The boy-meets-girl-and-encounters-obstacle trope, as even Shakespeare knew, will forever stand the test of time. With Pakistani television rife with romantic pairings left, right, and centre, the boy-girl-obstacle trope is one that directors and producers have seized upon like it is the last lifeboat on the Titanic – with spectacular results. And if social media is to be believed, when a parade of actors who are easy on the eyes are thrown into the mix, fans are happy to turn a blind eye to “choppy editing” and “planet-sized plot holes”.
If Pakistani showbiz is rife with romantic pairings, it is also rife with actors who are fortunate enough to be both skilled and gorgeous. To the delight of hardcore Pakistani drama fans up and down the country, here are four pairs of actors who have found undeniable chemistry onscreen when banding together for the first time.
Sheheryar Munawar and Hiba Bukhari in Radd
Joining forces for the first time, Sheheryar and Hiba take the reins in Radd. With only six episodes in, the show is shaping up to be an exciting new treat for viewers. Hiba plays Emaan, the woman whose spirit we all yearn to embody: independent, and unafraid to speak her mind. Opposite her is Sheheryar’s tortured artist Salaar. In stark contrast to Pakistani television heroes, Salaar works in a simple shop and is a painter when he is not working. Sheheryar’s subtle nuances breathe life into the quiet Salaar, portraying old storylines in a new way. Emaan and Salaar may be plagued by the same domestic problems that have hounded drama characters since the dawn of showbiz, but the talented duo breathe new life into an age-old tale, keeping fans on the edge of their seats with each episode.
Bilal Abbas and Durefishan Saleem in Ishq Murshid
The theatrical release of the final Ishq Murshid episode is imminent, and fans across social media have devoted hours upon hours to writing a thesis on whether Bilal Abbas’s Shahmeer/Fazl should be forgiven for the lies that befell his lips to woo the love of his life, Durefishan’s Shibra. When taking into account Bilal’s “next-level” acting and the genes that gave him that face, even the most ruthless of fans are willing to overlook the “reddest of red flags”. With Durefishan’s powerful yet subdued presence snowballed to create Shibra, the pair have carried through a beloved drama from start to finish.
Faysal Qureshi and Durefishan Saleem in Khaie
In a gripping revenge saga, Durefishan’s Zamda strikes a chord with her fans yet again, this time starring opposite Faysal’s black-hearted Channar for the first time. Not for the faint-hearted, the drama tells the riveting tale of tribal men who seek to end the male line in their enemies via in-your-face murder. The highly sought-after Durefishan portrays Zamda’s struggle with aplomb, cloaking her vindictive intentions behind doe-eyed innocence. Contrasted with the pure evil bursting from Channar’s persona, Khai is a masterclass in showing how chemistry can be born in the unlikeliest of places.
Yumna Zaidi and Humayun Saeed in Gentleman
The dashing Humayun Saeed turned heads in Netflix’s The Crown as Diana’s love interest, Dr Hasnat Khan, and returns to local screens after a three-year gap as Iqbal in Gentleman. For the first time, Humayun will be working alongside the ever-talented beauty Yumna Zaidi, who has Tere Bin under her belt. If their previous projects have been anything to go by, here are two actors who pour every ounce of passion into their craft and exude breathtaking ability whilst doing it. The collaboration promises to be an electrifying union, and fans can’t wait.
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