Still not over Mustafa and Sharjeena’s love story in ‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum’? Read on…
If your Instagram feed has been littered with memes and increasingly gushing posts about Sharjeena and Mustafa’s love story, then you’re in the right place. The main characters from the Pakistani drama Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, played by Fahad Mustafa and Hania Amir, have captured the imaginations of millions worldwide.
The show marked Mustafa’s return to dramas after almost a decade. The popular drama focuses on the love story of Sharjeena and Mustafa, two people who couldn’t be more opposite of each other. The story explores how love can be about two imperfect parts coming together to complete each other. Sharjeena and Mustafa’s complex story quickly became beloved by fans for its layers and emphasis on self-growth.
The recently-concluded drama has ushered in a new wave of fans for Pakistani dramas and if you’re looking for your next fix, keep reading.
Pakistani TV shows have always enjoyed popularity amongst South Asians around the world, including India. Despite the 2017 ban on Pakistani content on Indian TV channels, the shows have remained beloved by audiences in the country, thanks to their availability on YouTube. The familiar milieu and engaging storytelling of these dramas have ensured their place in the hearts of fans in India.
Aside from social and family-focused dramas, one thing Pakistani TV shows do well is depict heartwarming love stories. Romantic Pakistani dramas feature diverse themes and have something for every kind of fan of the genre. We’ve curated a list of romantic Pakistani TV shows that will sweep you off your feet…
Before Fawad Khan’s short-lived, yet incredibly impactful, career in Bollywood, the actor was winning hearts in Pakistani dramas. In Zindagi Gulzar Hai, he stars as Zaroon opposite Sanam Saeed’s Kashaf. Zaroon, who comes from a wealthy background, is conservative and impulsive. Kashaf, on the other hand, is cynical and bitter because of the hardships her poor background inflicted on her and her family. Their unexpected connection, and how they help each other overcome their flaws, is heartwarming to watch.
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This slice-of-life romantic comedy was one of the most popular dramas in India when it aired. Based on Faiza Iftikhar’s novel Hissar-e-Muhabbat, this hilarious drama stars Osman Khalid Butt and Maya Ali. The story follows the titular Aunn and Zara who find themselves in a marriage of convenience to evade their respective families. There’s comedy, drama and romance if you want a light-hearted show to binge on the weekend.
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Be warned that this Fawad Khan starrer packs a whole lot of heartwrenching moments and little respite for those who love the light-hearted romance of most of his dramas. Based on Razia Butt’s 1971 novel Bano, the show is set against the backdrop of the turbulent time of the Partition of India and Pakistan. It depicts the love story of two people caught in the middle of the tensions, Hassan and Bano (Sanam Baloch).
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If you love your TV shows with a side of melodrama, then you cannot give this one a miss. It also helps that this one stars Hania Amir, AKA Sharjeena, in the lead! The actress stars as Hala, a pampered girl who is left by her father in the care of his family when he leaves for work in London. Hala is mistreated by her foster family, especially the matriarch, and becomes a shell of her former self. Her circumstances begin to change when the family’s righteous son Hamza returns from abroad.
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Fans of Pakistani shows have been blessed recently with two wildly different kinds of love stories that are equally heartwarming and rooted in reality. Unlike Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, the love story is not central to the plot in Zard Patton Ka Bunn, even if it’s one of the most special ones in recent times. The show highlights themes of gender inequality and lack of access to education in rural Pakistan. It stars Sajal Aly and Hamza Sohail as Meenu and Dr Nafil, two people who are trying to outrun the adverse circumstances that they’ve found themselves in.
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This romantic comedy, starring Gen-Z actors Sehar Khan and Hamza Sohail, has remained a favourite of fans months after its conclusion. Over the course of two seasons, the story follows the love story between Umeed, a bright and young middle-class girl with bold ambitions, and Farjad, a sensible and no-nonsense successful businessman. The engaging storyline and the chemistry between the leads can be attributed to the show’s enduring popularity.
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Salva Mubarak is the Digital Editor of Manifest. In her free time, she likes to read murder mysteries, discover new KitKat flavours, and rank movie makeovers (not necessarily in that order). View Profile
