THE WEEK THAT WAS

Rubaru Tha Ishq | Geo TV, Fridays 8.00pm

Big screen star Danish Taimoor returns buffed up to the small screen as Almeer, a university student who likes Salwa (Ushna Shah), the daughter of a tyrannical father played by Ayub Khosa whose super-frizzy hair adds to his rage over just about anything that has to do with his awfully-intimidated family.

Salwa’s bestie is Ayaan (Sanam Chaudhary) a spoilt-rotten tomboy who likes Almeer and believes he likes her too. When Salwa expresses an interest in marrying Almeer, daddy Khosa throws a fit; she tries to overdose on sleeping pills but is rescued, much to her dismay. Much begging later, Daddy Khosa relents. Preparations are being made to receive a formal proposal’s from Almeer’s family. Almeer tells Ayaan that his family is preparing to visit the girl’s family and Ayaan assuming it’s hers, informs her family so preparations are on there as well.

The story looks promising but the director needs to get his act together. Ayaan sports hoodies and beanies when everyone else is in summer wear! Ayaan’s brother, a top police officer (Ali Abbas) pauses the violent beating up of a criminal in the police station just to take a mobile phone call from home, when he could have simply stepped out.

What To Watch Out For

Rashk | Express Entertainment, Mondays 9.00pm

Marriages hidden abroad while guys remarry back home to please parents is the newest trend on TV. Directed by Muhammed Azhar Asghar, the story by Waqas Qureshi is about Manaal (Saniya Shamshad) who doesn’t want marriage to come in the way of her hard work and ambitions to become a dress designer. Haaris (Ali Josh) incidentally is looking for a girl just like Manaal and when the proposal comes, Manaal is thrilled with the space he promises to give her to pursue her career. The match seems made in heaven, but of course it isn’t! Haaris is already secretly married to Sabika (Ishal Fayyaz) abroad while he weds Manaal (with no guilt whatsoever) to please his mother.

Going by Saniya Shamshad’s portfolio, this will be another meaty role following Piyari Bitto.

Published in Dawn, ICON, July 8th, 2018