There is no doubt that the Pakistan telefilm industry has peaked in the past decade. Some of these masterpieces are still remembered for their unique storylines and top-notch acting. So if you are a drama-buff, here are the 10 best telefilms of Pakistan that you must watch, or probably have.
Humsafar- 2011
Humsafar- I am pretty sure you have heard about this one. It is arguably the best and most loved drama of the industry. Released in 2011, the drama starred Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan (yes the OG duo started from this one). This television series was based on the novel “Humsafar” by Farhat Ishtiaq. The main characters were Khirad (played by Mahira Khan) and Ashar (played by Fawad Khan).
Despite the drama having the typical poor girl and rich guy storyline, the actors somehow managed to outperform it so well that the audience was hooked. This, in addition to the chronological pattern, allowed the melodrama to prevail consistently and kept the audience invested. It was perhaps too emotional and realistic for us Pakistanis to ignore.
Khuda Aur Mohabbat – 2011
Now onto the next blockbuster, Khuda Aur Mohabbat. This exceptional drama touched the spiritual beliefs of the whole nation. It aired in 2011 and was written by Hashim Nadeem. The drama got so popular that two more sequels were released after the first one. The first season included Imran Abbas Naqvi (who played Hammad) and Sadia Khan (who played Iman) as main leads.
In the first season, the storyline revolved around a young rich guy who happened to fall for a devout girl from a conservative background. In most cases, this would have been an absurd scenario due to how different the two characters were. However, here the writer used this exact absurd situation to show the spiritual transformation of Hammad. The journey of eternal love and faith was very beautifully portrayed and that became the main reason for the success of this drama.
Meray Paas Tum Ho – 2019
Merey Paas Tum Ho- the drama that took the whole nation with a storm. If you have seen its craze while it was airing, you know what I am talking about. This 2019 Pakistani romantic melodrama was written by the very well-known Khalil-ur-rehman and starred top actors like Humayun Saeed, Ayeza Khan and Adnan Siddiqui. In the telefilm, Humayun Saeed played the character of Danish and Ayeza Khan played Mehwish. Danish was a simple middle class man who seemed to have all the qualities of an ideal husband. On the other hand, his wife Mehwish romanticised a luxurious life that Danish was unable to afford.
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Soon, this lack of fulfilling material needs resulted in Mehwish being drawn in an extra marital affair with a rich millionaire named Shehwar. People seemed to sympathise a lot with Danish, and hoped for the downfall of Mehwish and Shehwar. In addition to this, the performance of the whole cast touched the hearts of many and the realistic aspect makes you understand why it was such a massive hit.
Kabhi Mein Kabhi Tum – 2024
I’ve seen the success of this drama and I can easily say that this one will go down in history. Kabhi Mein Kabhi Tum is a romantic drama series, released in 2024, featuring Fahad Mustafa, Hania Amir, Emmad Irfani and Naeema Butt. This series marked the return of Fahad Mustafa on television after 10 years, perhaps why it was such a massive hit.
In the series, Fahad Mustafa played the character of Mustafa, Hania Amir played Sharjeena, Emmad Irfani played Adeel and Naeema Butt played Rubab. The storyline had the opposites attract dynamic to it, where the topper girl Sharjeena happens to marry a laid-back guy Mustafa due to certain circumstances. This marriage, which was first forced, later resulted in a slow burn romance. Eventually, people started rooting for this financially challenged yet very loyal couple. Moreover, the ending was very satisfactory and Adeel eventually gets his karma. Such relations made over material basis don’t last long and that is a lesson for all of us to take.
Parizaad – 2021
This 2022 released drama that was written by Hashim Nadeem was a new experience for the Pakistani audience. People were sick and tired of the same cliché storylines and then came Parizaad. This telefilm was not your typical Pakistani drama and showcased the journey of a kind-hearted and self-conscious young man who faces society’s harsh judgements due to his not so “good looking” and “dark toned” appearance.
What really stood out though was that despite the struggles with self-esteem, Parizaad’s sincerity and resilience were firm since the start. His transformative journey made the audience feel like they were with him throughout.
Zindagi Gulzar Hai – 2012
Another one of Fawad Khan’s masterpieces is Zindagi Gulzar Hai. This was an onscreen version of Umera Ahmed’s novel and starred Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed as the leads. Here you could witness the enemies to lovers trope between two characters named Kashaf and Zaroon who were completely opposite. Even though at first the characters seemed to not get along well but soon they started seeing the good and each other and couldn’t help but fall in love.
This drama depicted racial and class discrimination in our society and outlined how people with different economic backgrounds can also live together if they have enough understanding.
Pyarey Afzal – 2013
This is a 2013 Pakistani romantic melodrama television serial that was written by Khalil-ur-rehman (yes he is here again). It starred Hamza Ali Abbassi and Ayeza Khan in the lead roles. This popular drama serial was an emotional roller-coaster ride. It was extremely expressive in exposing the deep reality of human relationships. And I think it’s safe to say that this drama is sure to become a classic that will be remembered for years. A story that was so heartwarming that it had the entire nation praying for its happy ending.
Alif – 2019
Alif is my personal favourite. This 2019 drama series cast Sajal Aly, Hamza Ali Abbassi and Kubra Khan as main leads. Pakistani industry probably hasn’t seen a spiritual masterpiece like this in years. The story revolves around the contrasting life of two characters named Momin and Momina, who happened to cross paths with each other due to similar careers. However, both immediately developed a strong dislike for one another. However, it was this dislike that gave them a chance to try and understand each other.
The spiritual journey of Momin reflected the journey every Muslim goes through at one point in their life and how beautiful of an experience it is. From Sufism and theatrical touch; you name it and the drama serves you that.
Shehr-e-Zaat – 2012
Shehr-e-Zaat is a 2012 Pakistani spiritual romantic drama serial based on the novel of Umera Ahmad. The drama series starred the very well known Mahira Khan. It features the journey of a young woman as she strives to make up for all the time she has lost in worldly pursuits and finally give in to Allah’s will. Shehr-e-Zaat showcased the reality of the temporary world and urged the watchers to work on their spiritual aspects before it’s too late.
Bin Roye – 2015
This is a 2015 Pakistani drama that starred Humayun Saeed and Mahira Khan. It is based on the original novel of Farhat Ishtiaq and centres the life of Saba Shafiq who had a secret crush on her cousin Irtaza. However, the feelings weren’t mutual and Irtiza later on married Saba’s elder sister. This resulted in Saba hating her own sister and despising her so much that she wished death upon her. This later becomes the truth and the sister dies in a car accident. The drama then portrayed what the outcome of jealousy and envy is, and how remorseful the situation can get.
The Pakistani entertainment industry has given us some treasured gems. The above are some of the best telefilms of Pakistan that you need to watch right now if you haven’t.
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