By Maliha Rehman
Presenting this year’s random lineup of Gloss Etc Awards, ricocheting from TV to cinema to fashion to music to just hilarious instances that made headlines and had the Internet buzzing. Even though this was a year when the country grappled with inflation and events were few and far between, there were still some major achievements that made one proud, especially in the realm of TV.
And here’s an overview, awarding everything and everyone who stood out …
Biggest Sensation of the Year Award – Tere Bin
No surprises here. The Biggest Sensation of the Year Award goes to Tere Bin, the drama helmed by Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi of 7th Sky Entertainment and airing on Geo Entertainment, which riveted the entire nation and then proceeded to ensnare a massive worldwide audience. From lead actors Wahaj Ali and Yumna Zaidi to the antagonist played by Sabeena Farooq to the drama’s title track, the director Seraj Ul Haq, the scriptwriter Nooran Makhdoom and plot twists that would be the topic of Twitter trends for weeks, Tere Bin had the Midas touch – everything connected to it turned to gold!
Breaking records and setting new ones and giving birth to an obsessed fandom called ‘YumHaj’ – more on that later – there’s no doubt that the drama’s unprecedented success has made history.
Icon Award – Hadiqa Kiani
The debilitating floods in 2022 made musician and actor Hadiqa Kiani resolute about doing what she could for the flood-affected areas, focusing particularly on the devastation in Balochistan. “There are places in Balochistan that are submerged in water that media cameras haven’t even been able to access,” Hadiqa had told me at the time. “I plan to visit these areas and begin their rehabilitation.”
Hadiqa subsequently launched Vaseela e Raah, a campaign focused on the rehabilitation of flood-affected areas in Balochistan, and has since then been regularly posting updates. In March this year, she wrote that 100 houses, a maternity clinic, a grocery store and a primary school had been constructed. In August, she posted a video of a maternity center and mosque under construction in Balochistan’s Kundi village. There have been many more updates and despite a thriving acting career and singing gigs, Hadiqa remains committed, selflessly working towards helping the many that became homeless last year.
And while her talent and success is iconic all on its own, Hadiqa Kiani’s selflessness makes her all the more inspirational.
Most Viral On-Screen Couple Award – YumHaj!
If you’re tuned into Pakistani social media, you know what ‘YumHaj’ stands for: Yumna Zaidi and Wahaj Ali, an on-screen couple with an unbelievably massive fan following after the actors starred opposite each other in the drama Tere Bin.
It goes without saying that both Wahaj Ali and Yumna Zaidi are exceptional actors. Both have career trajectories boasting memorable, critically acclaimed performances and there have been times in the past too, when fans have been smitten with their on-screen pairing with other actors. It was the commercially acclaimed Tere Bin, however, that particularly ensnared the imagination of the audience. The intimate scenes in the drama have been watched and re-watched, there are countless memes and fan-fic on Twitter based on the star-crossed romance of Murtasim and Meerub – the names of the actors’ characters in the drama – and even though it has been a while since the drama ended and Wahaj Ali has been seen with two other leading ladies since then, you still see the hashtag YumHaj popping up on Twitter constantly.
Social media just can’t seem to forget the weeks of angst and romantic interludes delivered so believably by the Tere Bin team and, on the downside, fans are all too eager to diss any new pairing that either actor is part of. They just want to see Wahaj Ali and Yumna Zaidi – Murtasim and Meerub – together, forever and ever. It’s an inevitable consequence of massive popularity, when the audience gets so emotionally invested into the characters that they make ugly comments just as willingly as they shower love and praise.
Viral, in fact, is perhaps a small word to describe the colossal fandom that this on-screen pair has managed to achieve. It’s unprecedented in recent times.
Happiest Reunion Announcement Award – Farhan Saeed and Urwa Hocane
On Eid this year, celeb-couple Farhan Saeed and Urwa Hocane put rumors of their separation to rest by posting pictures together. Since then, both actors have frequently posted pictures with each other, followed by a pregnancy announcement this October. The masses of #UrHan fans – the hashtag that ‘ships’ Farhan and Urwa – have been elated. These are people who have been part of the couple’s journey, from back when they were dating to their wedding which was all over social media to now, having possibly weathered a bad patch, they are back together.
Farhan and Urwa do make a gorgeous couple – may they be together happily ever after!
Most Loved Actor of the Year Award – Wahaj Ali
Who else could win this award except for Wahaj Ali? Wahaj’s acting prowess is undeniable and his body of work over the years has been diverse and very well-received. In 2021, he became the audience’s favorite Ramzan drama hero in the drama Ishq Jalebi. In 2022, he put out a brilliant performance as Rumi in Jo Bichar Gaye. The accolades were perhaps all building up to his popularity erupting in 2023, in the guise of a hero called Murtasim Khan who had the audience smitten.
In retrospect, Tere Bin’s Murtasim could have been your usual hit hero rather than a veritable behemoth had it not been for Wahaj. The actor has always been a pro at romantic scenes and he brought on the charm in heaps while playing the feudal lord with a heart of gold. The smoldering stares, the flirtatious banter, the heartbroken monologues – this was Wahaj Ali in his element.
There were many more of Wahaj’s projects which released this year; dramas Mujhye Pyaar Hua Tha and Mein, mini-series Jurm and the anthology film Tere Meri Kahaniyaan. They were all watched avidly although the Murtasim fandom continues to be in a separate league of its own.
But what also makes Wahaj so well-loved is his perpetual acknowledgement of his fans and his peers in the industry. The actor will occasionally surface on Twitter and answer comments, he’ll reshare reels and memes made by fans and he’s made the extra effort to turn up at premieres and launches in support of his fellow actors. Even at the zenith of his superstardom, when he must certainly be earning millions for making a single appearance, Wahaj is still grounded, acknowledging the adulation with that half-smile that we all know so well.
How could he not be most-loved?
Most Loved Actress of the Year Award – Yumna Zaidi
Yumna Zaidi’s meteoric rise to success is inspirational. The actress is very talented but she’s also in a league of her own because she tends to follow her own instincts rather than bandwagon upon whatever is popular at the time. Yumna’s career trajectory is diverse. She’ll take on roles that her peers may hesitate from enacting: among them, a befuddled innocent, a victim of abuse, a girl forced into prostitution and more recently, Bakhtawar, a girl forced to dress like a boy in order to survive.
And then, this year, she decided to play Meerub, in the drama Tere Bin – a conventional heroine who got transformed into someone very memorable, thanks to Yumna’s talent and her palpable chemistry with costar Wahaj Ali.
This year’s Lux Style Awards (LSA’s) were the icing on the cake: Yumna won two awards – both Viewers’ and Critics’ Choice Awards in the TV drama categories – thereby becoming the Pakistani TV actress to have won the most LSA’s ever! Following the awards ceremony, Yumna posted a photograph of herself on Instagram with her five silver statuettes. It was a very powerful image.
It was also an image that had people cheering. The audience loves Yumna Zaidi, undoubtedly. She has been working consistently, extensively, in projects that have invariably been very well-received and perhaps, the audience recognizes her as one of their own, a part of their lives, on their TV screens at least once a week.
On a personal level, also, Yumna has the natural ability to draw people towards her. You’re very unlikely to see her at an industry soiree, but she’ll support a cause that she feels strongly about, rush off to be with her family in between breaks from work and post candid pictures with them, eschew complicated designer-wear and just turn up in clothes that she’s comfortable in. In a world flooded with perfectly coiffured images and starry airs and graces, Yumna Zaidi is very real, letting her talent speak for itself, befriending the audience rather than being inclined towards networking with industry movers and shakers.
She trends on Twitter constantly, with crazed online fandoms creating reels dedicated to her and getting into nasty fights with others if they feel even an inkling of Yumna being wronged. Her movie Nayab releases in January 2024 and the trailer has been much talked about.
Nayab, incidentally, will mark Yumna’s cinematic debut. It’s a different kind of film and the trailer looks very interesting. And knowing Yumna’s penchant for performance-based roles, her inexplicable screen presence and her extensive fan-following, we can hope for some cinema magic.
Top Production House Award – Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi of 7th Sky Entertainment
In TV’s competitive playing field, Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi have a very precise, almost miraculous understanding of their audience’s pulse. This year, they soared high with the unprecedented success of Tere Bin, a drama which owed much of its success to their high production values and intuitive cast selection. Not only was Tere Bin a prime time hit and perpetually trending at number one in Pakistan, it also set new records in India and even around the world.
Another 7th Sky Entertainment drama, Jannat Se Aagay, won critical acclaim due to its intelligent script, powerful performances and engaging narrative.
Having said this, the TV industry is an extremely competitive one and there are also other production houses that have stood out for their various projects in 2023. More than anyone else’s though, this was 7th Sky Entertainment’s year. Abdullah and Asad have exemplified how investing effort and finances into a project can reap major results and it is evident that they have an eye for talent. Many stars, directors and scriptwriters count 7th Sky Entertainment projects as their biggest commercial successes and the industry at large is all praises for the professional environment that prevails on their set.
People around them also assert that the duo is extremely hard-working – it shows in their productions.
Biggest Blunder Award – Feroze Khan
This strangely titled accolade belongs to Feroze Khan who, early this year, decided to send out legal notices to his peers in the entertainment industry who had spoken on social media against him during his divorce proceedings. In an image of the legal notice posted by the actor online, Feroze ended up revealing the addresses and phone numbers of the many celebrities that he had named. The image was deleted but it was too late by then and the details were already now known to a huge number of mischief-makers. The actors whose private details had been revealed ranted and fretted quite a bit, with many of them having to change their phone numbers and fend off sleazy as well as threatening messages.
Some weeks later, Feroze acknowledged that he had mistakenly posted the image and also apologized. It just goes to show that you have to be very careful when utilizing the Internet.
Favorite Sister Act Award – Nooreh Shahroz and Zahrah Sabzwari
This fuzzy, feel-good award goes out to sisters Nooreh Shahroz and Syeda Zahrah Sabzwari who wear the same clothes on Eid, celebrate birthdays together and bang on toy pianos together on weekends! Also, much to the consternation of the desi phuppo brigade, Nooreh and Zahrah get along just fine despite being step-sisters. There’s no political wordplay or favoritism happening here – just sweet, happy sisterly love.
The two are definitely the cutest sister act on social media, with father Shahroz Sabzwari particularly uploading the occasional sweet video or images that make you smile.
TV’s Youngest, Most Talented Award – Aina Asif
Still in her early teens, Aina Asif is already a very familiar face in TV dramas. She’s played the belligerent younger sister plenty of times and then, in the Big Bang Entertainment drama, Mayi Ri, she enacts a young girl forced into a child marriage with her elder cousin. While the drama’s content may have had made many of us uncomfortable, it proved that this young actress is capable of doing so much more than playing the younger sister to the lead actress.
Aina Asif is here to stay – let’s hope production houses start giving her more meaty roles.
Don’t Bother with coming to Pakistan Award – Javed Akhtar
Acclaimed Indian playwright and lyricist Javed Akhtar visited Lahore, Pakistan this February as a guest at the Faiz Festival and given that we’re all big Bollywood fans, he got quite a reception. Following the Festival’s press conference, he seen at a star-studded party later in the evening hosted by Ali Zafar. Little did the many stars sitting around him in a rapt circle and taking photographs with him realize that he had only just disparaged Pakistan – on Pakistani soil! – in the press conference.
With moderator Adeel Hashmi sitting next to him – and not seeming to realize what was being said – the playwright had declared that the perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai were roaming freely in Pakistan. Later, on returning to India, he declared that he had to speak the truth and was not scared of doing so, even while on Pakistani soil.
The Pakistani contingent was aghast. Celebrities took to social media to express their hurt and anger and a befuddled Ali Zafar – in the line of fire because he was the one most prominently seen in videos on social media, singing songs written by the lyricist with the man himself sitting right there – stated that he had not been aware of what had gone on at the unfortunate press conference.
Javed Akhtar can go about saying whatever he likes about whoever but we’d rather that he does so in his own country rather than on our grounds. Don’t bother with coming to Pakistan again, please – we’re even giving you an award for it!
Gamechanger Award – Jannat Se Aagay
Jannat Se Aagay, produced by Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi of 7th Sky Entertainment, directed by Haseeb Hasan, written by Umera Ahmed and airing on Geo Entertainment, was a drama with a difference. The story highlighted the fake dreams spun by social media and how the aspiration for wealth and fame can ruin lives completely.
Starring Kubra Khan, Ramsha Khan, Gohar Rasheed and Talha Chahour in leading roles, the drama was boosted as much by the performances of its cast as it was by its narrative, which moved smoothly, never getting preachy, and highlighted by scenes and dialogues that will remain memorable.
It was pathbreaking drama, with a very relevant story.
Show-stealer Award – Kubra Khan
Kubra Khan chooses her projects carefully, acting in selective roles rather than perpetually being on TV. But when she does come on-screen, she simply takes over. She could be a tragic Husn-e-Jahan remembered in nostalgic throwbacks in the drama ‘Alif’ and yet, it is her story which ends up transfixing you. She could be the evil cousin plotting a murder, in the drama ‘Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay’, but an emotional monologue by her in the very last episode becomes one that you always remember.
And this year, Kubra enacted Jannat Jahan, the scheming, immoral morning show host in the drama Jannat Se Aagay, who ends up learning some tough life lessons. Kubra was exceptional. She smiled arrogantly and exuded glamor as the morning show host, cried and fretted as a distraught wife and mother and slowly, episode by episode, came to terms with the false friendships and relationships that she had forged over the years.
The drama was very well-told – helmed by producers Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi, directed by Haseeb Hasan and written by Umera Ahmed – with an exceptional cast – among them, Talha Chahour, Gohar Rasheed and Ramsha Khan who all performed remarkably well – but Kubra, in the titular role, was particularly in the spotlight.
She’s a show-stealer, through and through!
TV’s Hit-most New Hero Award – Hamza Sohail
Hamza Sohail is TV’s newest sensation. He’s been around for quite a bit, making appearances in roles that may not have been central but having the screen presence to make them memorable – the dramas Badshah Begum and Raqeeb Se come to mind. This year, though, Hamza set the audience swooning as the perfect, new-age Mr Darcy in the Ramzan hit Fairytale and its sequel Fairytale 2.
Son of veteran actor Sohail Ahmed, Hamza’s talent is unmistakable. This young actor knows precisely how to flirt with the camera and understands the intricacies of his craft. He is certainly TV’s hit-most new hero – and it looks like he’s going to stick around for the long haul!
Most Viral Actress Award – Hania Aamir
Hania Aamir is a whizz at trending on Twitter, of taking over Instagram, of putting out content that is sometimes fun, sometimes introspective and oft-times downright kooky! She’ll flash her dimples as she dances at a shaadi, figuring out the steps of the fast-paced Naatu Naatu from the Bollywood movie RRR. She’ll make hilarious cooking videos with her house-help. She’s a pro at creating BTS content when she is working in a drama – the clips from her drama Mujhe Pyaar Hua Tha, where she caught her co-actors sleeping and eating biryani off-camera were a hoot! She’ll hang out with her girlfriends and make the silliest jokes that have you connecting with her. And – most recently – she’ll get rumor mills spinning in her interactions with Indian rapper Baadshah.
It helps that the audience at large really wants to know more about Hania. She has particularly enamored them ever since she played the innocent, beautiful Haya in the 2022 hit drama Mere Humsafar. Any content that she puts out get noticed, any interview she sits for makes headlines.
That’s very, very viral.
All Set To Rule TV Award – Sabeena Farooq
Sabeena Farooq has been around for a few years – many of us remember her from Suno Chanda 2 – but this year, the Pakistani entertainment industry finally woke up to her immense potential. She was a popular target for social media rants and downright ugliness when she played Haya, the antagonist in drama Tere Bin’s love story. But while the hate may have had been harrowing for the actress’ mental health, it also meant that she had performed well.
Thankfully, the haters’ voices quickly got subdued when Kabli Pulao, the Green Entertainment drama starring Sabeena as the main lead, started airing. Sabeena was brilliant as Barbeena, the Afghan girl trying to navigate her way through an unlikely new relationship. From the emotional scenes to the lighter ones to the technically difficult ones where she talks in Pashto, Sabeena performed like a pro. One wouldn’t be able to believe that she was a relatively new actress.
The future looks bright for this actress who says that she is being careful about what project she signs on to next. I am expecting more exemplary performances.
TV’s Favourite Good Guy Award – Talha Chahour
Talha Chahour is relatively new to the acting playing field but you wouldn’t know it when you see him on screen. The actor is a natural and TV’s top tier of producers and directors have zeroed in on him. While he proved his mettle in 2022 with his performance in Jo Bichar Gaye, this year Talha has been seen in two major productions – the dramas Jannat Se Aagay and Mannat Murad. Both dramas have very disparate subject matter but the one thing similar in both is Talha, playing the spineless, helpless good guy.
He’s very good at it too. Your heart goes out to his character when he gets spurned by his ruthless fiancé. You understand his conflicting emotions as he gets torn between his possessive mother and his newly-wed wife. When Talha Chahour cries on screen, it seems as if he’s actually in pain. He’s a very believable good guy.
It’s certainly a good start to his career. Having said this, one hopes to see this very talented young actor in more diverse roles in the coming years.
The New-age TV Heroine Award – Dur-e-Fishan Saleem
Dur-e-Fishan Saleem is here to stay. She’s proven her mettle with past projects but this year, what stood out were two dramas that starred her, simultaneously on air, with very different stories. In the hard-hitting Jaisay Aapki Marzi, she played the ambitious young girl who gets trapped into a toxic marriage and is bullied relentlessly before she finally decides to take a stand. The drama may be a difficult watch but it tells a story that is very relevant and one that many women are familiar with.
In contrast, in the romantic Ishq Murshid, she is the forthright heroine with a strong moral compass that the hero, played by Bilal Abbas Khan, is secretly in love with.
The one thing common in both the characters that she has played is that the girls have spunk and strong opinions (until the world at large tries to quell them, of course!). Choosing her roles wisely, Dur-e-Fishan has acted so well in both dramas – and she looks so pretty in them too!
It’s what makes her a hot favorite.
Gamechanger Award – Kabli Pulao
The drama Kabli Pulao, with its unique storyline by Zafar Mairaj, intuitive direction by Kashif Nisar and brilliant ensemble of actors, has undoubtedly been a gamechanger in Pakistan’s TV-scape. Media moguls tend to profess that only stories with certain common tropes (toxic in-laws, troublesome husband and some slapping about added in for extra effect!) are a hit with the Pakistani audience. Kabli Pulao has sailed in and proven them wrong.
There are no unnecessary flashbacks in the drama. No long drawn-out tragic scenes revolving around a malevolent mother-in-law or a spineless husband. The hero is a 50-something man played by Mohammad Ehteshamuddin. The heroine is a young girl in her 20’s, enacted by Sabeena Farooq. The other woman, played by Nadia Afgan, is hurt but not intent on evil machinations. There is a beautiful OST, poignant scenes, dialogues that touch the heart and a story that stays with you long after the drama has wrapped up.
If Kabli Pulao can be an all-out hit, trending consistently on YouTube, then so can other dramas that endeavor to walk off the beaten track. It makes one optimistic about the future of Pakistani television.
Powerhouse Award – Gohar Rasheed
Give Gohar Rasheed a meaty role and see him shine. But it needs to be a meaty role, a nuanced one, and hopefully not of the weepy, helpless husband and boyfriend standing in the sidelines!
Gohar Rasheed is a powerhouse and Pakistan is only beginning to realize his potential for slipping effortlessly into the skin of a character. Last year, he was the diabolical Maakha Natt in the movie The Legend of Maula Jatt. This year, Gohar stood out in two very different dramas: in Jannat Se Aagay, he played a cheating, stealing, hateful husband and in Jindo, he is the evil heir to the feudal throne, carelessly misusing everyone around him.
It is always a pleasure to see Gohar on screen. He simply transforms into whatever character he is playing. Hopefully, he will be seen standing out in even more performances in the coming year.
Hero With A Difference Award – Mohammed Ehteshamuddin
Director Ehteshamuddin, who also moonlights as an actor, played Haji Mushtaq in the drama Kabli Pulao and became TV’s most unlikely, very popular, hero. The austere 50 year old Haji Mushtaq wore clothes in muted tones layered with waistcoats, he spoke softly and walked slowly – and somehow he was the hero that many of us were rooting for.
Ehteshamuddin’s performance and the combined genius of director Kashif Nisar and writer Zafar Mairaj proves that a different kind of hero can also entrance the audience.
Icon Award – Nadia Jamil
Nadia Jamil is an extraordinary actress but transcending her career are her personal efforts in support of causes that she feels strongly about. Nadia has particularly been vocal about human rights – with special emphasis on children’s rights – speaking out against the employing of underage children as domestic servants, the lack of education and facilitation of medical services available to the underprivileged in Pakistan, the realities of sexual abuse and the heinous recent cases where young children acting as servants in homes were beaten up ruthlessly.
She Tweeted relentlessly, her grief very evident, when a young girl, Fatima, was beaten up by her employers and ended up dying. She similarly rallied on behalf of young Rizwana, a 13 year old girl who was brutally tortured by her employer. In an interview in summer this year, Nadia spoke on-record about how she frequently urged her fellow celebrities to utilize their mass fan-followings and record short video clips, speaking against the abuse of young children in households. Her constant efforts have definitely inspired others in her fraternity to follow suit.
Towards the end of this year, Nadia also returned to TV after a three years long sabbatical with the drama Khusboo Mein Basay Khat. She is, of course, a veteran with an extremely strong screen presence. Beyond the screen, though, she is a woman with a heart of gold. Iconic, absolutely.
Gamechanger Award – Razia
Razia, the mini-series which aired on Express Entertainment, definitely raised the bar for TV content. it was a relevant story, an important one, a story that we’re all familiar with, of how daughters are deprived of their rights while sons are given precedence. And while moral-based stories surface on TV now and again, Razia put forward its message by narrating a sequence of events and relying on strong performances and impactful dialogues. There was no preaching here, just a story that hit the heart.
The cast included well-known names like Mahira Khan, Momal Sheikh and Mohib Mirza as well as Shaheera Jalil, a remarkable new actress, playing the titular Razia. But while the performances were outstanding, the real star of the drama was director and writer Mohsin Ali.
Mohsin is no stranger to the entertainment industry but Razia was him at his very best. His intuitive, incisive script, his way of moving the events along and his ability of extracting the best performances from his cast, set him apart as a director and writer who knows his craft very well.
The mini-series was beautiful and definitely a gamechanger, introducing a new form of narrative and storytelling to Pakistani TV.
Craziest Depiction of Pakistan Award – Mission Majnu
In January this year, Bollywood released an anti-Pakistan movie titled ‘Mission Majnu’ where the titular Majnu roamed a country that we didn’t know existed. Siddharth Malhotra (who one used to love until he developed the sad tendency of signing on to anti-Pakistan narratives) plays a tailor living in Rawalpindi who is actually an Indian spy. Our hero wears a skull cap, kajal, a checkered scarf around his neck and speaks like no other Pakistani you ever knew of. Now and again, he tosses out a ‘janaab’ in his speech – or perhaps, ‘adaab’.
On the other end of the spectrum – but perhaps more palatable for the Pakistani audience – was Deepika Padukone playing a Pakistani agent in the Shahrukh Khan starrer Pathaan. While Deepika’s bare-all, swimsuit-clad character was also not intrinsically Pakistani – at least she was glamorous. At least she didn’t have a taweez hanging from her neck!
The contentious relationship between India and Pakistan makes it inevitable that mainstream media will often focus on stories revolving around cross-border rivalries. But let’s make things more realistic, shall we? Make us look like the bad guys, if you have to – but do some research at least!
Favorite Romantic Comedy Heroine Award – Sehar Khan
Sehar Khan came as a breath of fresh air in the Ramzan drama Fairytale as the nonsensical, blundering, hilarious Umeed Pasha. The actress was at her best, acting out a range of crazy antics and speaking some even crazier dialogues!
The drama – and even its sequel – were so well-loved that they reinvented the way the audience perceived Sehar Khan. The actress’ talent is irrefutable but unfortunately, much of the dramas that she has worked in in the past have slotted her as the crying, wronged heroine. While these roles were mass-centric they would also be run-of-the-mill. There was nothing run-of-the-mill, though, about the crazy Umeed.
Who could have known that the ‘good wife’ in umpteen past dramas could be a cinch to play the devil-may-care, downright adorable romantic comedy heroine?
Favorite Ramzan Drama Award – Fairytale
Fairytale was one amongst many other contenders in the Ramzan drama race. Some of these dramas were very star-studded, helmed by directors renowned for their past hits, promoted very aggressively by channels. Unexpectedly, it was Fairytale on the Hum TV Network which ended up winning the popularity race. Purely on the merit of its feel-good storyline by Sarah Majeed, direction by Ali Hassan and an interesting mix of both young and veteran actors in the cast, the drama sailed ahead of the others, becoming an all-out favorite.
A definite advantage was the chemistry between the two leads, Hamza Sohail and Sehar Khan, aka Farjad and Umeed – there’s even a popular Twitter hashtag coined as #Farmeed! The success of Fairytale was quickly followed by a sequel some months later. Fairytale 2’s story was relatively thin and forced in places. However, with the audience already smitten by the motley crew of characters in the first drama, the sequel was also well-received.
One also has to point out here that it helped that the rest of the Ramzan dramas this year invariably followed repetitive storylines, pushing forward unnecessary tropes like the tomboyish cousin, the intrusive neighbor or the cute younger brother. Fairytale was a romantic comedy like the others but the story, at least, offered something new. The story made you smile, maybe rewatch the romantic moments and become an all-time #Farmeed enthusiast!
Worst Remake … Ever Award – Pasoori
Why did Bollywood even decide to remake Pasoori, a song at the zenith of its popularity, known by heart by so many? When a song that is so recent gets revamped, comparisons are drawn out almost immediately. Moreover, had the makers of the movie Satya Prem Ki Katha made up their minds about wanting this particular song in their soundtrack, why did they have to remake it so badly?
The remake of Pasoori was atrocious – even lead singer, India’s colossally popular Arijit Singh knew this. In a Twitter conversation that quickly went viral, he explained that the makers had promised him a yearly fund for a school for the underprivileged as remuneration for singing the song.
So, it was all for a good cause. It was still a bad remake.
Repping Pakistan Proudly Award – Sajal Aly
Sajal Aly, one of the country’s most brilliant talents, made quite a few international red carpet appearances as part of the movie What’s Love Got To Do With It, the romantic comedy written and co-produced by Jemima Khan and directed by Shekhar Kapur. Sajal was part of a prestigious cast which included Shazad Latif, Lily James, Shabana Azmi and Emma Thompson in major roles.
In a number of interviews with international media platforms, she spoke about representing her country and of her experiences of working in the movie. A large chunk of What’s Love Got To Do With It’s story revolved around the colors and festivity of a typical wedding in Lahore – entire areas in London were transformed to replicate the city’s various nooks – and Sajal featured visibly in the movie’s promotional posters.
Having said this, one wished that Sajal’s role in the movie had been more substantial. She still caught the eye in her scenes and she made Pakistan proud with her grace and eloquence on the red carpet.
Gamechanger Award – Sar-e-Rah
Saba Qamar took to the wheel of a taxi cab and drove her way through a busy city, taking on board a diverse mix of characters and briefly becoming part of their lives. Thought-provoking, well-written, well-narrated and boasting some very strong performances, Sar-e-Rah – produced by Abdullah Seja of IDream Entertainment, airing on ARY Digital, directed by Ahmed Bhatti, written by Adeel Razzaq – stands out as one of this year’s most unique content to be seen on TV.
Also notable is how stories can be told so much more impactfully in the form of mini-series. The various mini-series to have aired on TV this year on different channels are testament to the fact that there is now a TV audience who wants to watch a shorter narrative rather than tune into long drawn-out emotional odysseys. Sar-e-Rah is a case in point.
Most Inspirational Actress Award – Ushna Shah
Ushna Shah stands up for what she believes in, even while the people around her may be hesitating. The actress is not one to bandwagon on a cause just because it is trending. You won’t see her becoming part of every Twitter trend that’s in vogue. But when she feels strongly about something, she’ll commit to it with all her heart, utilizing every opportunity to draw attention towards it, even risking the depleting of her own income as she goes about doing so.
A case in point is the situation in P@|$t!n. Ushna has been speaking out against the brutalities taking place in the region, despite knowing that this could result in social media sh@dow-b@ns, the loss of opportunities to work with multinational organizations and fewer chances to pursue an international career in the future. “How can I not speak out?” she has professed again and again.
Her constant Tweets and Instastory content, urging the world to continue speaking out, have been inspirational. It is all very heartfelt. There are times when celebrities tend to latch on to causes that are on-trend. This has not been one such instance, simply because many of them earn their revenue from social media platforms and multinational endorsements and they don’t want to risk getting banned.
Ushna, though, is the real deal. She’s speaking openly against a wrong, doing what she feels is right, come what may.
Gamechanger Award – Kuch Ankahi
Kuch Ankahi on ARY Digital was beautifully written, beautifully directed and beautifully performed. The drama was in a league of its own – flitting from lighthearted banter to conversations on women’s rights to the politics that inevitably prevail within homes to the possibility of getting married at an older age. There were so many layers to the story but writer Mohammed Ahmed, director Nadeem Baig and producers Six Sigma Entertainment and Kashf Foundation expertly knitted their tale, with certain scenes and characters making such an impact that they remain memorable till much later.
The drama was definitely a gamechanger. There were no long drawn-out scenes and while the characters went through their highs and lows, their tragedies weren’t dwelt upon unnecessarily and the narrative remained a positive one. As it tends to do, the romantic element was definitely a plus. The drama’s main lead Sajal Aly is a pro at romance and her chemistry with both her love interests, Bilal Abbas Khan and Sheheryar Munawar, made for a riveting watch. Mira Sethi, meanwhile, played a role that gave out a strong message to girls burdened with the pressure of getting married and then, having to contend with unfair pressures in their marital life. Vaneeza Ahmed was the independent Phuppo, Qudsia Ali, the righteous younger sister, Adnan Samad Khan, the intrusive cousin, Mohammad Ahmed, the stubborn but lovable father and Irsa Ghazal, brilliant as always as the family matriarch.
This one’s going to be watched again and again later, on YouTube.
Favorite Brooding Rich Hero Award – Sheheryar Munawar
Sheheryar Munawar in Kuch Ankahi was the brooding, rich love interest. He dressed to the nines, made caustic comments, carried the weight of past emotional baggage and cocked sardonic eyebrows at the girl he eventually fell in love with, enacted by Sajal Aly.
The drama – a lighthearted, beautiful story – exemplified Sheheryar’s potential for playing the brooding romantic hero, particularly a rich one. He looked great and exuded charm and while he didn’t get the girl ultimately, there were plenty of times when you ended up rooting for him.
Cinema’s Most Promising New Lead Award – Aashir Wajahat in John
John, the gritty movie reveling in the bustling, dangerous side to life in Karachi, was a very interesting watch. The societal commentaries hit right, the spurts of wit added occasional lightness to the narrative and while the movie could certainly have had been shorter, it was still gripping enough to keep you watching right till the end.
The movie’s cast includes the inimitable Saleem Mairaj, Romaisa Khan and Raza Samo delivering impressively and Aashir Wajahat shining in the titular role. Aashir’s subtle, focused performance was an eye-opener, showing his potential as a future cinema star and his willingness to shrug away glamorous roles in favor of more ‘real’ ones.
The movie – which, despite getting critical acclaim, wasn’t a commercial success – showed that Aashir is here to stay.
The Brand Ambassador That Made The Country Go Mad Award – Burak Ozcivit aka Kurulus Osman
High-street heavyweight J. Fragrances brought Turkish superstar, the lead actor from the Kurulus Osman series Burak Ozcivit, to Karachi and the masses proceeded to go mad. Burak turned out to be quite as valiant as the character he plays on-screen, bravely agreeing to tour Karachi’s smattering of malls on the weekend and dressing to the nines in a suit for a meet-and-greet event taking place on a particularly humid evening.
A crazed, massive multitude crowded around him, shoving, screaming, angling their way towards him to get selfies. And at the malls, crowds filled up the floors and the escalators – the videos filtering out on social media were eye-opening!
Burak Ozcivit is a major world-renowned star and the J. group must certainly have forked out a considerable budget in order to have him visit Karachi and tour the city. He certainly generated immense mileage for the brand and for its new fragrance, J. Ruler, launched in collaboration with Burak.
One wonders if the hype also resulted in sales of the perfume.
TV’s Most Promising Young Hero Award – Haroon Kadwani
The young Haroon Kadwani exudes a classic Bollywood appeal. He’s the emotional hero ready to rip apart the world for the girl he loves, the righteous, angry young man who will beat up the bad guys in a second should they antagonize him and the romantic male lead, making silly jokes and dancing happily as he begins to fall in love. He’ll sometimes be sensitive, sometimes aggressive and talk in complex, layered dialogues in a voice ragged with pain. Haroon Kadwani brings a cinematic appeal to TV reminding you of Bollywood romances from the ‘90’s.
And with successive projects, he is honing his craft. This year, he starred in Jhoom opposite Zara Noor Abbas, playing a young man burdened with emotional baggage, facing a very annoying villain and in love with a woman slightly older than him. One of the most arresting scenes in the drama is of his character reuniting with his estranged mother, played by Zainab Qayyum. Crying and shivering, the actors delivered performances that left you with goosebumps. It exemplified Haroon’s prowess in taking on a complicated, nuanced role and his willingness to completely get absorbed in it.
The year was a memorable one for the young actor and the future looks promising.
Best Instagram Comic Award – MoinAzim Graphics
From cricket match wins and losses to political developments to general observations on life in Pakistan, MoinAzim Graphics on Twitter and Instagram has emerged as a page that promptly puts up relevant, thought-provoking content. There are times when the comics are funny, other times when they simply put forward an observation and sometimes, they are deeply poignant. Regardless, this is a page that mirrors the emotions experienced by the country at large at the time.
Dumbest Way to Make a Mockery of India Award – Naseeruddin Shah’s blunder about Sindhi
In summer this year, Bollywood veteran Naseeruddin Shah erroneously stated while promoting his web-series that Sindhi was no longer spoken in Pakistan. It was a genuine mistake, not a huge one – but some Pakistanis decided to build it up into a big deal.
Memes were made and some celebrities even started making videos wearing ajraks, referring to ‘Chacha Naseer’ in Sindhi. In response, the actor eventually released an official statement on Facebook, stating, “Okay, okay. I apologise to the entire Sindhi-speaking population of Pakistan who I seem to have deeply offended by my mistaken opinion. I admit I was ill-informed but is it necessary to crucify me for that? … Actually, I’m quite enjoying being called ‘ignorant’ and ‘pretend intellectual’ after many years of being mistaken for an intelligent person. It’s quite a change!”
While the actor certainly should have done his research without making a sweeping, ill-informed statement, it wasn’t a big enough blunder to rile Pakistan quite so much. And while social media at large may go about with their trolling, at least the country’s lineup of celebrities should have more decorum. We’re cooler than this, really.
TV’s Most Promising Young Hero Award – Usama Khan
You can’t underestimate the talent of young Usama Khan who has slowly and surely been navigating his way through the industry, picking and choosing between roles. He’ll play the side hero, but one with interesting arcs to his character. He’ll play the antagonist but one who is so hateful that you begin enjoying his scenes. And he’ll flip back his hair, flash a careless half-smile at the camera and epitomize the young love interest.
His willingness to try out different characters, his association with projects that tend to become hits, his classic good looks and spot-on dress sense, his performances which are getting more nuanced with time, make Usama one of today’s most promising young heroes. And come next year, he’ll be seen opposite Yumna Zaidi in the movie Nayab.
It looks like there are many more milestones that this young actor will soon achieve.
Bollywood Favorite Award – Faraz Manan
Who wears Faraz Manan? A niche clientele with a penchant for glamor and exquisite embroideries and the wherewithal to purchase his very exclusive luxury-wear. There are also a few others who have been spotted wearing the designer this year – merely the likes of Bollywood stars Shahrukh Khan, Karan Johar, Ranbir Kapoor, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Tara Sutaria and Deepika Padukone!
And while Faraz’s designing prowess speaks for itself and does not require validation from Bollywood, seeing one of our own make waves in Bollywood is still something to cheer about!
Fashion Gamechanger Award – Rastah
Rastah, homespun, homegrown, continues to make Pakistan proud by aiming high and then proceeding to achieve its goals. The brand made history this year by being an official participant at London Fashion Week in February, showcasing in a pop-up exhibit that was open to public viewing. Later in the year, the brand made more international appearances, worn by Anil Kapoor and Justin Bieber! More pop-up exhibits took place in October in NYC and LA.
Far from the madding crowd of local high street brands, Rastah is paving a path of its own and exemplifying that, with the right vision and investment, the fashion game can be changed, stepped up and become global!
Favorite Comic Act on Social Media Award – Ali Gul Pir
Ali Gul Pir was on a roll all, as always. He made funny videos on politics, on cricket, on anything at all that tickled his funny bone! Possibly the most insanely funny video was of him playing news reporter, investigating preparations made in Karachi for the potential onslaught of Cyclone Bijarpoy by navigating the ‘khaddas’ in the city’s DHA area.
So on-point. Laugh out loud funny. He’s everyone’s favorite online comedian.
Pakistan’s Favorite Brand Award – Khaadi
25 years old and going strong, Khaadi is a brand that can be singled out for transforming the Pakistani high-street, reinventing fashion retail and innovating according to the changing trends in the market. CEO Shamoon Sultan’s journey in fashion retail is a veritable case study on the business of Pakistani fashion, with the brand mushrooming from standalone stores with uniform, signature interiors to colossal mega-stores to ‘experience’ hubs for its steady stream of clients.
Expansion has always been part of the Khaadi ethos with the focus being on having a physical presence across the country, and sometimes the world! This year, the brand celebrated the opening of a glamorous mega-store in Lahore’s Y-block area as well as an ‘experience hub’ in Karachi’s Lucky One Mall. Later, Khaadi outlets opened up in Birmingham and Manchester.
Another expansion was made in the re-opening of Kanteen. The restaurant which had opened before the pandemic in the Comm3 mall in Karachi had become a favorite because of its reinvented, delectable take on street-food. It closed down some time later but this year, Kanteen came back with a bang as a standalone restaurant in Karachi’s Dolmen City Mall.
From dishing out irresistible gol gappas to being the most popular destination for high-quality fabric and ready-to-wear, Khaadi continues to rule Pakistan!
Fashion’s Most Creative Award – Fahad Hussayn
Who else but Fahad Hussayn comes to mind when you think of creative design in present-day Pakistani fashion? While many of his peers may have succumbed to the lure of retail and eschewed creative experimentation in favor of repetitive, wearable, sellable clothes, Fahad can’t resist adding his signature to even his lineups of lawn and unstiched formals.
The colorways look different, the embroidered patterns are sketched out (rather than lifted off Pinterest!), there are tiny details that make edgy statements and the shoots are amped up with the aid of artistic lighting and sets, psychedelic makeup and statement accessories also crafted by the designer.
When you view Fahad Hussayn’s e-store or his Instagram page or get to see his show, you get a whiff of his love for design and his vision for doing things his way. His brand and all that it stands for offers a ray of hope in Pakistani fashion’s otherwise desultory landscape.
This Is What The Fashion High Street Should Be All About Award – Jugnu Lahore by Hussain Rehar
Like its namesake, designer Hussain Rehar’s fledgling high-street brand Jugnu Lahore shines bright. It’s the cool side to ready-to-wear; there are fashionable trench coats, asymmetric tunics, culottes, neat buttoned-down kurtas in monochrome and statement handbags that match! The designer signature is certainly evident in the clothes although the prices are a fraction of Hussain’s luxury-wear.
At a time when high-street brands perpetually release yawn-inducing, repetitive design, Jugnu Lahore is for the fashion-savvy who’d rather invest into clothes than stand out rather than humdrum kurtas. Affordable fashion doesn’t have to be boring – Hussain Rehar’s certainly gotten the memo. If only others would too!
Bringing the Universe to Pakistan Award – Erica Robin
Model Erica Robin made the country proud this year by becoming the first ever entrant from Pakistan to be part of the Miss Universe pageant 2023. Moreover, Erica managed to rank amongst the top 20 contestants.
For the longest time, models from Pakistan would consider the swimsuit round of the Miss Universe pageant a deterrent. Given Pakistan’s religion and social climate, it was generally considered impossible that a model from our part of the world could dress up in a swimsuit like the other contenders in order to qualify. Erica solved this problem by simply turning up wearing a burkini – and looking stunning in it too! She also wore a range of other outfits in the contest, including a bespoke design by high-street brand Khaadi.
Her achievements at the pageant were celebrated by Pakistani media and of course, Erica has now opened the doorway for more of her peers. We’re pretty sure we’ll be seeing more Pakistani contenders in the Miss Universe pageant from now on.
‘Bling’in’ it Up! Award – Hasnain Lehri
Hasnain Lehri is ranked amongst one of Pakistan’s top male models and has a portfolio that boasts a wide range of artistic, memorable fashion shoots with top-tier local designers. However, the model may have realized that it was time for him to diversify further, which is why we saw him making his screen debut in season two of popular Netflix reality show Dubai Bling.
Hasnain makes his entry in the seventh episode of the show as the partner of Lebanese reality TV star Loujain ‘LJ’ Adada, who is part of Dubai Bling’s regular cast. He represented Pakistan well, wearing Ismail Farid, speaking eloquently and at the end of the very last episode, he proposed to Loujain. She is yet to reply which means that we might just see more of Hasnain in the next season.
As screen debuts go, this is a very blingy one!
Most Photographed with Pakistanis Award – Sunil Shetty
This strange accolade goes to Bollywood actor Sunil Shetty who visited Florida for a cricket match around the same time as a plethora of Pakistani actors. Much like everyone wants a picture with Mickey Mouse in Disneyland, the popular Mr Shetty was the one everyone wanted to be seen with. We saw him everywhere on desi Instagram; with Aijazz Aslam, Momin Saqib, Ayesha Omar, Sanam Jung, Shaista Lodhi, Shahid Afridi, Naveed Raza and even Pakistan’s most famous cricket buff; Chacha Cricket!
We’ve all grown up watching Sunil Shetty movies of course – the good ones and the bad ones. Evidently, all of Pakistan is his fan.
What do you think?