2020 turned out to be a shallow yet forgettable year for the entertainment industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is hope that 2021 would turn out to be a welcoming change and the entertainment fraternity would shine in its full glory. The news from the center is super exciting as the viewers will witness some of the most talented actors, directors showcasing their craft in various genres. Here are the top four TV dramas to look forward in the New Year.
- Raqeeb Se
Cast: Nauman Ijaz, Sania Saeed, Hadiqa Kiani, Salman Shahid, Iqra Aziz, Faryal Mehmood, Saqib Sameer, Hamza Sohail, Saba Faisal, and Hassan Mir.
Writer: Bee Gul
Director: Kashif Nisar
Hum TV has always maintained a good balance in addressing social issues tossed with great entertainment value. ‘Raqeeb Se’ revolves around a woman who leaves her house due to domestic violence along with her daughter. The twist in the plot is that she lands up at her former lover’s house to seek help and shelter. The drama marks the acting debut of the singing sensation of Pakistan Hadiqa Kiani. What makes ‘Raqeeb Se’ special is the stellar cast; it has firebrands like Sania Saeed, Iqra Aziz, and Faryal Mehmood. The drama is all set to air on the 20th of January on HUM TV.
2. Dil Na Umeed Tou Nahin
Cast: Yumna Zaidi, Wahaj Ali, Naveed Shahzad, Yasra Rizvi, Omair Rana, Samiya Mumtaz, Nauman Ejaz, Adnan Shah Tipu and Noor ul Hassan.
Writer: Amna Mufti
Director: Kashif Nisar
The drama addresses the horrific issue of human trafficking, a subject that is prevalent in society but no one talks about it. The intriguing promos indicate a gripping tale based on women trafficking; the premise is set in an elite brothel headed by Naveed Shehzad. Yumna becomes the victim of the atrocious trade. It showcases the lives and struggles of these women of different ages and backgrounds. The teasers also report that over 1400 cases of human trafficking were reported last year, out of which 1200 cases involved women. ‘Dil Na Umeed to Nahi’ is in collaboration with Kashf Foundation. It will air on the 18th of January on PTV and TV One.
3. Khuda Aur Mohabbat
Cast: Feroze Khan, Iqra Aziz, Junaid Khan, Javed Sheikh, Tooba Siddiqui, Sunita Marshall, Rubina Ashraf, Asma Abbass, Usman Peerzada, Seemi Pasha, Zain Baig, and Sohail Sameer
Writer: Hashim Nadeem Khan
Director: Syed Wajahat Hussain
The third installment of 7th Sky Entertainment’s magnum opus ‘Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3’ is one of the most anticipated dramas of 2021. This time two powerhouse performers Feroze Khan and Iqra Aziz take the center stage. The teasers show Feroze playing a young guy from a lower-middle-class background falling in love with Iqra’s character. It also has a parallel spiritual dimension to it. The first seasons featured Imran Abbas and Sadia Khan. The second season saw Imran and Sadia reprising their roles alongwith Kubra Khan as the parallel lead. With a star-studded cast, it would be interesting to see whether ‘Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3’ succeeds in attracting viewers as compared to the previous installments. It will air on GEO entertainment soon.
4. Pehli Si Mohabbat
Cast: Sheheryar Munawar, Maya Ali, Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY), Rabia Butt, Nausheen Shah, Saba Hameed, and Shabbir Jan
Writer: Faiza Iftikhar
Director: Anjum Shahzad
‘Pehli Se Muhabbat’ brings back the old-world charm of first love. The initial promos introduce Maya as (Rakshi) a middle-class girl who believes that love should be pure rather than perfect. Aslam (Sheheryar) is a hopeless romantic, who goes out all to win his first love. Their love story sense tragedy when Akram (HSY) gets to know about their relationship. What refreshing about the premise is the comeback of Maya and Shaheryar to television after a long hiatus? HSY packs a solid punch with his acting debut. He sheds his image and accent and looks the part. Going by the extended promos, it seems that he has a crucial role. ‘Pehli Si Muhabbat’ will air on ARY Digital soon.
A quote that is my bible: “I never lose. I always win or I learn.” Doing something new everyday excites me, keeps me going. “Who am I?” is a question that I like asking myself every now and then, making a deliberate effort that I have a new answer for it every time. Therefore I constantly strive to surprise the industry with facts and truth through meaningful writings.