that he wanted these stories to be heard too which sparked a lot of debate about it. Nonetheless, it brought a lot of attention to Dunk, and considering the ensemble cast that was a part of this project, viewers actually decided to give this drama a fair chance, only to be disappointed as it progressed.
Drama serial Dunk did start on a high note with the story being different and top-notch performances, however, it did not meet the expectations because the story stopped making any progress and was pretty much in the loop the whole time. Dunk was stagnant and right after the death of Professor Humayun, it was just the same pattern that was being followed with Amal torturing Haider and Haider facing the brunt of it silently. The only saving grace of Dunk was Bilal Abbas Khan and Sana Javed’s acting. The fact that the audience also got to see a fresh pair of Bilal Abbas Khan and Azekah Daniel was also a plus point. This drama was met with the same treatment as Cheekh, where the story was completely one-sided and suddenly everything wrapped up last minute. The ending where Haider decided to take things in his hand in order to punish Amal was also uncalled for. The makers of the drama serial Dunk did come up with a good storyline but it got lost because of execution. There was a phase in the drama where in every single episode, there used to be just one meaningful dialogue with the rest of it covered with flashbacks, passing shots of the characters as well as over usage of OST. Dunk was a perfect example of good drama tackled poorly and dragged unnecessarily!
Fitoor
Writer: Zanjabeel Asim Shah
Director: Siraj ul Haque
Producer: 7th Sky Entertainment
Channel: Geo Entertainment
Cast: Faysal Qureshi, Hiba Bukhari, Wahaj Ali, Kiran Haq, Ismat Zaidi, Mizna Waqas, Kamran Jeelani and others.
Drama serial Fitoor had all the potential to become one of the best dramas of this year if they had made a few changes. Unfortunately, they went the typical Geo-TV-route therefore they ruined the drama with their own hands. Fitoor promised a memorable fresh on-screen couple but things turned sour amongst them, therefore they ended up being remembered for all the wrong reasons. The first thing that actually ruined the drama-watching experience was the slow pace and slowest storytelling. There were practically so many episodes where apart from a scene or two, they had nothing to show and relied heavily on the flashbacks.
When the drama began, it was definitely interesting to see a girl like Dilnasheen trying her best to make the most of what her life had to offer but it turned out to be a typical ‘sazishi’ drama with her oh-so-perfect husband ending up buying everything that was sold to him against his wife in the name of ‘ghairat’ and ‘izzat’. As much as the writer tried to show Dilnasheen being wrong, it was hard to see Haider as the victim too. The most unfair part of the story was seeing Dilnasheen literally losing everything whereas Naimal, the one who transpired against her ended up going back to her husband who now had nothing but love to offer to his wife. Haider was presented as a victim who deserved nothing but love and respect from his wife but he came across as a weak man who could not take a stand for his wife and his judgment was still clouded by his past and the feelings he used to have for his cousin. The execution of Fitoor was frustrating to say the least with characters just not saying what they needed to. Another most bizarre aspect of this story was Dilnasheen’s family and their blatant hatred towards her as if she was not their own flesh and blood. Hiba Bukhari and Faysal Qureshi played their respective parts well but sadly, the overall product was so messed up that it just ruined what otherwise would’ve been one of the best projects of their careers!
Mohlat
Writer: Samira Fazal
Director: Saima Waseem
Producer: 7th Sky Entertainment
Channel: Geo
Cast: Bushra Ansari, Asma Abbas, Sami Khan, Kinza Hashmi, Komal Aziz Khan, Tanveer Jamal, Sabeena Farooq, Javeria Abbasi, Aadi, Usama Khan, Daniyal Afzal, Saife Hassan, Nida Mumtaz, Sharif Baloch, Nazia, and others.
Drama serial Mohlat had a typical storyline but it had enough going for it to be watchable. It was fast-paced and even engaging in the beginning. The characterizations were solid enough to keep the viewers engaged despite the typicality that is usually used by writers to entice the viewers. There was a certain element of unpredictability as well which made Mohlat one of the better dramas that aired on Geo this year. The performances and the execution added to the overall entertainment value of the drama as well. Samira Fazal definitely knows the art of enticing the viewers but unfortunately, 7th Sky Entertainment excels at dragging every single drama to a point that there is more of the OST in the drama at a given time than the story itself! Just like most of the other dramas on this list, this one too lost its appeal completely after it crossed the 20 episodes mark because the story got repetitive and the ending was as typical as it could possibly be!
Mohlat is the kind of drama that can easily be enjoyed if the viewers choose to watch it online and are ready for it to be stretched to a point that you won’t even find yourself looking forward to the ending!
Pehli Si Mohabbat
Writer: Faiza Iftikhar
Director: Anjum Shehzad
Producer: IDream Entertainment
Channel: ARY Digital
Cast: Sheheryar Munawar, Maya Ali, Uzma Hassan, Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, Rabia Butt, Shabbir Jan, Saba Faisal, Paras Masroor, Nausheen Shah, and others.
Pehli Si Mohabbat was perhaps the only drama this year, produced by IDream Entertainment that provided quality and meaningful entertainment for many weeks. Through this drama, the writer Faiza Iftikhar skillfully added social messages to an entertaining drama. Pehli Si Mohabbat’s promos suggested it was going to be an intense love story but it turned out to be much more than just that. This was the first time that Sheheryar Munawar and Maya Ali were going to be seen together in a television drama. Both of them had also taken a long break from television therefore Pehli Si Mohabbat was also their comeback drama serial. The leading actors and the larger-than-life promos played a vital role in enticing the viewers but after a few weeks, it was the well-written and meaningful script that became the main attraction for the viewers. Pehli Si Mohabbat had some of the best-supporting characters we have seen in dramas lately and it was a social drama that highlighted the importance of consent in a manner that was anything but preachy. It questioned the widely accepted concept of arranged marriages. The effective and well-integrated screenplay kept the viewers entertained and looking forward to more. Some of the scenes of this drama were so intense that they truly leave a lasting impression. Even though the supporting characters were most often shown breaking the stereotypes, Aslam and Rakhshi’s story remained the center of the story for some reason or the other throughout.
However, even with so much going for it, Pehli Si Mohabbat was one of the most watchable dramas this year that was dragged beyond imagination! Even the most loyal viewers who were invested in the story ended up giving up on the play and were only waiting for the drama to end so that they could binge-watch it online. It was definitely the kind of drama that could have easily been the best drama of 2021 if it was not stretched in the middle and especially towards the ending.
Wafa Be Mol
Writer: Nuzhat Suman
Director: Meer Sikandar
Producer: Momina Duraid Productions
Channel: HUM
Cast: Ali Abbas, Komal Meer, Sukynah Khan, Arez Ahmed, Zain Afzal, Abul Hassan, Hina Javed, Nimra Shahid, Fazila Qazi, Kaiser Khan Nizamani, Behroz Sabzwari, Saife Hassan, Zainab Qayoom (ZQ), Shehzeen Rahat and Others.
Wafa Be Mol is currently on air and this drama can be safely termed as “Nand” of 2021! Although the story is run-of-the-mill, a stellar cast, fast-paced 20 plus episodes, and twists and turns that are perfect for a commercial hit have made the drama popular as well as interesting. The drama kept the viewers involved for many weeks. Also, the fact that this drama aired 5 days a week definitely made a huge difference. Behroze Sabzwari’s character and performance have been the center of attention and appreciation for playing a character unlike any other so far. Shaheer’s character in the drama is a nice break and offers variety. He is the perfect personification of a good male lead and makes up for the toxicity of the other male lead Azar. This character is definitely one of the best ones played by Arez Ahmed. Even Zainab Qayoom is amusing in a negative role. Hina Javed’s character is another refreshing addition to the drama.
Even though Wafa Be Mol still continues to be somewhat engaging, it is being stretched so much that if it does not end any time soon, it will be another case of a watchable drama going completely off track. Also, Hania’s undying love for her good-for-nothing husband is annoying, to say the least! The way Komal Meer has translated this character on screen makes it bearable but it is definitely not the most impressive character in the drama. We really hope that Wafa Be Mol is wrapped up in a few episodes.
Do you have any other names to add to this list? Share your views.
Earlier, we reported that 25 international wrestlers including former stars from World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) are headed to Pakistan in May.
The wrestlers will take part in a wrestling event that will consist of three shows in three major cities of Pakistan.
A pre-launch ceremony of the wrestling event took place in Movenpick Karachi where likes of Tiny Iron (USA), Yacine Osmani (Algeria), Flesh Gordon (France) and Badshah Khan (USA/Pakistan) were present.
The popular pret-wear brand Sapphire offered a flat 50 per cent off sale in its outlets all across Pakistan. The brand has been announcing such sales from time and again, which have definitely been causing frenzy for ladies around the country. Previously, in 2015, we witness a huge cat fight between two ladies over a piece of dress. So, we expected no less this year.
The midsummer sale hit early morning today. But prior to previous years, there was discipline and no useless fights. However, the queues that could be noticed outside the outlets were unfathomable. Here are some videos from malls around the Pakistan, showcasing what was happening at the sale today!
And, another one with the never lasting line of eager ladies waiting for their turn to grab clothes:
A post shared by DIVA Magazine Pakistan (@divamagazinepakistan) on
Sapphire sale had caused an utter chaos throughout Pakistan. Not only did women waited for hours to buy, but they actually bought clusters of clothes. Women could be seen grabbing dozen pieces together at once. What a day to shop!
Two Pakistani girls, Zoya Khan and sister Zara Khan beat up a man, after he harassed one of them on Tariq Road, Karachi.
Sexual harassment or molestation is very common in Pakistan at public places, be it roads or events. But what these girls did is a lesson for everyone out there. Instead of staying quiet, these girls taught him a lesson and shared it with the world.
A video of Zoya and Zara, sharing the whole situation has gone viral on social media. In the video, elder sister Zoya said, “I started screaming once he groped me but was unable to do anything as i was carrying a number of shopping bags in my hand but my sister, threw everything and ran after the man.”
“When i followed my sister to where the man was, i was shocked and surprised. There was a crowd of more than 30 people surrounding the molester and all of them were beating him along with my sister.”
These girls took a step against women violence and harassment. They are surely an inspiration and motivation to all those innocents who are victims. Vigilante justice is somehow the only way left in our society, owing to lack of woman safety.
The gorgeous, Syra Shahroze kicked off her career with MTV, went on to be a model and actress, and made her movie debut with Chalay Thay Saath. Recently, she celebrated her birthday along with husband and family, and we must say the lady looks absolutely stunning in that outfit.
Sahir Lodhi’s Raasta released on March 31st and opened to negative reviews. The film, made on a budget of Rs 85 million, only managed to collect a sum of Rs 2 million on the first day of its release.
Many popular bloggers reviewed Raasta and mostly gave negative reviews. However, Sahir Lodhi feels that the bloggers labeled the whole nation. At a press conference, Sahir spoke about the matter and stressed upon the comments which stated: ‘Sahir is a cheap actor and has cheap fans.’ The comments apparently didn’t go well with Sahir, and he decided to hit back at the bloggers.
He questioned the individuals and asked who gave them the right to differentiate between the audiences. He said, “I am standing with the people of Pakistan.” He further asked, “How can you call them cheap.”
Here’s what he has to say.
Earlier this month, Sahir also appeared live with comedian Junaid Akram, who feels that the reviews he read were more like a personal hate frustration. He also shared that he’s uncertain to why Sahir always receives hate from the audiences. Apparently, the bloggers who reviewed Raasta also stated: “If you watch Raasta, you’ll be judged.”
We all had seen the first look of Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Urdu poet “Saadat Hasan Manto” for Indian biopic of Nandita Das’s directorial debut “Manto”. Nandita has now released a short film and is giving a sneak peek of the film to the world.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui is no doubt an amazing actors and he nails every role that comes his way, but we didn’t knew that he’d be so good as Manto. He seems to have totally mastered the language’s dialect and fluidity of his speech is incredible. We’re sure you’ll be left in awe of Nawaz’s effortless acting. Moreover, he is rocking Manto’s unruly hair and geeky spectacles too.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui has surely raised our expectations with this amazing short video.
With his good looks and inimitable charm, Fawad Khan has a massive female following in India. He might not work in India again, but B-town celebrities can’t stop gushing over our heartthrob. And Karan Johar is all praises for Fawad Khan.
During his media discussion session at London School of Economics, when asked if he would work with Pakistani artists again, here’s what he said:
“I think some of the most exceptional talent comes from Pakistan. And I had the honour and pleasure to actually direct Fawad Khan. I have seen his exceptional work, and it was immensely brave of him to did what he did in Kapoor and Sons. I think after 6 actors had said no to that role, it was tremendously courageous of him to say yes. I wish that our cinema and cinema, in general, could be exposed to such enormous talent like Fawad Khan.”
Karan Johar answering a question on #FawadKhan.Didn't like the way he started,liked the way he ended,loved the applause(for Fawad)he receivd pic.twitter.com/vPeu9aJmdK
Fawad Khan has worked with Karan Johar in two of his production ventures. Fawad did both Kapoor And Sons and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, back to back. He was also slated to do another film, titled Raat Baaki with Katrina Kaif. However, it might never happen due to the ongoing ban on Pakistani artists.
PSL 2017 has surely created an uproar not just in Pakistan but across the borders too. Earlier there was a news of Sonam Kapoor trying to attend Psl and now team Peshawar Zalmi has a big Bollywood fan. Bollywood diva Nargis Fakhri had sent her best wishes to Javed Afridi owner of Peshawar Zalmi.
The charming and super talented Nargis Fakhri extended her support to the team and here’s what she said:
“I just want to wish my favorite team Peshawar Zalmi all the best, and special wishes to my friend Javed Afridi from Peshawar Zalmi. Team Peshawar Zalmi lets rock!”
Zalmi has been the most loved team of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) mostly because of Shahid Afridi and it’s Nargis’ favorite team too. She had sent this message to wish the them the best for their play off.
Veena Malik is a popular Pakistani TV & film actor, mimicry artist & host. She has garnered fame and success through multiple hit Lollywood films and TV shows. She started career through modelling and also appeared in the famous Pakistani dramas including Misfit. Veena Malik also worked in Bollywood and did a few projects there as well. She was also a popular candidate in one of the Big Boss seasons. Veena Malik is a mother to two kids now and she is a single mother after her divorce. She is currently hosting a travelogue series in Northern areas of Pakistan for Discover Pakistan.
Lately, a video of Veena Malik is going viral on YouTube and Facebook channels of Discover Pakistan. In the video, Veena Malik was climbing the snowclad mountains when she suddenly slipped on a very dangerous track. She was climbing along with the two experienced guides. Here is the link to the video:
Well, Veena Malik’s recent video is also getting severe backlash like her previous video. In the previous video, she stumbled on the dangerous bridge. Now, she slipped from snowy mountain. Fans are urging Veena to wear proper shoes and some even stopped her from adventures like these. Social media users trolled Veena Malik for her over the top acting. They were of the view that she’s the biggest drama queen but doing overacting this time. A Facebook User wrote, “please cut her money for doing such over publicity stunts”. Likewise, many believed that she deliberately slipped for the views. Social media users said that everyone knows she’s a drama queen and once again this video has been created on a purpose to fetch views. Many social media users wrote hilarious comments. Read the comments:
Entertainment industry is defined by glamour, style and appearances. However, there are some actors who are still best known for their performing and acting skills. Hum Tv has gathered the best of them for its upcoming drama, “dar si jati hai sila”, like Nouman Ijaz, Yumna Zaidi, Sakina Summo and Noor ul Hassan.
Yesterday the teasers were released which has us geared up for watching Yumna Zaidi in another intense unglamorous character with a lot of dimensions to it. The first teaser introduces us to Sila, the lead role played by Yumna who is disturbed, upset and scared of a lot of things in life, for reasons unknown to those around her, and second one sheds a light on the fact that she may have been abused in some form in life which gave rise to her insecurities.
Shoaib Mansoor’s latest movie “Verna” by Hum Tv Films is all set to release on the 17th of November. This Mahira Khan starrer has raised anticipation long before its release.
Verna’s teaser has just been released and it shows a very dark scene. Mahira seems to be in a revengeful state and is madly killing a man in a bathtub while blood mixed with water flies out. She seems to be wronged and that might have made her this violent. Watch the teaser and let us know what you make of it ;
The Punjabi pop is defined, designed and celebrated by the undisputed king of bhangra in Pakistan, Abrar Ul Haq. He has given us loads of precious carefree moments of fun and joy as the music players blasted “Kinnay Kinnay Jana Hai Billo Day Ghar” and “Asaan Jana Maal O Maal” in various festivities.
Now he has everyone waiting for the his new song “Facebook Utte”, coming out on 12th of October. Meanwhile, enjoy its freshly released teaser;
Abida Parveen’s name is synonymous with every beautiful and mystical adjective you can associate with a a woman’s voice. She has mesmerized generations with ethereal vocals lent to sufi numbers and ghazals.
Ather Bilal Producations have now used her voice for a lovely new video song ahat si which features Saima Ajram, the famous BBC Asian Network London presenter in a traditional attire, waiting for her husband, all dressed up in white. Her actions expressed in Abida Parveen’s voice keeps you enchanted inside the beautiful haveli where it is shot.
Sanam Jung discusses a lot about her home life , especially since her little girl Alaya Jaffri is born. She keeps on talking to her audience about her experience as a mother.
Last week, on her show Sanam explicitly told about her anger and discomfort when someone gets closer to Alaya or picks her up or kisses her without Sanam’s permission. She does not like other people’s germs and lipstick on Alaya if they hold or kiss her. She went on to share her experience when a sales girl wanted to hug Alaya and Sanam refused her request, to which she thought that Sanam was being arrogant on having a child.
Sahir Lodhi, the self acclaimed Shahrukh Khan of our industry makes sure he remains in the news for one reason or the other. He is unprecedented in doing the oddest of antics on every public platform that he gets the chance to grace.
Last week on The Sahir Lodhi Show, he had invited the cast of Chain Aye Na and it was kind of a promotional show with clips from the movie and its songs.
To end it all, there was a dancing segment at the conclusion of the show. The guests of the show especially Behroz Sabzwari were dancing enthusiastically, when Sahir suddenly realised that it is his very own one man show and he just cannot let anyone.. anyone at all steal the stage. So hyper he goes, dancing wildly in the centre of all the people. His steps would put Nargis to shame. So much so that the other guests were kind of intimidated by this over the top performance and their moves become slower and slower as they gaped at Sahir of The Sahir Lodhi Show dancing on Afghan Jalebi song.
In case you have not had anything hilarious happening this Saturday, we present to you Sahir Lodhi ;
Mehwish Hayat is a live wire. Be it dramas, movies, award shows, item numbers, coke studio, Mehwish has tried her hand at all of them. Yet the diva never slows down. She has came a long way in her appearance as well as her acting career.
It is not easy to beat Mehwish Hayat when it comes to being competitive in showbiz. Watch how she will stun you with her energy for a dance rehearsal and her interview about it;
Imran Ashraf is indeed one of the best performers of our industry. Imran Ashraf has been a part of multiple dramas and has struggled a lot to get a significant place in the industry. Imran Ashraf started his career as a supporting actor. Alif Allah Or Insaan was the drama that gave him a kick and Ranjha Ranjha Kardi in which he played the iconic character of Bhola took him to the heights of fame. He is now considered to be such an actor whose mere presence in the drama is enough to make drama a super hit.
Imran Ashraf’s drama serial Raqs-e-Bismil has just ended and remained the top trend of the country. Imran Ashraf isn’t just an iconic actor but we just got to know that he also has a tuneful voice. He just sang a few of our favorite Bollywood and Lollywood songs in the latest episode of Voice Over Man putting us all in awe.
Ali Zafar is one of those celebrities who came to spotlight with only one talent but evolved many more in all the the years they have been in showbiz. From being ranked among the most handsome men in Asia, to speaking on all kinds of philanthropic and social issues, he has always expressed his concern and wishes for this world to be a better, kinder and easier place in which all types of people can co exist.
Two days back, he has written, recited and shared a short video on his social media kuch toh ghalat ho raha hai, where he is talking about all the painful issues in Pakistan and across the globe.
Ali Sethi and Ali Hamza have very recently impressed us with the lovely Tinak Dhin. The two have powerful vocals and an amazing coordination. What else do you need for a long lasting song by two singers? Absolutely nothing and that is why they are fast becoming the music sensation of today.
In a recent musical video shot informally, they show us that their talent is not dependent on elaborate musical instruments and sound effects and studio setting. They can infact create magic with a just friends, drum, guitar and their voices while lounging around casually. In a candid session with Patari, they have shown their wonderful Punjabi colours by recreating the famous wedding tappay.
Urdu1 has lately released the official poster of the movie ” Ek thi Marium” a tribute on the life of a short lived hero- MariumMukhtiar. The movie will be shown on 6th of september on Urdu 1 at 8 pm.
Ex-cricketers and legends Wasim Akram and Waqar Younus took to twitter to wish Pakistan women’s cricket team success in the upcoming cricket world cup. Pakistan’s current captain and architect of recent champion’s trophy win also uploaded a video with some words of advice and motivation for them.
Waseem Badami is a Pakistani television host and news anchor who currently hosts a political talk show 11th Hour on Ary News. He started his career by giving traffic updates on radio. Later his sheer hard work gave him reward and out of thousands of people he got selected for Ary News in 2006 and there he started his career as a journalist and an anchor person. He also hosts Shan-e-ramzan on Ary Digital.
He is famous for his “Masoomana Sawal” which has become his identity. He also hosts a game show “Har Lamha Purjosh” And excelling in that too. No wonder he is jack of all trades and master of all too. In 2017, Badami partnered up with Hemani Herbals and launched organic products and skin care brand named “WB” after his initials. The product was launched in Dubai followed by Karachi.
Recently Wasim Badami shared some recent pictures with his son Adil Abbas on his instagram account.
This father son duo is seen having some quality time together.
Wasim Akram and Shaneira Thompson have been giving the public relationship goals for a long time. There is this aura of understanding among them that you can feel whenever they are seen together.
This time of the year is when the couple celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary. Shaneira has wished her husband in the most beautiful of ways;
All the best to the power couple for always staying this much in love with eachother.
Wasim Akram is one of the biggest legends of Pakistani and World cricket. His bowling is legendary and he is loved for how he always remained consistent and made records in his decades long career.
Wasim Akram is performing Hajj this year and his video from a component called Rami Jamarat. He was swinging stones at the Jamarat (Shaitan) and his video is now going viral.
The internet is not too impressed with this action. One user wrote, “This is Hajj and not a fun activity.” Another added, “These people film everything and put it on the internet.” One said, “They consider everything to be a televised event.” Here is the reaction:
Badnaseeb had an interesting and meaningful storyline but like all the other soap serials, it was on air for too long. Also, once the children grew up and the story entered the next phase, the drama did not have the same appeal. The younger actors were definitely better performers than the relatively older actors who played their older versions. However, overall, Badnaseeb did leave an impression and was entertaining for many weeks.
Marina Khan’s direction definitely made all the difference because even though Saboor Aly’s make-up is over the top in most of the scenes, the direction overall is on point. Even though the script fails to deliver more than once, the treatment given to the script saves the day. Typical but entertaining nevertheless, Mushkil was definitely one of those watchable dramas that would have been far better had it not been dragged excessively.
Pehchaan’s main plot revolved around a woman who had been a dutiful and loving wife and mother for 13 years. All of a sudden she finds out an ugly truth about her own identity and therefore she leaves everything and goes out looking for a new ‘Pehchaan’. Hiba Bukhari and Nadia Khan were the stars of the show right till the end. If this drama was not given such a slow treatment and had the producers kept it to the point, it would have been one of the best and most groundbreaking dramas this year. However, Pehchaan still was a watchable drama that many women out there will be able to relate to. The fact that it ended so well definitely makes it a must-watch. Even though it dragged a lot and you will definitely have to forward many minutes of every episode, it should not be missed.
This drama was not ‘perfect’ by any means yet Sinf-e-Aahan offered a different storyline and had enough characters to keep us entertained for the most part. Just like all the other dramas on this list, the pace of the drama becomes secondary when you are watching it online and have the option of skipping scenes. Rimsha Khan, Yumna Zaidi, and Sajal Aly’s performances stood out in the play. Even though the plots were not appealing enough at times, overall, Sinf-e-Aahan was a watchable drama mainly because of its cast, execution, and few refreshing tracks. Even with all its weaknesses, Sinf-e-Aahan did have quite a few emotional and light-hearted moments which were indeed unforgettable.
