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One of the reasons why we all love Pakistani plays so much are the actors, with their subtle and nuanced performances.
*With inputs from Abby, Shabz, Hiral, Hajmola and Sanashau*- Thanks a lot, guys.
And this includes not only the lead actors, but a stellar crop of supporting actors who are not just like ornaments giving shocked reactions like in Hindi soaps. They are often given meaty roles, with their characters and their motivations playing an important roles in the dramas.
So let's pay homage to some of these wonderful actors in this thread.
Some of my favorite actors are:
1. Samina Peerzada - What a wonderful performer who excels in all her roles- be it extremely good, bad or grey? Her performances in Durr-e-Shahwar, Dastaan, ZGH, Ishq Gumshuda...Mindblowing. Hope to see more of her on Zindagi!
2. Waseem Abbas- It was not his performance in ZGH that struck me (though he was so good as Murtaza), but his roles in Mann ke Moti, Parchaiyaan, etc,. What a stentorian voice! So commanding and powerful, I love the way he reads his lines!
3. Rubina Ashraf- She was amazing in "Parchaiyaan" as a middle-aged woman who learns to her dismay that she is expecting a baby. What a powerhouse performer!
4. Qaiser Naqvi- Batool Khala from Humsafar and Ajjiya's grandmom in Khwaishein. What a stately lady with a good screen presence! Everyone's favorite aunt/grandma.
5. Hina Khwaja Bayat- From Humsafar, ZGH, Ishq Gumshuda. Man, not only is she a great actress, she looks so...beautiful, with her light eyes and porcelain complexion. I don't know if I would look half as good at her age! And she has a lovely way of speaking Urdu.
6. Behroze Sabzwari- Sir Abrar from ZGH and Baseerat from Humsafar. I have fallen hard for both his portrayals- when he's speaking with Zaroon or Asher, it's almost as if the actor is indeed Fawad's father in real life. Esp in ZGH where he's not his father, but shares a hassi-mazaak relationship and is a mentor and father figure for Zaroon. He speaks with that familiarity and affection that's so cute!
7. Javed Sheikh- Zaroon's father in ZGH who has a somewhat dysfunctional relationship with his wife. But surprisingly, just lets her be and allows her to be independent, as he does for his daughter. And his lovely dynamic with son Zaroon.
8. Nasreen Qureshi- Aunn's overprotective Dadi from Aunn Zara. With her awesome Punjabi and her joie de vivre, another lovely grandmother. Who laughed irrepressibly like me when she demands "lakdi ki kangii" to a man who thinks it's"ladki ki kangii"😆😆😆 Howlarious! And also plays Bano's sole confidante in Dastaan.
9. Mansha Pasha as Sidra in ZGH. She virtually lived the role as Kashaf's lovable sister and confidante. And how she became the mouthpiece of thousands of Zaroon fangirls, by demanding a photo of him from her sister and facilitating the alliance between him and her prickly sister on his request. It's clear that her marriage did nothing to lessen her crush, LOL.
10. Shamim Hilaly who played Faisal (Adnan)'s mother in Maat and Humayun's mom in Ishq Gumshuda. She looks so dignified with her grey locks and her calm demeanour in her performances!
11. Syed Mohammed Ahmed- Durr-e-Shahwar's father in DeS. Need I say more? What poignancy and depth he brought to the role of the protagonist's father!
12. Badar Khalil- Zindagi viewers would have seen her as the heroine's grandmom in Yeh Shaadi Nahi Ho Sakti. Impeccable comic timing.
13. Saba Faisal - Khirad's mom in Humsafar, Shahwar's Mom-in-law in DeS and the male protagonists' mother in Mirat ul Uroos. Diametrically opposite characters, all played well.
14. Saba Hameed- Recently seen in Dastaan as Hassan's mom, and as Sila's loving stepmother in Dil e Muztar. Such a lovely actress.
15. Bushra Ansari- Loved her as the helpless mother of a disabled son in "Mere Dard ko Zubaan Miley". A dignified portrayal indeed.
16. Mubasir Khanum- She was Muni Kaka in Parchaiyaan. The way she used to counsel the lead character in her perplexing situation was great! And she has cute cheeks that I want to pull:)
17. Rabia Noreen who plays the sisters' mother in Maat and Silvatein. I love how she is often cast in the role of a mother stuck between two daughters. Not that the two roles are similar- she is a wise, worried mother in Maat and an inept, foolish one in Silvatein. She's awesome!
18. Adnan Jaffer- As Zara's strict Air Force officer father who wants her to join the Air Force in Aunn Zara. How progressive is that! And how his concern for his daughter never abates during the entire series.
19. Sabreen Hisbani as Aunn's Bua in AZ. The way she relates how and why her husband divorced her, man...rollicking! And her nok jhok with Zara's dad and consequently their chemistry. Lovely actress.
20. Javeria Abbasi- I saw her as a wicked woman on an otherwise forgettable Kash mein teri beti na hoti. And then surprised to see her as someone diametrically opposite as a helpless mother on Ye Galliyan Ye Chaubaara. She's good!
So this is my limited list from my measly knowledge of the Pakistani drama scene. Please share which ones are your favorites, and also add to the list if you can😊 Especially some male actors, the women seem to be stealing all the limelight here!
*With inputs from Abby, Shabz, Hiral, Hajmola and Sanashau*- Thanks a lot, guys.
