Veteran actor argues editing sidelined his and Usman Javed’s characters, joking they became the drama’s ‘stepchildren’
Actor Adnan Siddiqui has expressed disappointment over how his character’s storyline unfolded in the drama serial Zanjeerain, saying his role and that of co-star Usman Javed were gradually sidelined and eventually appeared to disappear from the story.
Siddiqui, who plays Zafran Khan, discussed his experience on the drama in a recent interview, suggesting that the editing process significantly reduced the presence of both characters.
“Given the big cast, locations and acting, there were some issues with the editing. But one of the things that affected me was that I’m not the main character. You could almost say I made a cameo in the drama,” Siddiqui said.
“I’ve done many main roles, and even ones where the storyline was stretched, but I’ve never seen roles just disappear from within the story like this,” he remarked.
Siddiqui also joked about the treatment of his and Javed’s characters. “Me and Usman both disappeared from the story,” he said with a laugh. “We were just stepchildren in the drama.”
Javed, who plays Torsam in Zanjeerain, was similarly affected by the cuts. Siddiqui revealed that several scenes featuring Javed had been filmed but ultimately did not make it into the final episodes.
His comments highlight the impact editing can have on an ensemble drama, particularly when substantial material involving established performers is reduced or removed before broadcast.
Despite his disappointment, Siddiqui appeared to take the situation in good humour, using it to make a broader observation about how people associate themselves with successful television projects.
“When a drama becomes a hit, even the person who would serve chai during the shoot would say he was on that drama. When it doesn’t become a hit, even those people don’t want to mention they were there,” he joked.
Viewers also weighed in on Siddiqui’s remarks, with some agreeing with the actor while others defended the way the characters were handled.
“Each and every role has its own unique story. That’s what makes this drama a great success,” one user wrote. Another commented, “We understood him and his character perfectly well.”
Siddiqui’s remarks have added another dimension to the conversation surrounding Zanjeerain. While his criticism was focused on how the characters’ storylines were shaped in the edit rather than on the performances or production itself, the actor made clear that the experience was an unusual one for him.
