You are led deep into the bustling and chaotic streets of Karachi. Director Mazhar Moin’s camera zooms in on fruit stalls, parathas being tossed on heated griddles, fresh qeema [minced meat] being prepared and then, finally, you see the lofty clock tower that is the hallmark of the city’s Victorian-era Empress Market.
This is the first scene of Bombay Tailors (BT), which has just started to air on Hum TV, and it works well in building expectations and setting the scene. At a time when sprawling mansions and rich, suited heroes flanked by bodyguards often dominate the local drama-scape, BT opts for nostalgia and old-world charm — crowded lanes, stall owners calling out to passers-by as they try to sell them their wares and rustic chai dhaabas [roadside tea stalls].
The titular tailoring shop is nestled in one of these streets. It is a longstanding relic with a board outside that proudly proclaims that it has been in business since 1942. The shop’s name has been written in the Hindi script, further emphasising its pre-Partition origins. The shop’s floor has a black-and-white parquet-style pattern, the walls are lined with weathered shelves crammed with fabric, and the doorway is pillared and aged.
These details in the initial episodes of the drama — and there are many more, such as the beautiful, old-world homes in which our primary characters live — form a compelling backdrop to the story, which is only just beginning to unfold.
A crumbling tailoring shop in old Karachi. A young man wanting to break free of family expectations. A young woman making content for social media. Director Mazhar Moin’s new prime time serial stitches family drama with social controversies around social media, generational conflict and changing Gen-Z aspirations
It is often said that all stories around the world are stitched from the same fabric, only rendered unique by the way in which they are narrated. BT, like many other serials, is, in essence, a family drama that is packed with the usual emotional ingredients as well as some unusual elements.
We will, most probably, encounter patriarchal mindsets, cultural restrictions and the highs and lows of a joint family system. There will be tears, emotional blackmail and heated arguments that will result in someone storming out. Icon has learnt, though, that there is more to the story than meets the eye.
Cut From The Same Cloth?
Upon meeting the drama’s lead actors, Ali Ansari and Anika Zulfikar, they tell me that they are hooked to the script.
“We had so much fun reading the script,” says Anika.
Have they read the whole script? Or, as is the case quite often in the local drama industry, are the later episodes being written while they are shooting?
“We received about 65 percent of the script and now, with every new episode that we get to read, we get really excited about what will happen next,” says Ali.
Anika adds, “We are reading it for the sake of reading. It’s not just because we are acting in the drama, it’s because we really want to know the rest of the story!”
BT follows dramas in which both actors have received critical or commercial acclaim. Ali was previously seen in Muamma, in which his performance was widely appreciated. Anika delivered a commercial hit in which she had a double role — Ishq Mein Tere Sadqay (IMTS). Was there pressure to ensure that this latest project would be as successful?
“My character in Muamma was very different,” muses Ali. “Saifi [the name of his character in BT] is a man who is struggling to be accepted for who he is and is in search of validation. His family has a traditional mindset and wants him to join the family’s tailoring business. They discourage him from following his dreams, and the way he struggles is visible even in his body language. He is an interesting character. Furthermore, the story, the pace and the overall characterisations are very good.”
A STITCH IN TIME
The drama is being aired during the coveted 8:00pm prime time slot, I point out. Ali has, of course, acted in top-rated soaps that have aired at 9:00pm, making it to what is often referred to as the ‘billion views club’ in industry circles. However, he has lately been very vocal about wanting to aim for projects solely reserved for the 8:00pm slot.
“Given the norms in our industry,” he asserts, “the time slot really matters.”
Anika’s IMTS was a big commercial hit, airing at 9:00pm. Does she have similar concerns regarding drama time slots?
“I think it does matter, although you never know what the audience will like,” says Anika. “Until the time that it started airing, we had assumed that [IMTS] would be slotted at 8pm. I was a bit dejected at first when it started airing daily at 9pm during Ramazan, but then it worked out because the audience became invested in the story. It really worked for the channel, too, because Geo Entertainment had not come up with a typical Ramazan drama, and was airing this one daily instead.”
She goes on: “For me, as a new actor, the challenge was that, even though it was a hit, it aired just for a month. I didn’t get the time to fully experience how working in the drama had helped me grow as an actor.
“Also, I would go through this weird existential crisis while shooting certain scenes. I felt that I could not justify investing so much of my life, working 12 hours a day, into a story that I often did not agree with. Of course, as a new actor, I cannot be too picky, but I do want to focus more on stories that I care about.”
There are contemporary, Gen-Z elements in this drama that I feel are important and will connect with the audience. There are always certain topics that become a ‘trend’ in dramas, with multiple productions investing in stories revolving around them. From that perspective, this drama could prove to be a game-changer,” says Ali Ansari
Tailoring Digital Dreams
And is BT one such story?
“It’s not your typical run-of-the-mill drama at all,” says Ali. “The tailoring business is part of Saifi’s family legacy, but why does his family consider it compulsory that he, too, becomes a tailor? He feels stuck and social media provides him with a new avenue that he can explore.
“There are contemporary, Gen-Z elements in this drama that I feel are important and will connect with the audience. There are always certain topics that become a ‘trend’ in dramas, with multiple productions investing in stories revolving around them. From that perspective, this drama could prove to be a game-changer.”
And what particular topic does BT tackle?
“Social media,” replies Anika. “The character that I play, Mahrukh, has her own YouTube channel, in which she doesn’t show her face, but puts out content that is growing in popularity. Her channel has even been monetised. Her problem is that while her father loves her, he is very strict and believes that social media is the root of all evil.
“It’s interesting how the writer, Amtul Shahida, has sympathised with various opinions that people have, neither demonising people who pursue careers in social media and nor those who think that it is wrong.”
Ali elaborates, “The story also addresses generational gaps. Our parents and grandparents may have a completely different mindset towards work, while today’s generation is open to exploring opportunities in digital avenues. Once Mahrukh and Saifi get together and break through the barriers placed upon them by their families, the drama gets really interesting.”
Can we expect romantic chemistry? “It’s more like a partnership,” reflects Anika.
“Like two friends, making content together,” chimes in Ali. “Saifi and Mahrukh never wanted to be in each other’s lives. They are an unlikely match but, once life throws them together, they build a relationship based on trust, understanding and respect. It’s not your typical romance.”
In fact, a cursory glance at BT’s ensemble cast implies that romance simply is only a single piece of the overall pattern. With seasoned performers such as Sania Saeed, Ali Tahir, Tanveer Ahmed, Ali Safina and Dania Enwer on board as well, one expects the family members of Saifi and Mahrukh to explore their journeys during the course of the serial.
Draped In A New Look
The drama’s director, Mazhar Moin, elaborates about the cast: “It is relatively large and what is great is that everyone is intent on delivering their 100 percent. I didn’t encounter any time-related issues or tantrums. Everyone just wanted to do their best.
“All the characters are essential to the story, which is largely based on generational gaps and mindsets. Sania Saeed, for instance, is not the kind of artist who would sign on for just any role. As the story evolves, the audience will see her evolve from a quiet, submissive woman to a confident one, with a strong voice of her own.”
He continues: “Both Ali and Anika were great choices as leads. Anika is relatively new and she is very passionate about building her career. Ali, too, is inclined towards trying out roles that are different.”
BT has been produced by Moomal Shunaid Productions and MD Productions for Hum TV. “For this project, we wanted to introduce a fresh, young and talented cast that would bring authenticity to the screen,” the drama’s producer, Moomal Shunaid tells me. “We also wanted to launch a new on-screen pair that audiences could connect with and enjoy watching. The cast was also chosen because each actor was the right fit for their respective character, and could naturally portray the emotions required in the story.”
I tell the director that the drama’s ambience — Mahrukh’s beautiful home with its old furniture and stained-glass windows, and the nooks and crannies of Empress Market — are characters in themselves and contribute to the story. He agrees.
“The ambience adds to the audience’s understanding of the characters,” he says. “Where do they live? What are their interests?” He adds another revelation: “The furniture that you see in Mahrukh’s home is all my own. I collect Burma teak furniture pieces. I feel that they really add character to the set.”
The first few ‘stitches’ — episodes — of BT have been paced well. The measuring tapes, scissors and sewing machines have been established as the backdrop to a new-age narrative on social media.
And with the cast eagerly vouching for the narrative and the director intent on exploring new locations — they recently shot in the marshlands near Karachi’s shoreline and the crowded Sea View road on Saturday night! — one has high hopes that this will be a well-tailored story.
The writer is a fashion and entertainment journalist with over two decades of experience. She can be reached at maliharehman1@gmail.com
Published in Dawn, ICON, July 26th, 2026