I’ve had a long interesting relationship with Pakistani dramas, not so much as a reviewer, but as the editor at HELLO!magazine where we would regularly feature Pakistani television actors and actresses and talk to them about their work, what made them click and what kinds of scripts they chose. Many of them went on to do films and did really well, but some of their script choices have confused me till today! 

But I’ve also really enjoyed reviewing drama serials and I remember one of the first dramas I wrote about was Humsafar.(2012). At that time, I worked in Karachi at Newsline magazine and in the early days of the show we were fascinated by the good acting and Sarmad Khoosat’s direction and Hum TV’s production.  Though Farhat Ishtiaq’s script was an adaptation of a Khawateen Digest serialised novel, which means it was not high quality literature, the characters were self-aware  to an extent and the main female protagonist Khirad took on the patriarchy by rejecting her rich husband, till he finally proved worthy of being her husband – which means he adhered to her values and her standards of good behaviour. Within the bounds of a traditional upbringing and the ‘desi’ shadi scene, Khirad held on to her self-respect and displayed an independent spirit. Similarly, the hero Ashar changed his mode of thinking and behaviour as the serial developed. Being a misogynist didn’t quite cut it for Ashar. The serial created some good space for nuance! 

Over the years the majority of Pakistani TV serial heroes have not progressed to becoming educated, patient, kind, with good manners and the power and ability to grow and reflect. I am not using the word liberal here since so many people have a problem with it. You can be progressive in a traditional set up also; while maintaining your long-established conventional lifestyle or thinking. 

So, who are exceptions that immediately come to my mind when one thinks positive heroes: More recently there was Dr Asfandyar in Yaqeen Ka Safar: Btw, I do think that thinking actors like Fawad Khan and Ahad Raza Mir have done more justice to intelligent men roles than many others. Ok, let me go way back a few decades: Cult classic Dhoop Kinare’s Dr Ahmer Ansari, played by seasoned thespian Rahat Kazmi, is one good example of an educated, thinking hero. While his attempts at romance may have been viewed as problematic, his intrinsic values such as respect for women as professionals, for the freedom to choose and think are all represented in the serial. He often behaved like a Mills & Boon hero, but the misogyny was minimal, and there is no doubt that Haseena Moin delineated her characters with an expert touch, presenting the complexities of each personality in a humane manner, rather than make caricatures of characters, like you often see in Pakistani dramas today. 

Ok, so which are the three drama serials this year (2022) which deserve a medal for rather crazy male characters who have very little respect for women. These shows make us want to ask: What is the fine line between a normal romantic approach and harassment? We’re in the 21st century folks, are these the kinds of men we want to see? Of course there is a major crisis of ‘toxic’ masculinity!


Number one: Shamsher in ‘Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi’ on ARY Digital – arrogant, disrespectful, rude, violent, murderous, yet we are to believe he has a soft heart because he falls in love at first sight. What kind of person is he? 

With apologies to the writer Radain Shah who created him, are we to believe this series is a social commentary on rich, bad guys who kidnap women and keep them captive hoping that the woman will eventually fall in love with him. If that’s the basic premise folks, it’s flawed. If we are to believe men like this will change, I’m sorry that’s not entirely possible. The story of Mehek (played by Dure-Fishan) and Shamsher (Danish Taimoor) is deeply disturbing and I am eagerly waiting for the end, hoping there is a parting of ways. But where the show is heading right now is towards Shamsher’s sea change? Sigh. The whole idea is too simplistic. There is no space for nuance and one wonder’s if stereotypical Shamsher ever went to college, or ever read a book. Clearly his mother never taught him how to behave! Another simplistic trope in the serial is that if you’re rich, you’re so entitled that you can bully whoever you want. Shamsher’s world view is skewed, one dimensional and utterly without empathy.  

The next show on my list is ARY Digital’s ‘Habs’ written by Aliya Makhdoom and directed by Mussadiq Malek. Feroze Khan as Basit is a spoilt-brat CEO who hasn’t recovered from mother abandonment issues. Ushna Shah as Ayesha is his contractual wife who falls in love with him in this marriage of convenience. Frankly what she sees in the power-wielding, narcissistic character escapes my understanding. However, she is very empathetic with his situation and undergoes his cruel behaviour with silent acceptance. Why? An educated young man with very little self-awareness and a cruel streak that literally kills his mother is not my idea of a hero. Will he reach a level of self-worth and knowledge remains to be seen? The fact that his mother leaves him at an early age and he grows up into a bit of a monster is such a patriarchal view – blame it on the mother!

And number three of this selection is GEO Network’s ‘Chauraha’ with Mikaal Zulfiqar as the bad guy Junaid and Madiha Imam as Zoya. Junaid is Zoya’s kidnapper and it is actually not very believable that during the course of this serial, he changes from a local neighbourhood criminal and con man to a weepy, apologetic mess of a person who falls in love with his former prisoner/abductee. The only upside is that when the drama ended yesterday, the finale is exactly what it should have been. Ok, no spoilers here, I won’t tell you the ending but at least misogyny turned on its head by a stronger and more together female character.  

The purpose of my critique is not to belittle the Pakistani drama industry or poke fun at the actors who chose scripts like these! The fact that scripts like this exist is the issue. Where is the good writing, where is Hasina Moin, where is direction like that of Sarmad Khoosat and where are the actors who bring depth to a dignified male hero!

Dumbing down dramas to very basic characterisation is such an easy way out. You make the show, but you don’t work hard at nuance. The three male characters in this review are caricatures of men, the storyline is a highly exaggerated slice of life.  What do you think it takes to be a man? Are the stereotypes you see on TV meant to be a reflection of this society? What we see is oppression and atrocity. There is something serious at the root of this in the social world in Pakistan. Is every form of masculinity toxic? Is this the message that modern media is sending out? These men are narcissistic and psychopathic, wanting to use compulsion to attain their aims. These are not the heroes or role-models that deserve 30-plus episodes on TV. Why should negative, narcissistic, power-hungry men be heroes? Do you really believe that they will change and will delete old habits and world-views? It’s not realistic and nor is it entertainment?   

What kind of men do I want to see on TV: What is the crisis of masculinity on Pakistani television today and in Pakistani society of which these serials are meant to be a reflection? How should men behave? What are the kinds of men I want to see on TV: Well, those with integrity, who are able to be themselves, who can do the right thing when no one is there, have self-awareness, be vulnerable, have the ability to make peace and try and understand their patriarchal social structure. If you want to send out a social message through this mode of media, the television drama industry, please start writing a different kind of male character and choosing scripts that are progressive! Enough of the psychopaths.