By Maliha Rehman
‘Tis the season to hand out some completely random awards!
Presenting the ‘Random Year That Was 2025’ Gloss Etc Awards, recognizing major achievements in Pakistan’s entertainment and fashion industries as well as offering candid overviews of a lot that took place all through the year.
There’s a lot that we have to applaud this year – TV was particularly on a high and there are power players in the fashion fraternity who have set themselves apart with their business acumen and innovation. At the same time, there was a lot that was silly, or unnecessary, or simply cringe-worthy!
The following list is all in good fun – cheering for what was exceptional and raising a cynical eyebrow at what wasn’t all that great.
Here come the awards ….
Pakistan’s Most Loved Superstar Award – Hania Aamir
She’s gorgeous, very authentic, a fine actress and her Instagram-feed can be relied on for hilarious content! It’s absolutely been Hania Aamir’s year and rightfully so. She starred opposite Diljit Dosanjh in Sardaar Ji 3 – a movie that released and did great business despite the ongoing turmoil between India and Pakistan. And then, towards the end of this year, her drama Meri Zindagi Hai Tu began airing on ARY Digital and despite seeming to follow a typical ‘toxic hero’ storyline, audiences have been hooked.
She also continues to reign as the most followed Pakistani actress on Instagram and when the India-Pakistan conflict was at its height this summer and Pakistani artists and channels were getting banned on Indian social media, a large chunk of fans from across the border were distressed that they wouldn’t be able to access Hania Aamir’s page!
What also makes Hania very well-loved is her ability to take a joke. When comments are made about her getting botox, she pinpoints it as her ‘new favorite joke’. When fans ask her if she is single, she wisecracks back at them like a pro. She’ll make crazy random videos, roll out behind-the-scenes reels, cheekily hint about her love life and make her vast fandom feel like they are part of her life, spiraling from drama set to events around the world to chit-chats with Hania’s maid! Also, she acts so well.
Most Loved Superstar of the year – onwards and upwards, Hania!
Sizzling On-Screen Chemistry Award
Ali Raza and Anmol Baloch were the stuff of a (censored) Mills & Boon romance in the drama Iqtidar. The two looked great together and had a pretty great idea on how to maintain a sizzling chemistry that kept the audience hooked. Social media buzzed with reels when Anmol’s character – Mehru – stitched a button on to Ali Raza – aka Shahnawaz Shah’s – shirt. And when she fainted and he caught her while roaming around the mountains or when he leans forward to fix her earring, the audience heaved wistful sighs.
And of course, director Fahim Burney knew exactly how to deliver on romance, Bollywood style, ensuring that the drama turned out to be a colossal hit!
Most Photographed in Lahore Award
The award for Most Photographed in Lahore does not go to any model or actor – but to global fashion heavyweight Jimmy Choo who visited Lahore, searching out potential collaborations for the Jimmy Choo Academy, which aims to impart skills to potential designers and help jumpstart their careers.
Visiting various ateliers and attending select social soirees, Jimmy had a lot of positive things to say about Pakistani designers, food and the city of Lahore. And everyone was of course smitten with the notion of rubbing shoulders with veritable fashion royalty. Lots of pictures were taken – loads and loads of pictures – with the unassuming, 76 year old Mr Choo and that’s all you saw on Instagram on that memorable weekend this past spring.
One hopes that Mr Choo does visit again and follows up on his intended collaborations with Pakistani designers – he did show an appreciation for Pakistani craftsmanship.
And when he comes, we will take more pictures.
The TV Romance That We Did Not Believe In Award
Imagine a drama with an extremely powerful cast, headlined by two of Pakistan’s finest talents, Humayun Saeed and Sajal Aly, helmed by one of the country’s finest directors and to have the narrative pivot about an unconvincing romance between a student and a teacher. And to expect the audience to smile benignly when love is discussed at length in university lectures and when students decide to go on strike until the teacher and the student he loves unite. And to burden the plot with multiple, longwinded philosophies of love.
Main Manto Nahi Hoon, to be fair, had its highs – the initial episodes featuring action scenes and the longstanding war between two of the city’s supposedly most dangerous mafia lords – but then it trundled dismally, relying on romance and wishy washy dialogues that didn’t impress.
Romance sells very well in TV dramas, it is true, unless it is this unconvincing.
Best Negative Publicity of a Drama Award
You don’t need a social media troll to diss your drama when you’ve got Khalil Sahab writing your script. You don’t need mean critics to launch into sarcastic critiques when you’ve got Khalil Sahab writing your script.
He’ll do the job very well. If a drama isn’t doing very well – case in point: Sunn Mere Dil – he will declare that his script wasn’t followed to the tee. Or when another drama airs – Main Manto Nahi Hoon – he’ll decide to raise a few eyebrows by declaring in an interview that he didn’t ever want to work with Humayun Saeed again (Manto’s lead actor, who has worked frequently in dramas written by Khalil Sahab).
In a random conversation, he will reveal that he ‘hates’ actor Naumaan Ijaz or that he has ‘forgiven’ Mahira Khan. You don’t need to look in any other direction for negative publicity when you’ve got Khalil ur Rehman Qamar on board.
Best Actor Award
This award is a no-brainer. Undoubtedly, Naumaan Ijaz is Pakistan’s finest actor, with the ability to slip into the skin of every character effortlessly and keep the audience hooked with his performances. Towards the beginning of this year, his drama Bismil wrapped up, where he had played the man combatting a mid-life crisis and succumbing to the lure of a second marriage, putting his family life in jeopardy.
Later, he became the dominating father in Parwarish, who was unable to understand his family’s needs and had to eventually come to terms with his mistakes. And then, he transformed, chameleon-like, into a manipulative mischief-maker in the drama Sharpasand.
Naumaan Ijaz’s performances have always been masterclasses, with him making every character markedly different with his body language, way of speaking and facial expressions. Truly brilliant!
Funniest Cross-border Exchange Award
Some months before conflict heightened between Pakistan and India, Indian entertainer Rakhi Sawant decided that Hania Aamir was ‘a doll’ and a hilarious cross-border exchange ensued over social media.
There was that time when Rakhi felt that Hania should marry Salman Khan, the Instagram reel where Rakhi challenged Hania to a dance-off, the time when Hania invited Rakhi to Pakistan and said she would receive her at the airport and then, following up on this, Rakhi posted a video showing her roaming about a make-believe Pakistani airport!
It was all very funny and a heartwarming example of cross-border camaraderie – until tensions heightened and our borders became barbed.
Best Drama Award
Hum TV Network’s Tann Mann Neel o Neel, directed by Saife Hassan and written by Mustafa Afridi, was truly one of the most remarkable dramas to air on TV this year with its balanced narrative, realistic performances and thought-provoking script. Headlined by a brilliant cast – Shuja Asad, Sehar Khan, Noman Masood, Nadia Afgan, Samiya Mumtaz and Usman Javed – the story delved into complicated human relationships and the dangers of mob violence in an 11 episodes long short drama series that had one hooked.
Very memorable, very impactful, making waves around the world, Tann Mann Neel o Neel was in a league of its own.
Acting Powerhouse Award
Sehar Khan isn’t an actress who likes to slip into comfort zones – instead, it is evident that she likes to challenge herself, taking on diverse roles, lighting up the TV screen with different facets of her craft. This year, she performed brilliantly in the sensitive, hard-hitting Tann Mann Neel o Neel and then went on to enact a lovestruck, endearing djinn in the entertaining Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi.
From the garrulous Ramzan drama heroine to sensitive, nuanced roles, Sehar Khan’s career is soaring high. She has certainly set herself apart as one of the most talented actresses in the Pakistani TV drama-scape.
Best Director Award
Saife Hasan’s name in the credits of a drama tends to be a guarantee that you’re going to be seeing something special. This year, he navigated the heavily emotional storyline of Tann Mann Neel o Neel. Then, he took on the humorous script of Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi, managing to deliver something rare in Pakistani TV drama sphere: a comedy that was actually funny rather than forcing jokes on to the audience.
Saife Hasan’s attention to detail, sensitivity and knack for knowing what clicks with the audience is undeniable. His work tends to attract in both critical and commercial acclaim as well as a plethora of nominations and awards – it’s no surprise.
Best Director Award
Meesam Naqvi has a particular way of extracting very realistic performances from his actors. In the drama that he directed this year, the exceptional Parwarish, one could sense him reveling in exploring the nuanced script and its complicated motley crew of characters. He delivered a range of impactful scenes, sparking off conversations on social media and worked with a diverse cast, consisting of young debutants as well as veterans, making sure that the performances were all at par.
Some very fine direction, indeed.
Rising Star Award
Some may argue that Samar Jafri has been ‘rising’ for a while now. He has slowly and surely been selecting his acting projects, making sure that he takes on roles that are memorable and allow him to prove his acting mettle.
In that case, let’s just say that he ‘rose’ a bit more this year, with a standout performance in Parwarish as a conflicted teen, divided between the desire to fulfill his dreams and his family’s expectations from him. The icing on the cake were the songs that he sung for the drama – beautiful, memorable melodies that he had also composed. From singing like a dream to being a very intuitive actor, Samar is a talent to watch out for.
Towards the tail-end of this year, he went on to win a Lux Style Award for Best Film Actor in the movie Na Baligh Afraad.
He’s risen quite well – shoot for the skies, Samar!
Best Debut Award
Watching Abul Hasan in the drama Parwarish was refreshing. You waited for his scenes, for him to deliver witty one-liners in his casual, street-smart manner. He was, in fact, so effortless sometimes that you would get surprised that he was acting in a full-on role for the first time.
Of course, this young boy is not entirely a stranger to the spotlight. He already had a following on social media before Parwarish, doling out advice and sharing humorous anecdotes through his Instagram page. He made a strong acting debut this year – one hopes to see more of him in the future.
Rising Star Award
Shuja Asad, with his classic good looks and easy charm, turns heads wherever he goes. But there is so much more to him than just good looks and he proved this very well all through this year. In Aye Ishq-e-Junoon, he played the swaggering, sinister bad boy. And then, in the brilliant Tann Mann Neel o Neel, he was the young boy dreaming of being a professional dancer, believing in the goodness of the world around him and forced to face some very harsh realities. He then went on to play the sweet romantic hero who finds himself living with a madcap family in the comedy Paradise.
Willing to take risks, pushing himself into trying out a wide range of characters and enacting them very believably, Shuja Asad is definitely a talent to watch out for.
Acting Powerhouse Award
Mawra Hocane has a very distinctive way of acting, never going over the top, adding charm and relatability to every role that she takes on. Her career boasts a range of very impressive dramas and she can certainly add this year’s Jama Taqseem to this list. It was a pleasure seeing Mawra enact the sincere Laila who becomes the driving force for making changes in the squabbling, complicated joint family that she married into, delivering dialogues that often hit hard.
Mawra also won rave reviews for her performance in the Bollywood movie Sanam Teri Kasam. The 2016 movie re-released this year and became a major surprise hit.
The ease with which she performs is testament to her strength as an actress and invariably, Mawra tends to make you want to smile when she comes on screen.
Best Drama Award
Jama Taqseem, which aired on Hum TV Network this year, was a remarkable watch. The script by Sarwat Nazir and direction by Ali Hassan were both exceptional, exploring the many lessons woven into the storyline, highlighting complicated relationships and the good and bad that is intrinsically part of every human.
While actors Talha Chahour and Mawra Hocane could be categorized as the drama’s ‘leads’, this was truly a drama which belonged to the entire ensemble cast, with different characters taking center stage at different points in the storyline. A prodigious list of actors carried the story forward along with Talha and Mawra, including Javed Sheikh, Beo Raana Zafar, Deepak Perwani, Tazeen Hussain, Hassan Ahmed, Madiha Rizvi, Saad Azhar, Amna Malik as well as young actors Hania Ahmed, Nazeeha Zainab and Elahi Bux Khan.
Peppered with strong morals without ever getting boring and with the kind of scenes that would lead to conversations on social media every week, Jama Taqseem was a fine drama, setting the bar high.
Best On-Screen Transformation Award
Hira Mani may act very well but this year, she went the extra mile and planned out the styling of her characters in great detail. The efforts worked wonders for her, with one looking forward to the sartorial statements that she would make with every role.
Her character in Sunn Mere Dil, may have been burdened by tedious dialogues, but she at least looked great while saying them, her makeup on-point, blow-dry perfected, wearing a curated range of business-wear. In Dayan, she became the tragic heroine, the rich wife dealing with a wayward husband and terrible in-laws, while floating about in glamorous saris set off by elaborate jewelry. And then, in Sharpasand, she looked great as the independent career woman, opting for some very stylish Western-wear and casual Eastern-wear.
The style statements have definitely enhanced the impact that Hira has made on-screen. A great career move, for sure!
Best Singer for Drama OST’s Award
Asim Azhar has a soulful voice and a knack for knowing what clicks with the audience – something that works out perfectly for him when he is singing a drama soundtrack. He is also a pro at singing ballads which is why he swept us away all through 2025 with the soundtracks of two of this year’s most romantic TV dramas – Meem Se Mohabbat and Meri Zindagi Hai Tu.
First came Beqarar Yeh Dil, sung by Asim along with Qirat Haider, implemented perfectly in Meem Se Mohabbat by director Ali Hassan into the scenes where the hero and heroine – Ahad Raza Mir and Dananeer Mobeen – stole glances at each other and navigated their personal demons. Then, towards the end of the year, came Meri Zindagi Hai Tu, topping the charts, complementing the emotional rollercoaster being seen on TV, enacted by Bilal Abbas Khan and Hania Aamir.
Asim also released new singles and went on constant concert tours all through this year and also (ahem) sparked off a lot of conversations on social media. But these songs of his, amplified through popular drama narratives, were all-out hits, playing out in umpteen Instagram reels and being hummed long after the drama episode had wrapped up.
Most Capable of Confusing Fans Award
This strangely worded accolade goes out to Asim Azhar who sings like a dream but also, while releasing new singles, decided to create some social media buzz and prompt celebrity pages on Instagram into releasing gossipy little posts.
Why were Asim and Hania Aamir – who were once in a relationship – suddenly communicating with each other again? Why did Asim’s first single to release as ‘Asim Ali’ have to be his rendition of a popular Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan qawwali with the word ‘Hania’ in it, repeated again and again? What was the shadow of an image – seemingly of the catwalk where Hania had once walked with Asim singing along, back when they were still a couple – doing in Asim’s album announcement video, with the vague caption, ‘Lost and Found’ added in? What, why, how?
The conjecture has been continuing now for weeks and simultaneously, it has possibly drawn an increased audience towards listening to Asim’s newly released singles. Probably, that’s what Asim wanted.
He may have chosen to confuse fans with this gimmickry and give rise to social media gossip while releasing his new songs but beyond the noise, Asim Azhar sings beautifully. And he has a talent for zoning in on popular melodies. The songs are always great, confusion or no confusion.
Best TV Acting Comeback Award
Queenly, impactful, with a gaze that holds you riveted, Saima Noor was the mysterious ‘Phuppo’ in the drama Main Manto Nahi Hoon, talking about loss and revenge and constantly instructing her niece – Sajal Aly’s ‘Mehmal’ – on the wily ways of the heart. Phuppo may have had her flaws – and her dialogues may have sometimes been powerful and at other times, pointless – but it was magical seeing her act after so long.
One crowning moment in the drama was when director Nadeem Baig had her dance to her long-ago Lollywood hit ‘Dil Diyan Lagiyan Nu’ from the movie Majajan. Iconic!
Most Loved Actor Award
There is no denying it – Pakistan loves Humayun Saeed, our eternal hero, the actor that many of us have grown up watching on TV and who still makes us line up outside a cinema to watch a movie. The box office record set by his movie Love Guru is testament to the audience’s faith that when it’s a Humayun Saeed movie, it’s going to entertain.
Even when he stars in an unappealing romantic narrative – Main Manto Nahi Hoon – we are inclined towards acknowledging how well he acted out the role of a bumbling, fumbling Manto Sir. Heck, even when he grins and barely manages a dance sequence at the Hum Awards, we grin along with him. That’s how he has always danced. That’s Humayun Saeed. We may not always agree with a script that he signs on to and we may be hooting and clapping when he entertains us with a movie, but the Pakistani audience has loved him, always.
They continue to do so.
Best Actress Award
When it’s a TV drama starring Yumna Zaidi, you can count on it being memorable, on delivering scenes that make a mark and powerful dialogues. This year, Yumna was outstanding in the drama Qarz e Jaan, expertly portraying the emotional upheaval that her character goes through and making the audience root for her.
Steering her career from one impactful role to the other, Yumna stands out as one of the very few Pakistani actresses who can draw the audience to a project when her name is in the credits. Truly one of our very best!
Rising Star Award
Nameer Khan has been carefully building his career, positioning himself into roles that have impressed. His performance in Qarz e Jaan, enacting a troubled young man slipping off the edge, won rave reviews. He followed this up with Main Manto Nahi Hoon, where he tried to make the most of a relatively small role. While one wishes that he had had more screen time, his name alongside a heavy-duty ensemble cast was an indication that directors and producers had faith in him and that the future held the promise of bigger, better roles.
And now, towards the end of 2025, it has been announced that he will be starring in Aik Aur Pakeezah, a Kashf Foundation project, directed by Kashif Nisar, co-starring Sehar Khan.
2026 is looking good for this young actor!
Best Drama Award
iDream Entertainment’s Sharpasand, airing on ARY Digital, has truly been in a league of its own, manipulating social commentary in a story that is consistently engaging. Credit for the drama’s exceptional narration have to be given to writer Sara Sadain Syed and director Aehsun Talish, who has translated the script on to the screen with extreme attention to detail and doing a brilliant job.
The drama is also bolstered by a very powerful cast: among them, Naumaan Ijaz, Nadia Afgan, Hira Mani, Affan Waheed, Hareem Farooq and Seemi Pasha and young actors Ahsan Afzal Khan, Hassam Irfan, Zuni Sheikh, Saba Bukhari, Sabahat Sheikh and Sarah Aijaz Khan.
The story is well-paced, moving from one scene to the other, and the messages layered within it have been hard-hitting. One of the finest entertainers to have premiered on TV in 2025.
Best Actor Award
Bilal Abbas Khan has an innate ability to simply take over the screen, to slip into the skin of a diverse range of characters and make them likeable and believable. Following up on the spectacular success of Ishq Murshid in 2024, he made magic in Meri Zindagi Hai Tu in 2025. He may have been playing the toxic hero, inclined towards stalker behavior, but somehow, one ended up leaning towards his problematic Kamiar, even wanting him to make amends and eventually get the girl he loves.
An actor like that can be dangerous by the way, making the audience turn a kind eye even towards the most troubled characters! But that’s Bilal Abbas Khan for you, coming to life on screen with a range of characters, emoting not just through dialogues and with his eyes and body language.
One of our very best.
Best Director Award
Ali Hasan helmed two of the year’s biggest hits this year; the romantic Meem Se Mohabbat and the socially relevant Jama Taqseem. His manipulation of both markedly different scripts was testament to his understanding of what works for the audience.
With Meem Se Mohabbat, Ali explored a full-on romance, with family ties and beautiful settings added in to the mix. His understanding of the truly romantic moments – the ones that have generated extensive fandoms ‘shipping’ lead actors Ahad Raza Mir and Dananeer Mobeen – adding in music and closeups was particularly noteworthy.
Ali’s work in Jama Taqseem was perhaps even more impressive, handling different themes, a diverse motley crew of characters and dividing screen time equally between a stellar ensemble cast.
With two hits dramas to his credit, Ali Hasan has been soaring high all through 2025.
Acting Powerhouse Award
Back when Ahad Raza Mir had made his acting debut, he had been likened to Mr Darcy – Pride and Prejudice’s brooding hero. Now, several years down the line, Ahad continues to epitomize the classic romantic hero and he highlighted this yet again with his performance in Meem Se Mohabbat.
The drama may have essentially been a feel-good romance but Ahad turned his role into an acting masterclass, sinking his teeth into enacting the hero burdened by guilt and memories of a tragic past. The slight nuances were what gripped – the subtle hunching of his shoulders, the stricken face and then, the softening of his expressions as he slowly fell in love. And lo and behold, a drama that could have been slotted in as a basic rom-com suddenly had shades, prompted discussions, started being analyzed.
When Ahad Raza Mir is part of a project, you can always expect something special.
Most Disappointing Non-release Award
This unfortunate accolade goes to Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samait Lo, Pakistan’s first original series for OTT giant Netfllix, which was scheduled to release around the summer of 2025 and fell victim to the conflicts between India and Pakistan. One had been very excited to see it. This was going to be Pakistan’s victory over the political red-tape that had so far made platforms like Netflix and Prime unreachable. And we were going to be watching the enactment of a script written by the brilliant Farhat Ishtiaq, featuring an extensive cast including Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed, Ahad Raza Mir, Iqra Aziz, Hania Aamir, Bilal Ashraf, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Khushhal Khan, Maya Ali, Ahmed Ali Akbar and Maya Ali, among others.
Many of the actors had already started talking about the series in interviews. The social media buzz was there. And then, cross-border tensions heightened.
While the producers – Hum TV Network and MD Productions – have not released any statement yet, it is obvious that the delay has something to do with Pakistan’s neighbor next door. Oh, well. We’ve waited for long enough – we’ll just have to wait some more.
Best Villain Award
Main Manto Nahi Hoon made have had its highs and lows but it delivered some exceptional performances and topping this list was Azaan Sami Khan as the villain in the drama’s love story. Swaggering, sneering, threatening and toting guns, Azaan was in his element, shrugging away the ‘hero’ image that has been associated with him for far too long and becoming evil, a bit psychotic and very, very dangerous.
And anyone who knows Azaan Sami Khan – personally or even through his social media – knows that he’s a good guy through and through, with friends all across the industry and peers praising his professionalism. This was very good acting, indeed and one hopes to see this young actor take on similarly complicated roles in the future.
Best Villain Award
Gohar Rasheed has the ability to take on a character and make your blood boil. To leer and smirk and make calculated comments that have you hating his character. With his extraordinary acting skills, Gohar is also very capable of making you like his character and root for him – but lately we’ve usually seen him put out outstanding performances as a villain.
This year, his villainy set new benchmarks with Goonj, where he took on a script revolving around workplace harassment with such skill that you could end up thinking that he wasn’t acting at all and what you were seeing on screen was real! Then, he went on to become the corrupt policeman in Case No.9, veering from manipulation to lying in court to turning sheepish as he starts getting caught out!
Undoubtedly, Gohar is truly one of the best villains in the Pakistani drama-scape – also, best actor.
Best Drama Award
Case No.9 on Geo Entertainment has raised the bar in drama storytelling with its strong narrative. It is rare for a Pakistani drama to base its storyline on facts and figures, delving into a courtroom drama with accuracy and gripping with twists and turns that feel real because they are, in fact, inspired by actual events.
The effort put into the drama is evident: Shahzeb Khanzada as scriptwriter, Abdullah Kadwani and Asad Qureshi of 7th Sky Entertainment as producers, Wajahat Hussain as director and a standout cast, including Saba Qamar, Faysal Quraishi, Junaid Khan, Naveen Waqar, Hina Khawaja Bayat, Ahmed Randhawa, Rushna Khan, Gohar Rasheed, Aamina Sheikh, Noor ul Hassan and Shehryar Zaidi.
A truly exceptional watch – paving the way for more sophisticated, well-researched storytelling in Pakistan’s drama industry.
Best Drama Award
Parwarish on ARY Digital was in a league of its own, balancing out a diverse mix of characters and their emotional journeys with great sensitivity. The drama boasted a heavy duty cast; Shamim Hilaly, Arshad Mehmood, Naumaan Ijaz, Savera Nadeem, Samar Jafri, Aina Asif, Abul Hassan, Reham Rafiq, Nazar ul Hassan, Bakhtawar Mazhar, Nooray Zeeshan, Haleema Ali, Saman Ansari and Meesam Naqvi, among others.
However, the star of the shows were also scriptwriter Kiran Siddiqui, who had penned a story which was relatable, modern and thought-provoking, and director Meesam Naqvi who expertly manipulated the emotional layers and developed characters that became memorable.
One of the most brilliant dramas to have released in 2025, produced by Big Bang Entertainment.
Best Drama Award
Qarz e Jaan on the HUM TV Network had us hooked with its narrative, touching upon romance, complicated family relations, the plights of a widow, the consequences of drug abuse and vicious cultural norms. With a stellar cast on board – Yumna Zaidi, Usama Khan, Nameer Khan, Tazeen Hussain, Deepak Perwani, Faisal Rehman and Sakina Samo amongst others – there were many points in the drama that shocked or reduced the audience to tears.
Saqib Khan’s direction was exceptional, the script by Rabia Razzaque was deeply intuitive and the performances were particularly brilliant. While the ending could have been more well-knit, it was still one of the most memorable dramas to have aired on TV this year.
Powerhouse Producer Award
Abdullah Seja, CEO at iDream Entertainment, has a knack for knowing what the audience likes and a passion for dabbling with a diverse range of projects. One after the other, this year he has produced dramas that have won commercial as well as critical acclaim. His Sher was an absolute commercial hit and it has been followed by the exceptional Sharpasand, headlined by Naumaan Ijaz and directed by Aehsun Talish. Paying special attention to detail, selecting storylines that grip, investing time and effort into creating memorable soundtracks and making sure that every drama he produces is markedly different from the previous one, Abdullah Seja is definitely one of the foremost power players in the Pakistani drama industry today.
Visionary Award
HUM TV Network President Sultana Siddiqui chose to return to the producer’s chair in 2024 with three short drama series highlighting the dangers of mob violence. The last of these dramas, Tann Mann Neel o Neel, wrapped up in early 2025, setting a benchmark with its intelligent, sensitive narrative and the hard-hitting message it delivered.
Winning acclaim around the world, the drama raised the bar in Pakistan’s entertainment industry and was an indication that the TV drama audience was eager to watch interesting storylines that gave out strong messages while also entertaining. It also indicated Sultana Siddiqui’s standing as a visionary, invested into innovating within the TV drama industry.
Best Script Award
Shahzeb Khanzada’s script for Case No.9 was in a league of its own, mixing fact with fiction, utilizing statistics in order to push forward his story, intelligently moving from courtroom drama to the various characters’ personal spaces in order to keep things interesting. Not only does the drama encourage victims to turn to the law instead of getting intimidated by societal prejudice, its all-out popularity implies that factually correct, powerful storylines have immense potential to win both commercial and critical acclaim.
Best Script Award
Kiran Siddiqui’s intuitive understanding of human relations, her ability to balance out a diverse range of characters and storylines and ability to write a story that is relatable and progressive came to light in the script that she wrote for the drama Parwarish.
While the drama’s direction and the performances by the cast were also beyond par excellence, Kiran’s script provided the essential backbone that made the drama exceptional.
Pakistan’s Most Loved Hero Award
You may not agree with him popularizing toxic love on TV. And he should ideally not appear in TV talk shows because he tends to throw about opinions ‘filhaal’ that have the senses reeling. Nevertheless, there is no denying Danish Taimoor’s colossal popularity. The ratings of his dramas are testament to this, hauling in high viewership whether he is the toxic hero in Mann Mast Malang or the tortured young man in Sher.
His star power is immense and while 2025 did land him into a bit of controversy, the love that Danish got this year was also eye-opening. Such all-out adulation is rare – this award truly does belong to Danish Taimoor.
Cross Border Sensation Award
Sanam Teri Kasam, the Bollywood movie from 2016 starring Indian actor Harshvardhan Rane and Mawra Hocane, re-released this year and while earlier, it hadn’t made many headlines, this time it became an absolute hit!
The film’s cast and crew were over the moon and many major Bollywood names – Vidya Balan, Anil Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan – congratulated the team on social media.
Unfortunately, the movie’s success story took an ugly turn when conflict broke lose between Pakistan and India. Mawra Hocane’s image was edited out from the movie’s poster and the movie’s hero, Harshvardhan Rane, took the opportunity to prove his patriotism by asserting that he would not want to work with Mawra again. Mawra responded to his jingoism by quipping that she was feeling ‘second hand embarrassment’ for him and posting her feelings on her Instastories.
It is sad – Sanam Teri Kasam’s success had been a win for artists on both sides of the border and particularly a boost to Bollywood, which has been burdened with far too many flops of late. Political vendettas and propaganda spoilt this success story.
Proof that Ramzan Shows Need To Do Better Award
One of this year’s most cringe-worthy moments was when a supposed religious ‘maulana’ appeared in ‘Piyara Ramzan’, hosted by Javeria Saud, and proposed that electric bills could be reduced simply by writing a religious word (‘zam zam’!) on an electric meter. The clip led to plenty of ridicule on social media, lots of jokes and memes.
It was funny but if one delved deeper, the entire episode was ridiculous and a sad indication of how religion can be used as a tool to propose just about anything under the guise of holiness. Religious shows airing on TV need to be produced with more responsibility.
Smash Hit Theatre Award
Monkey Business, helmed by Yasir Hussain, was like a breath of fresh air in Pakistan’s fluctuating thespian landscape. Taking inspiration from the hilarious format set on stage by the late Umer Sharif, Yasir put his characteristic wit into play in putting together a script that had the audience rolling with laughter and lining up to watch the show yet again.
Helped along by some very talented actors, Monkey Business was a smash-hit and made one hope that the team will return with more stage productions in the future.
Acting Sensation Award
2025 was undoubtedly Faysal Quraishi’s year. Then again, an actor of his stature doesn’t really get limited by a year – his performance in every one of his projects get noticed, regardless of whether the project itself is a hit or not.
This year, one saw Faysal transform, chameleon-like, in the challenging Behroopiya. He impressively enacted a mentally challenged man in Raja Rani. In Case No.9, he slipped into the skin of a manipulative aggressor and in the movie Deemak, he was a man balancing filial loyalty while battling supernatural elements.
Faysal was simply sensational every time he came on screen.
Acting Sensation Award
Nadia Afgan has the quiet ability to transform into a character. She may sometimes get relegated into cookie-cutter maternal roles – this year’s Sher, for instance – but the moment she gets cast as a more nuanced character, she seems to rejoice into delivering a strong performance.
This year, she stirred emotions in Tann Mann Neel o Neel, was hilarious in Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi and has been brilliant as Naumaan Ijaz’s partner-in-crime in Sharpasand. An extremely talented actress, Nadia Afgan always adds value to any drama that she acts in.
Hit Movie Award
Love Guru was the sort of entertainer that Pakistani film audiences had been craving for. Starring Humayun Saeed and Mahira Khan, among others, the movie was bolstered by a witty script characteristic of Vasay Chaudhry and director Nadeem Baig’s eye for capturing beautiful frames and adding some good ol’ fashioned filmy magic!
The music was fun. The comic sequences had cinema halls laughing. The romance was believable. And Humayun and Mahira acted so well and looked great together on screen.
Hauling in profits at the box office, the movie gives one hope that while Pakistani cinema may still be struggling, it may still eventually emerge as a lucrative industry.
Not Worth The Hype Award
The long-awaited Neelofar, starring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, was a wistful, beautifully filmed romance which got lost along the way. The frames were outstanding, the music, very melodious, and Fawad and Mahira were in their element, reminding one of that ‘Humsafar’ magic of yore. The script, however, fell short, relying on far too many repetitive discussions and missing out on providing enough twists to keep the audience hooked.
The movie was an apt one-time watch and certainly found its audience amongst Fawad and Mahira’s immense fan-following and those who prefer slow romances without too many complications. But one had expected so much more from Neelofar. One had hoped for at least some plausible highs and lows in the story.
The movie just couldn’t live up to its pre-release hype.
Musical Extravaganza Award
The Pakistan Idol show made its return to TV this year and developed a cult audience who tuned into it regularly. Not only did the show manage to showcase the immense nascent musical talent within Pakistan, it also reminded one of the many beautiful songs in Pakistan’s musical history.
With judges Bilal Maqsood, Fawad Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Zeb Bangash providing constructive, sometimes incisive, criticism the show has been a musical extravaganza and one hopes that it continues to air every year.
Favorite Groom Award
Dulha ho toh Hasan Raheem jaisa!
Not only is the singer very popular, churning out multiple hits, performing at sold-out concerts across the country, he also proved to be this year’s ‘favorite groom’. Dressed in traditional attire, Hasan enjoyed his wedding immensely, dancing, laughing with friends and posing with his bride. During the week that Hasan Raheem got married, one couldn’t open Instagram without seeing a reel of him dancing.
So much fun. Favorite dulha, for sure!
Best Shouting Award
This dubious accolade goes to Nadia Khan who set new benchmarks with her frequent bouts of shouting. With possibly a strong understanding of what attracts viewership ratings, Nadia decided to appoint herself as Pakistan’s moral police – telling Fawad Khan and Hania Aamir that ‘they should be ashamed’ during the Pak-India conflict (later deciding that she was quite fond of Hania Aamir) and attacking Talha Anjum with her high-pitched blame game, questioning his patriotism.
The ratings truly came in. But at what cost, Nadia Khan? The sad thing is, any constructive observations that she may also have made got drowned out by all that shouting.
Cringe Award
Much has been said on social media about the show Lazawal Ishq, which features young boys and girls participating in a ‘Love Island’ format, trying to find their soul mate. The desi audience has been appalled, asking that oft-asked question: Is this the Islamic republic of Pakistan?
We’ll set aside the moral discussions and just focus on how tacky the show has been. Salacious cameraman have had no qualms with zooming in on women’s body parts in the show, the conversations and the flirtations have been ridiculous and the entire show is just completely cringe-worthy.
Why did Ayesha Omar agree to be part of this show at all, as the host? And has anyone truly watched it except in order to get a few laughs or for cheap thrills?
Best Actress Award
Saba Qamar is an actress beyond par excellence and she proved this again and again this year. Week after week, Pakistani TV became a Saba Qamar extravaganza, with stellar, heartrending performances in Pamaal, Case No.9 and most recently, Muamma. Chameleon-like, Saba slipped into the skin of these diverse characters.
Had someone else been enacting the roles, perhaps the story wouldn’t have made impact. But when Saba Qamar comes on screen, she makes you cry, gives you goosebumps, riles up emotions. She’s always been a queen – this award, dedicated to her work in 2025, is merely an acknowledgement.
Most Crying in A Drama Award
Kudos to the cast of Sunn Mere Dil for squaring their shoulders stolidly and taking on a script where they were expected to cry again and again and again. The characters would totter drunkenly and cry, give each other fake sleeping pills and cry, philosophize endlessly about love and cry.
One could sense the rampant use of glycerin on set because it is unlikely that such a constant flood of tears could be summoned naturally. This award belongs to this motley crew – hopefully, they will opt to smile more in their next few projects!
Global Hit Award
Imran Ashraf has always been extremely well-loved as an actor as well as a host in the TV show Mazaaq Raat and this year, he flexed some major global clout with his Indian Punjabi movie Enna Nu Rehna Sehna Ni Aaunda. Watched avidly by fans of Punjabi cinema around the world and particularly running to packed cinema halls in Pakistan, the movie was testament to Imran’s extensive fanbase.
Truly impressive!
Most Disappointing TV Drama Award
To be fair, there were a lot of dramas that disappointed in 2025 but Biryani particularly fits the bill because it started out extremely well. The performances were exceptional, the script was beautifully written and the screen looked beautiful.
Unfortunately, the drama fell victim to multiple flashbacks and long, repetitive delays to the extent that the audience lost interest in the story – one that had intrigued them endlessly in the beginning!
Truly disappointing. One wishes that the makers had been more concerned about keeping the narrative interesting rather than prolonging it.
Acting Powerhouse Award
Slowly, surely, Zara Noor Abbas has been navigating her career, selecting roles that allow her to explore her craft. This year, she starred in Ek Jhooti Kahani which suffered because of its half-baked storyline but did manage to highlight Zara’s incredible comic timing. She then went on to deliver a heartbreaking, very realistic performance in Dil Dhhondta Hai Phir Wohi.
Never over the top, relying on realism instead of an overload of emotions, it’s surprising that Zara Noor Abbas is so underrated – even prior to this year, her career has been distinguished by some very powerful enactments. It’s unfortunate that her projects in 2025 did not do justice to her acting talent and one looks forward to seeing much more of her in the future.
Acting Powerhouse Award
Zahid Ahmed’s acting prowess is undeniable – he enjoys adding fine details to his character, searching out challenges, making the heart break with his on-screen characters’ emotional turmoil.
This year, Zahid was in his element as a man suffering from frontotemporal dementia in the drama Dil Dhoondta Hai Phir Wohi. One scene after the other, he portrayed his character’s journey; the denial following getting diagnosed with the disease, the pain and the slow disintegration of the senses.
It’s unfortunate that the drama suffered due to its weak storyline, banking on tragedy without offering much relief. Zahid’s performance, on the other hand, was flawless.
Most Iconic Award
She’s one of Pakistan’s most famous names, absolutely gorgeous and most importantly, extremely well-loved. All through her career, Mahira Khan has set an example of how a star should truly be, challenging herself with varied roles, connecting with fans constantly, expressing her opinion with honesty and addressing controversy with a dry sense of humor.
In Love Guru, she epitomized the classic rom-com heroine; with Neelofar, she experimented with playing a blind girl. The latter role may not have had many fans but Mahira took it with a pinch of salt, dryly discussing the memes and the reviews in an interview, expressing her own point of view.
She also didn’t deter from asserting her patriotism during the Pak-India conflict, despite being one of Pakistan’s very few artists to have a huge fan following across the border. That’s what’s wonderful about Mahira Khan. She’ll grin and raise her eyebrows in an Instastory when social media is conjecturing over her having gotten cosmetic surgery, she’ll address wardrobe malfunctions, she’ll celebrate the good and the bad. She’ll joke and she’ll make valid points and she’ll keep things real.
And in doing so, she sets an example for others. Truly iconic.
Best On-Screen Couple Award
Khushhal Khan and Ramsha Khan’s romance in the drama Biryani was the stuff of fireworks, laden with heavy duty chemistry, with just the right bit of angst, yearning and pure mush! While both actors put forward strong performances individually – transforming very believably into their characters – it was when they were together that the audience was particularly riveted.
It is unfortunate that Biryani’s narrative suffered immensely towards the end with longwinded dialogues, flashbacks and repetitive scenes. It still doesn’t undermine Khushhal and Ramsha’s positioning as the Best On-screen Couple on TV this year.
Hit Movie Award
No one knew what to expect from Deemak, a supernatural thriller directed by Rafay Rashdi, featuring actors Faysal Qureshi, Samina Peerzada and Sonya Hussyn among others. It was a welcome surprise when the movie turned out to be such an entertainer, delivering thrills, chills and packing in some very eerie special effects.
With fine performances and intuitive direction, Deemak proved that Pakistani cinema was not quite in the shambles that one assumed it to be. And that the audience was ready to buy tickets to watch unconventional storylines as long as they were told well.
Sharam Se Doob Marr Jaao Award
This one’s dedicated to all of us. The Dhurandhar soundtrack has been blaring out proudly from every dance floor at every winter wedding across Pakistan. We are just so smitten with Bollywood that we don’t care that these songs are from a movie that reveled in smearing Pakistan’s repute, painting out a messed-up, factually incorrect image of Karachi, unabashedly pushing forward the narrative that Pakistan is a terrorist nation crawling with criminals.
No, we just like the beat and it’s easy to dance to – we deserve this award.
Best Brand Award
Sania Maskatiya is one of the most coveted names in Pakistani fashion today and with good reason, too. From crafting exquisite bridals to applying a fine eye for quality, texture, embellishment and color to regular pret and luxury-wear lines to headlining one of the most beautiful luxury unstitched lines every year, it is no wonder that crowds never stop filing into Sania Maskatiya stores.
It’s true, though, that one misses the brand’s fashion show collections of yore, when the designer would apply conventional design elements to experimental silhouettes and mix and match bursts of color and embroidery on to apparel that was very fashion forward. In contrast, the Sania Maskatiya aesthetic today has evolved according to the changing tastes of the Pakistani market – the experimentation is still there but it is less evident, implemented into embellishments and cuts that have to ultimately be wearable and flattering to the Pakistani figure.
This is understandable – Sania Maskatiya has always been a high-end designer brand and also a very business savvy one. One hopes for more experimentation in the future but the brand truly is our very best.
Most Impractical Fashion Trend Award
The farshi shalwar became a trend earlier this year. Top-tier fashion brands put it forward and it was worn by popular actresses. Then, the high street caught on and every brand decided to dabble with the baggy shalwar that slid across the floor when you walked and had to be held up (like a gharara) when you went up stairs. Fahad Mustafa took on the challenge of wearing a farshi during a Ramzan Jeeto Pakistan show. Actors and actresses wore their farshis proudly on Eid. Ayeza Khan took it upon herself to remind everyone that they were late to the game and she wore the farshi shalwar ages ago.
As predicted, though, the trend didn’t last for too long. Who would want to burdened with a shalwar that swept the floor while you walked? And one which got matted with grime should you have to talk down a dusty, musty road? This year’s most impractical fashion trend.
International Power-player Award
Faiza Saqlain has been quietly building her brand with a vision for business, a passion for what she does and a knack for knowing what her customers are looking for. She isn’t into unnecessary networking, nor is she one to go about bragging about her success. Instead, she has let her work speak for her.
And we’re hearing her success story, loud and clear! From building a thriving business online to expanding to brick and mortar stores in Lahore and then, Karachi, this year Faiza took on the international arena with her first store in Dubai.
The glossy two-storied studio in the high-end Jumeirah Dubai area is stocked with her latest lines for men and women, the wedding-wear as well as the lighter luxury formals. It’s all very pretty, very festive and the location is spot-on – Dubai being a popular middle ground where people around the world converge and shop happily!
With regular collections, fashion campaigns that always attract eyeballs and – most importantly – a constant focus on making her brand bigger and better, Faiza is definitely a fashion power player. And she has made us proud, being amongst some of the very few Pakistani designers to now have expanded internationally, merely 12 years after she first debuted as a designer.
Trendsetter Award
Trends are set in motion from the Hussain Rehar atelier, introducing new variations of the Eastern silhouette, adding oomph with statement jewelry, playing with color, embroidery and accessories to curate high fashion looks. It’s no wonder that designer Hussain Rehar’s luxury-wear eponymous label is a hot favorite, his ready-to-wear Jugnu line sells out fast and socialites across the country (and even beyond) are now making a beeline for his newly launched Jeevan.
What’s also notable about the Hussain Rehar brand is how an effort is made to create entire looks centered around an outfit. The hair, the accessories, the makeup, even the lighting in a campaign is planned to the tee, ensuring that every outfit looks unique and covetable. One noticed a similar attention to detail when the designer created looks for celebrities at the 24th Lux Style Awards. The clothes were complemented with inventive hairstyles and on-point makeup. The time and effort invested into making every outfit look great is notable.
Similarly, Hussain Rehar is consistently building upon his brand, from releasing regular bridal-wear, luxury-wear, ready-to-wear and unstitched collections to venturing out on to a Parisian runway, indicating that he is ready to put more focus on the international market.
Setting trends, building his business, catching eyeballs. This award truly belongs to Hussain Rehar.
Most Glamorous Award
Iqbal Hussain knows how to spin high-octane glamor. With his designs, he has managed to master the balancing act between wearability and innovation. And then, he adds oomph with a range of eye-catching fashion campaigns.
The attention to detail, the experimental play of silhouette and embellishment, the eye for color and texture and then, putting it all together in some gorgeous looks make Iqbal Hussain a very glamorous brand. And judging from the extensive number of women wearing Iqbal Hussain, both within Pakistan and internationally, everyone wants to get on to his high fashion bandwagon.
International Fashion Icon Award
Faraz Manan continues to rule the roost as Pakistan’s only designer to have established himself in the international fashion diaspora. His designs are beautifully embellished and the finishing, impeccable, in line with the demands of his niche clientele in Pakistan and abroad. He’s a designer for the who’s who, the ones who have an eye for Faraz’s particular brand of razzle dazzle and select just him for their special occasions.
You’ll see Faraz Manan outfits in the most exclusive of weddings in Pakistan and abroad. You’ll see Bollywood celebrities saving their Faraz Manan outfits for the most special occasions – regardless of Pak-India relations because the designer has had the foresight to establish his image as a brand that also has its base in Dubai. An Aalia Bhatt will be spotted in Faraz Manan in a special Diwali campaign for L’Oreal.
And then, you’ll see Faraz slotted amongst the world’s fashion heavyweights, handpicked to be part of the Business Of Fashion’s (BOF) 500 list for the second year in a row.
His quiet, assured way of building his brand and his complete lack of braggadocio as he sets one benchmark after the other is truly impressive. He’s our international fashion success story – onwards and upwards you go, Faraz!
Best Menswear Designer Award
Designer Emraan Rajput has a gimlet eye for cuts and silhouettes. He plays with the finest of fabrics and the most dainty embellishments. He’s as much as a pro at fashioning a sherwani as he is at cutting a suit, dabbling with formal-wear and then, shifting focus to easy breezy androgynous streetwear.
Menswear is entirely dependent on finishing; the neatness of the collar, the exact length of the shoulders and the sleeves, the right fall of the fabric. Emraan is one of the rare few in Pakistani fashion who understands this. His formal menswear never disappoints and his streetwear line, Era by Emraan Rajput, is a breath of fresh air, introducing playful casual shirts and pants, linen suits, statement jackets.
One hopes to see Emraan Rajput explore and innovate more in the future.
Best Fashion Campaigns Award
Fahad Hussayn doesn’t enjoy the ordinary. Perhaps it just isn’t possible for him to come up with a generic fashion shoot. He’d rather create a stage for his various lines – the menswear, the womenswear, the unstitched lines, the accessories – dabbling with fairytale settings, a colorful desi shaadi, a world replete with jinns and churails, phoenixes and dragons spewing fire.
He won’t stop there. Original music will be created to complement the designs and music videos will be filmed. When it’s a Fahad Hussayn fashion shoot, you can always expect a fashion experience rather than a look at merely clothes.
Over the years, Pakistani fashion’s most creative campaigns can certainly be credited to the Fahad Hussayn atelier. Also, some very theatrical catwalk shows are attributed to him.
With his business growing and him having expanded from his homebase in Lahore to a brick-and-mortar store in Karachi, one also hopes to see him experiment more with his design aesthetics. And one hopes that his passion for fabulous fashion campaigns continues!
Best Male Model Award
Ghulam Nabi has distinct, sculpted features, a unique swagger and a way of flirting with the camera. He’s also got porcelain like skin that makes him stand out and a lean, androgynous physique fit for the global runway. All through this year, he has been seen in umpteen campaigns, dabbling with sleek suits, smart-casual menswear and then, going desi with kurta shalwars, waistcoats and sherwanis. He has been memorable every time.
It’s not just that this young boy is very goodlooking – he knows how to smolder from the camera, he can project mystery, sensuality, supernatural magic and – most importantly for the menswear designers taking him on board – make the clothes he wears look sensational.
With his varied repertoire, he can easily be slotted as 2025’s Best Male Model.
Best Female Model Award
She isn’t just a pretty face. She experiments. She adds oomph. She can slip into a slinky little dress just as effortlessly as into a heavy duty embroidered lehnga. At a time when the catwalk has become more or less non-existent in Pakistan’s fashion sphere, Yasmeen Hashmi has been standing out with her work in fashion campaigns dotted all through the year.
Sure, Yasmeen can play the pretty Pakistani girl next door so popular with desi high-street brands but those shoots, all so similar, tend to be forgettable. What one particularly remembers are the times Yasmeen plays the siren. The way she flirts with the camera.
One may not have seen her on the catwalk but we’re going to skip out on considering runway walks until fashion shows make a surefire return. Based on her work in multiple fashion campaigns, Yasmeen Hashmi is the Best Female Model for 2025.
Best Fashion Photographer Award
Asad bin Javed has a talent for transforming a fashion campaign into art. He will play with light and shadow, stillness and movement, and tilt his camera lens just so, ensuring that the final image grabs the attention.
Even the most commercial brands gain a high fashion edge with Asad bin Javed behind the camera. And his work has been extremely consistent – ricocheting from mens sherwanis and suitings to women’s unstitched suits to wedding-wear to unnerving, dramatic shots captured purely for the love of fashion.
There is no doubt that he stands apart as the Best Fashion Photographer in 2025.
Best Makeup Artist
Qasim Liaqatt’s wizardry is inimitable. He is just as capable of creating traditionally beautiful looks as he is of creating drama and shock value. He’s the most popular choice for dulhans wanting to look their best on their big day and just as in demand with fashion designers planning out campaigns that stand out.
Artistic, innovative and very hard working, Qasim has been ruling the roost for a while now and it is for good reason to. The Best Makeup Artist award for 2025 truly belongs to him.
What do you think?