THE WEEK THAT WAS

Zanjeerain | Hum TV, Wed-Thurs 8.00pm

Acclaimed writer Farhat Ishtiaq returns with a story about revenge and generational trauma.

Bibi Jan (Samiya Mumtaz) regrets that she was unable to love or care for Torsam (Usman Javed) because he was the son of her husband’s second wife. This turns him into a bitter, violent man, forcing others to bend to his will, including local dhaaba owner Rabiya (Sajal Aly), who despises him. Meanwhile, Mudassir (Ameer Gilani) is a regular visitor to Bibi Jan’s family because of his close friendship with her sons, Sar Buland (Danyal Zafar), Sardar Sherdil (Ahsan Khan) and Sohrab (Raza Ali Abid).

Director Shehzad Kashmiri’s aesthetic sense works overtime, picturising salt mines, acres of grazing land and the bleached-white ancestral havelis of the powerful, reminding us of a Pakistan not often seen on our screens. However, behind the beauty of the land is the cruelty of another feudal Zaffran Khan (Adnan Siddiqui). Dark secrets from the past haunt the present, and more tragedy is foreshadowed in Shehr Bano (Sahar Hashmi) and Sar Buland’s relationship. Like most Farhat Ishtiaq series, this show builds intensity steadily, so expect the audience to grow by the fifth or sixth episode.

Dr Bahu | ARY Digital, Fri-Sat 8.00pm

For an arranged match fina­lised with their parents’ full vetting and approval, Salman (Shuja Asad) and Dr Saniya (Kubra Khan) have faced significant family pushback after their marriage. Most of the issues stem from Salman’s domineering father Dr Shahnawaz (Shahzad Nawaz), a prominent doctor and CEO of two hospitals. Salman is the rebel, not a doctor, and he works to save his relationship and respects his wife.

Dr Shahnawaz’s elder son, Dr Faizan (Adeel Hussain), is ruining his marriage by cheating on his well-meaning and talented wife, Minna (Hajra Yamin), with another woman, Mahnoor (Mira Sethi), and has never stood up for his wife. Writer Sanam Mehdi draws a sharp comparison between the three men, highlighting how partnership and consultation better nurture love and stability than authoritarian and submissive models of behaviour.

Salman seems like a romantic ideal far from reality, but Shuja Asad’s strong performance is an excellent comeback, especially after the criticism of his role in Ae Ishq-i-Junoon. Becoming a female physician is highly prized in Pakistani culture, but it can become a poisoned apple that weighs an achiever down. This is great entertainment with a light critique of social issues.

Humrahi | Geo TV, Fri-Sat 8.00pm

Beautiful visuals and a story of self-sacrificing love have become another successful vehicle for the hit pairing of Danish Taimoor and Hiba Bukhari.

Criminal don Ghazi Yusuf’s (Shahzad Nawaz) ruthless opposition to his son Sayhaan’s (Danish Taimoor) marriage to Dr Elif (Hiba Bukhari) melts as he discovers his son’s life-threatening heart condition. A rare blood type and heart condition make a cure difficult, but (surprise) Elif has the same rare blood type! Elif is a deeply compassionate soul who loves Sayhaan and, despite knowing his weakness, she decides to marry him. How will Ghazi Yusuf react when he finds out that Elif holds the key to saving Sayhaan within her?

Babar Javed is a renowned director but the pace of this show is slow and contemplative, even though Zanjabeel Asim’s script needed a more suspenseful, thriller-style presentation. However, even the unbelievable miscasting of Shahzad Nawaz as a gangster has not slowed the show down, as the masses tune in for their favourite couple.

What To Watch Out For (Or Not)

Aik Mohabbat Aur Sahi | Green TV, Coming soon

Teasers introduce us to a serious, practical female lead (Maya Ali), focused on her career after learning that life is not a fairy tale, while Ahad Raza Mir is the easygoing guy who reminds her that it still can be.

Published in Dawn, ICON, May 10th, 2026