In the midst of the pandemic, one of the things that have kept people going is the company of their screen family. There is a clear spike in the content that is being produced and watched on our television screens. Dramas have dominated late mornings, early afternoons and evenings of pretty much every household in Pakistan. Be it weekdays or weekends, every family is glued to their screens and engulfed in a new storyline.
There is always room for debate on who wants to watch what and who, but the five Pakistani actors listed below are extremely loved and popular amongst the masses, and fans definitely want to see them in dramas again.
1. Fawad Khan
The actor, producer, screenwriter, model and singer gained popularity through his roles as Ashar in ‘Humsafar’ and Zaroon in ‘Zindagi Gulzar Hai’, which placed him as one of the top leading male actors in Pakistan.
Over the course of his career, Fawad Khan has enjoyed huge success, starring in big blockbuster films across the border such as ‘Khoobsurat’, ‘Kapoor & Sons’ and ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’. Fawad Khan has received several awards. We have seen him in dramas such as ‘Humsafar’ and ‘Zindagi Gulzar Hai’, to name a few.
The audiences have been waiting for too long to see Fawad Khan back on their television screens since his last drama ‘Numm’ was released in 2013. He’s a superstar whose stardom doesn’t change, no matter how less of his presence is seen.
Though the wait might be almost over as there are speculations that Fawad Khan will be making his grand comeback through the drama serial ‘Joh Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo’, which was announced last year. However, there is no official confirmation yet. If it turns out to be true then this will be one of the most anticipated dramas.
2. Ali Zafar
A singer, songwriter, model, actor, producer and screenwriter, Ali Zafar started his career from the comic sitcom ‘Kollege Jeans’. This cult sitcom was followed by ‘Kanch Kai Par’ and ‘Landa Bazaar’, which showcased the more serious side of Ali Zafar’s craft. His performance in ‘Landa Bazaar’ is an example of how he held his own with some of the most versatile senior actors, and the audience loved his character as Ramis.
Ali Zafar has proven himself time and again, especially with the numerous hit movies at the box office across the border. Recently, he secured his place again as a versatile actor through his blockbuster movie ‘Teefa in Trouble’, where we saw him playing a romantic hero with top-notch action sequences.
Pakistani audience is keenly anticipating Ali’s comeback on TV through a drama serial. He has given his voice to numerous OSTs for many shows. Though his projects on the television screen are numbered, the audience would definitely want to see him in a drama.
3. Fahad Mustafa
A film and television actor, in addition to being a producer, Fahad Mustafa is best known as a TV host and anchor in the ‘Jeeto Pakistan’ game show. He has already established himself as one of the most popular leading actors in the Pakistani entertainment industry.
He has a list of drama serials under his belt that established him as a performance-based actor in titles such as ‘Tum Jo Mile’, ‘Kankar’, and ‘Daagh’ to name a few.
The actor was first noticed in ‘Sheeshay Ka Mahal’. He also got instant success after portraying a challenging role in ‘Main Abdul Qadir Houn’. Fahad Mustafa hasn’t been seen in dramas for six years as he seems to be more inclined towards production and hosting, but his fans are desperately waiting to watch him perform in a drama again.
4. Mehwish Hayat
The Pakistani film and television actress is known for her roles in films like ‘Actor in Law’, ‘Punjab Nahin Jaungi’, ‘Load Wedding’ and ‘Chhalawa’; all ranked among the highest-grossing Pakistani films. Over the course of the last few years, we have seen her in TV serials such as ‘Dillagi’, ‘Kami Reh Gayee’ and many more.
Mehwish Hayat was honoured by the Government of Pakistan with the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in the year 2019. There was a debate around if she deserved to get the most honorary award in the country, however, her loyal fan base believes that she has proven her mettle time and again.
Mehwish Hayat is still at the peak of her career and has shown her prowess as an actress through her performance in the famed drama, ‘Meray Qatil Meray Dilbar’, which marked a significant turning point in her career. A lesser-known fact is that Mehwish Hayat made her debut appearance at the age of 17. She is undoubtedly one of the most iconic actresses right now.
There were rumours that she would be a part of ‘Main Manto Nahin Houn’, however, that was denied by the production team, disappointing several of her fans, who are hoping to see her soon in dramas.
5. Sanam Saeed
A Pakistani actress, singer and former model who predominantly works in movies and television, Sanam Saeed is a face that people love to see because she has been very canny with her choices of projects.
Her performances in ‘Daam’ and ‘Zindagi Gulzar Hai’ have stayed with the audience. ‘Deedan’, ‘Diyar-e-Dil’, ‘Ek Kasak Reh Gayi’ are also worthwhile mentions. Sanam Saeed’s strength lies in the conviction with which she portrays her characters.
We have seen her execute supporting roles very comfortably and with the same conviction as any leading role. Though it’s been a few years since she has been part of a drama. Let’s hope that she features in one soon.
A good actor makes you forget that you’re watching a performance and a star makes you want more. They have the ability to inhabit a role so convincingly that you are lost in the story and make the character iconic. The five actors mentioned above have proven to be people’s favourites and the viewers cannot wait to host them in their lounges and watch them on TV screens again.
